Chris Johnson versus a REAL rush defense

CJ was ok against Carolina if you actually watched the game and don't go on stats alone, he's not the same player and with those huge holes he had last Sunday, CJ2K would have had well over 200 yards... easily. The only game that truly impressed me this season was against Cincy, by play and not just numbers, easily his best game of the season.

 

The Bengals are 2nd in the league against the run and Atlanta is 3rd. Against the Bengals CJ had 14 carries for 64 yards. That is a 4.57 YPC average. So basically against a comparable defense Johnson averaged enough per carry to easily break 100 yards if he got enough carries. If Johnson carries the ball 20 times at the same average he will end up with 91 yards but there will still be people bashing his performance even though that would be very good against that defense. So in reality he could play well but still not put the criticism to rest but IMO if he averages 4.5 yards on each carry he is playing pretty well against a very good run defense.

 

Only 130? Really? Let's take a look at what other runnings back did against the panthers this years.

AP - 83 yds
MJD - 122
Forte - 202
Turner - 139
Hightower - 88
Wells - 90
CJ - 130

 

He performed very well against the panters last week and put up more yards than a lot of the best running backs in the league did against them. What he said during the offseason doesn't change that.

 

I'm too lazy to look it up myself, but I'd like to see the starting lineup for the Panthers' defense for all of those games. I know for a fact the Panthers didn't have a single one of their starting linebackers from game one playing last weekend. The Panthers are literally down to playing special teams players on defense, we've had to do that before with horrible results.

Jon Beason- torn achilles
Thomas Davis- torn acl
Jason Phillips- out indefinitely(didn't play last week)

 

That is a ridiculous requirement. He outperformed AP and MJD who are two of the best running backs in the league and AP makes even more money than CJ does. 130 against any team no matter how bad they are is a good day especially when you throw in 44 receiving yards.

 

What did ringer do last week against this terrible panther D........basically nothing and several on here wanted him to start or Harper. CJ not having a very good year. May have lost his desire, a step, but not been very good. But again Palmer takes some of the blame the predictability of the runs with the fullback and to many between two bad run guards and a terrible run blocking center.

Ringer and Harper are not every down NFL quality backs. C.J. still has talent but the days of being elite maybe over.

 

Quit crying about him getting paid. He had an historic season and played the next season risking his career and potential at making money. GET OVER IT.