Sabertooth
Footballguy
Normally I like to look at a player who is a target. But for this little segment I am going to breakdown a guy I've got in a dynasty and a keeper league. He's none other than former 2000 yard rusher Chris Johnson. He's the fastest player in the NFL according to some. He's young and has a proven history of success. And yet it's week 8 here and many are wondering if they need to just cut bait on him, not only in redrafts, but in keeper leagues as well. I'm going to work my way backwards through the last 3 games of his. I'm going to give him some leeway for the holdout and not being in football shape. He says its the blockers. Coach says its not Johnson and that Ringer won't help. I'm going to watch the tape on him, play by play and see what we can see.
Week 7 vs. Houston Texans. 7th ranked vs. Run according to MFL.
1 13:01 0 - 0 1st-and-10 own 19 rushed for 2 yards: First carry of the game. Right guard pushed 3 yards into the backfield before Johnson even gets the ball. He breaks left and has to evade the tight end and his guy 1 yard into the backfield. He then eyes up three Texans and quickly gets upfield to salvage 2 yards. So he faced 5 defenders before reaching the original LOS. Ironically the announcer then states as they are running through the starters "solid offensive line with right guard Jake Scott making his 110th consecutive start."
1 12:29 0 - 0 2nd-and-8 own 21 rushed for 1 yards: I paused this when Johnson got the ball. 4 of 5 offensive lineman are at least a yard back from the original LOS. The fifth player (73 Jake Scott) is still straddling it. He then moves forward a couple yards and doesn't even lay a hand on the Texans LB 56. Never touched anyone. Johnson is tippy toe'ing it up to the line looking for a hole. But there isn't anything doing.
1 11:32 0 - 0 2nd-and-10 opp 48 rushed for 2 yards: Strange play. They motion Williams in tight from the split left position. Then pitch the ball left. The corner has no blocker and 2 teammates with him. Johnson just runs it up in there bravely but doesn't make anyone missed before the corner cuts out his legs. Had they not done that motion, they'd have at least had a hat on CB 25. I wouldn't even do that in Madden. Heck, that wouldn't work in Tecmo.
1 9:36 0 - 0 1st-and-10 own 45 rushed for 3 yards: Dive right. Of the six blockers (5 OL and 1TE), both the right side guys are two yards deep into the backfield (76 actually false started before being pushed back), Center is stalemated at the LOS, left guard moving to second level, and left tackle stalemated. Not one guy won his battle.
1 0:50 0 - 3 2nd-and-4 own 15 rushed for 1 yards: Tries to break it outside to the right. Rammed his way up in there and lost the ball. He recovered it himself. Gained a yard or two. Trap play that worked to an extent. Corner filled and linebacker didn't get sucked down. Best blocking yet on a play though.
2 14:59 0 - 3 1st-and-10 own 21 rushed for 2 yards: Center and right guard actually pushed the DT back 1 yard. Play went right up their gap. But, alas there was nobody left to block the MLB who just filled the hole and shut Johnson down.
2 14:22 0 - 3 2nd-and-8 own 23 caught pass for 17 yards (first down): At this point the announcer starts bagging on Johnson's conditioning and practicing, saying he's tentative. He obviously isn't watching the game here. Johnson is getting no daylight so far. But on this play Johnson catches the ball after 6 yards and breaks two tackles while moving it 11 more up the field. Nice play where he actually had some room to use his skills. He lined up split wide left.
2 13:43 0 - 3 1st-and-10 own 40 rushed for 2 yards: No room against as the line gets no push at all. You've got something funny happening here. You've got the left tackle and pulling right guard double teaming the end and pushing him laterally, effectively taking him out of the play. Then you've got the center whiffing on 99. The left guard got a piece of somebody (not pushing him back). Long story short you've got FB hall and Johnson basically playing Hamburger Drill against three defenders in a 6 foot wide alley. Not good.
2 7:21 0 - 10 1st-and-10 own 20 rushed for 3 yards: Really looks like the left tackle just said "screw it, I'm not blocking the end." Pitch left, and Johnson is on the ground before the LT engages anyone. Pathetic blocking. Johnson got a couple yards despite the complete FAIL by the LT.
2 3:52 0 - 17 1st-and-10 own 20 rushed for 0 yards: No kidding here. 4 defenders in the backfield. The one lineman who didn't get pushed back missed his block and the defender hit Johnson. I looked again. Jake Scott making his 110 consecutive start got owned by a linebacker. I'm noticing a trend here. Moose Johnston keeps blaming Johnson, he's out of his tree if he thinks this is on Johnson.
2 3:19 0 - 17 2nd-and-10 own 20 caught pass for -9 yards: Johnson lined up in backfield, motioned wide left. WR screen to him essentially that is tipped. Johnson pulls it down and tries to make something out of nothing. Well, guess what, all the defenders have penetrated and swarm him. Looks like the Persians falling on the 300 Spartans.
2 2:37 0 - 17 3rd-and-19 own 11 caught pass for 6 yards: CJ came out of the backfield and broke left. Bobbled the catch. Had he caught it cleanly, he might have done something with it. This one was on him. Throw was fine.
3 14:48 0 - 20 2nd-and-10 own 16 caught pass for 9 yards:
3 14:15 0 - 20 3rd-and-1 own 25 rushed for 2 yards (first down)
3 13:24 0 - 20 3rd-and-10 own 27 caught pass for -1 yards
3 6:25 0 - 27 3rd-and-10 opp 10 caught pass for 5 yards
1 11:32 0 - 0 2nd-and-10 opp 48 rushed for 2 yards
1 9:36 0 - 0 1st-and-10 own 45 rushed for 3 yards
1 0:50 0 - 3 2nd-and-4 own 15 rushed for 1 yards
2 14:59 0 - 3 1st-and-10 own 21 rushed for 2 yards
2 14:22 0 - 3 2nd-and-8 own 23 caught pass for 17 yards (first down)
2 13:43 0 - 3 1st-and-10 own 40 rushed for 2 yards
2 7:21 0 - 10 1st-and-10 own 20 rushed for 3 yards
2 3:52 0 - 17 1st-and-10 own 20 rushed for 0 yards
2 3:19 0 - 17 2nd-and-10 own 20 caught pass for -9 yards
2 2:37 0 - 17 3rd-and-19 own 11 caught pass for 6 yards
3 14:48 0 - 20 2nd-and-10 own 16 caught pass for 9 yards
3 14:15 0 - 20 3rd-and-1 own 25 rushed for 2 yards (first down)
3 13:24 0 - 20 3rd-and-10 own 27 caught pass for -1 yards
3 6:25 0 - 27 3rd-and-10 opp 10 caught pass for 5 yards
I'm just going to break this off for the night at the half. His offensive linemen should be ashamed of themselves. They really should. Specifically the LT and RG played horribly. They look like practice squad guys at best. They get pushed around a lot. When they do get to the second level, they completely whiff blocks.
I don't think it is fair to say that Chris is playing poorly. He's trying out there. He isn't going down easily. He's fighting for yards. He just isn't getting any help at all. It must have pissed him off to see how the Texans blocked for Arian Foster. I think his comments about his linemen are completely justified.
I watch the Packers play and I'd state confidently that the Packers have 7 or 8 offensive lineman who would all start for the Titans and be among their top guys. Marshall Newhouse (Packers backup LT) makes his Titans counterpart look truly terrible. And he's a backup.
Week 7 vs. Houston Texans. 7th ranked vs. Run according to MFL.
1 13:01 0 - 0 1st-and-10 own 19 rushed for 2 yards: First carry of the game. Right guard pushed 3 yards into the backfield before Johnson even gets the ball. He breaks left and has to evade the tight end and his guy 1 yard into the backfield. He then eyes up three Texans and quickly gets upfield to salvage 2 yards. So he faced 5 defenders before reaching the original LOS. Ironically the announcer then states as they are running through the starters "solid offensive line with right guard Jake Scott making his 110th consecutive start."
1 12:29 0 - 0 2nd-and-8 own 21 rushed for 1 yards: I paused this when Johnson got the ball. 4 of 5 offensive lineman are at least a yard back from the original LOS. The fifth player (73 Jake Scott) is still straddling it. He then moves forward a couple yards and doesn't even lay a hand on the Texans LB 56. Never touched anyone. Johnson is tippy toe'ing it up to the line looking for a hole. But there isn't anything doing.
1 11:32 0 - 0 2nd-and-10 opp 48 rushed for 2 yards: Strange play. They motion Williams in tight from the split left position. Then pitch the ball left. The corner has no blocker and 2 teammates with him. Johnson just runs it up in there bravely but doesn't make anyone missed before the corner cuts out his legs. Had they not done that motion, they'd have at least had a hat on CB 25. I wouldn't even do that in Madden. Heck, that wouldn't work in Tecmo.
1 9:36 0 - 0 1st-and-10 own 45 rushed for 3 yards: Dive right. Of the six blockers (5 OL and 1TE), both the right side guys are two yards deep into the backfield (76 actually false started before being pushed back), Center is stalemated at the LOS, left guard moving to second level, and left tackle stalemated. Not one guy won his battle.
1 0:50 0 - 3 2nd-and-4 own 15 rushed for 1 yards: Tries to break it outside to the right. Rammed his way up in there and lost the ball. He recovered it himself. Gained a yard or two. Trap play that worked to an extent. Corner filled and linebacker didn't get sucked down. Best blocking yet on a play though.
2 14:59 0 - 3 1st-and-10 own 21 rushed for 2 yards: Center and right guard actually pushed the DT back 1 yard. Play went right up their gap. But, alas there was nobody left to block the MLB who just filled the hole and shut Johnson down.
2 14:22 0 - 3 2nd-and-8 own 23 caught pass for 17 yards (first down): At this point the announcer starts bagging on Johnson's conditioning and practicing, saying he's tentative. He obviously isn't watching the game here. Johnson is getting no daylight so far. But on this play Johnson catches the ball after 6 yards and breaks two tackles while moving it 11 more up the field. Nice play where he actually had some room to use his skills. He lined up split wide left.
2 13:43 0 - 3 1st-and-10 own 40 rushed for 2 yards: No room against as the line gets no push at all. You've got something funny happening here. You've got the left tackle and pulling right guard double teaming the end and pushing him laterally, effectively taking him out of the play. Then you've got the center whiffing on 99. The left guard got a piece of somebody (not pushing him back). Long story short you've got FB hall and Johnson basically playing Hamburger Drill against three defenders in a 6 foot wide alley. Not good.
2 7:21 0 - 10 1st-and-10 own 20 rushed for 3 yards: Really looks like the left tackle just said "screw it, I'm not blocking the end." Pitch left, and Johnson is on the ground before the LT engages anyone. Pathetic blocking. Johnson got a couple yards despite the complete FAIL by the LT.
2 3:52 0 - 17 1st-and-10 own 20 rushed for 0 yards: No kidding here. 4 defenders in the backfield. The one lineman who didn't get pushed back missed his block and the defender hit Johnson. I looked again. Jake Scott making his 110 consecutive start got owned by a linebacker. I'm noticing a trend here. Moose Johnston keeps blaming Johnson, he's out of his tree if he thinks this is on Johnson.
2 3:19 0 - 17 2nd-and-10 own 20 caught pass for -9 yards: Johnson lined up in backfield, motioned wide left. WR screen to him essentially that is tipped. Johnson pulls it down and tries to make something out of nothing. Well, guess what, all the defenders have penetrated and swarm him. Looks like the Persians falling on the 300 Spartans.
2 2:37 0 - 17 3rd-and-19 own 11 caught pass for 6 yards: CJ came out of the backfield and broke left. Bobbled the catch. Had he caught it cleanly, he might have done something with it. This one was on him. Throw was fine.
3 14:48 0 - 20 2nd-and-10 own 16 caught pass for 9 yards:
3 14:15 0 - 20 3rd-and-1 own 25 rushed for 2 yards (first down)
3 13:24 0 - 20 3rd-and-10 own 27 caught pass for -1 yards
3 6:25 0 - 27 3rd-and-10 opp 10 caught pass for 5 yards
1 11:32 0 - 0 2nd-and-10 opp 48 rushed for 2 yards
1 9:36 0 - 0 1st-and-10 own 45 rushed for 3 yards
1 0:50 0 - 3 2nd-and-4 own 15 rushed for 1 yards
2 14:59 0 - 3 1st-and-10 own 21 rushed for 2 yards
2 14:22 0 - 3 2nd-and-8 own 23 caught pass for 17 yards (first down)
2 13:43 0 - 3 1st-and-10 own 40 rushed for 2 yards
2 7:21 0 - 10 1st-and-10 own 20 rushed for 3 yards
2 3:52 0 - 17 1st-and-10 own 20 rushed for 0 yards
2 3:19 0 - 17 2nd-and-10 own 20 caught pass for -9 yards
2 2:37 0 - 17 3rd-and-19 own 11 caught pass for 6 yards
3 14:48 0 - 20 2nd-and-10 own 16 caught pass for 9 yards
3 14:15 0 - 20 3rd-and-1 own 25 rushed for 2 yards (first down)
3 13:24 0 - 20 3rd-and-10 own 27 caught pass for -1 yards
3 6:25 0 - 27 3rd-and-10 opp 10 caught pass for 5 yards
I'm just going to break this off for the night at the half. His offensive linemen should be ashamed of themselves. They really should. Specifically the LT and RG played horribly. They look like practice squad guys at best. They get pushed around a lot. When they do get to the second level, they completely whiff blocks.
I don't think it is fair to say that Chris is playing poorly. He's trying out there. He isn't going down easily. He's fighting for yards. He just isn't getting any help at all. It must have pissed him off to see how the Texans blocked for Arian Foster. I think his comments about his linemen are completely justified.
I watch the Packers play and I'd state confidently that the Packers have 7 or 8 offensive lineman who would all start for the Titans and be among their top guys. Marshall Newhouse (Packers backup LT) makes his Titans counterpart look truly terrible. And he's a backup.
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