Would the Titans have won either of their last 2 games without CJ?

News flash for ya: RBs pick up most of their yards against lousy run defenses. It's what they get paid to do, it's their job. Find me the guy who consistently mops the floor with Baltimore, Pittsburgh, etc. He doesn't exist. Those are great run defenses, and shut down even the best RBs. Thing is, the great RB annihilate lousy run defenses. CJ has more yards then any RB in the NFL over the past 5 games. That's including a 20 yarder against ATL.

If you're inclined to do so, watch some CJ highlights (or lowlights, if you will) from early this season. Then watch from the past few games. Focus on the offensive line, though, not on CJ. The OLine in the first few weeks got blown up on nearly every running play. Now, in the past couple games, you're seeing the OLine open up holes, and make blocks in the second level. Those are the things that create huge run plays.

CJ is 25. His speed and athleticism are here to stay for a while longer. It's human biology. He's in the peak of his physical lifespan right now. He's been pedestrian because he didn't have an offseason, and the new offensive coordinator (Chris Palmer) completely changed our offensive line strategy, implementing a zone-blocking technique. In other words, our entire OLine had to relearn how to do their job in the month of August. Now that they're getting a bit better, we're seeing the results. And furthermore, Ringer's stats haven't faltered much over the course of the season. That suggests that he is simply an average-below average back, like he has always been. When the OLine got their stuff together, CJs numbers skyrocketed. Suggesting that his skills have been harnessed. The 32nd ranked Colts run defense shut CJ down earlier this year. You simply cannot gain yards when you get hit behind the line on most plays.

 

How am i picking and choosing stats that pad my argument?! I took CJ's best 5 game stretch of the season....And also I realized that he didn't get many carries in some of those games so if you look on this page I adjusted all stats to make it an equal comparison to the average amount of rushing attempts the defenses allow per game. Also I realize that CJ got hit in the backfield against the Falcons game, but watch LeSean McCoy play, it happens to him, and like a playmaker he makes people miss, and gains something out of it. If you want to blame CJ's performances on the Oline be my guest, that's fair enough, but if his success is so heavily based on his oline, why did we spend the money on him, and not an oline?

 

Now that's a damn good question. We're in desperate need of a center and two guards.

 

So if great running backs can't run against great run defenses what's the point in having a great running back....? Why not spend it else where, because even an average running back can gouge a bad run defense....

Again if it's all on the oline, why did we pay CJ? We might as well have just spent it on the Oline...

It's his fault he didn't have more time with the coaching staff. And again what were we thinking paying CJ if we don't have the players around him to make him successful?

Maybe my problem isn't with CJ, it's with what the money we spent on CJ could have gone towards. I agree with a lot of you saying a back is nothing without a line, so why not get a line first and then a back?

 

All these financial inquiries are valid. Paying a RB big bucks these days is silly. Think about it, top three RB in the NFL over the past 3 years: AP, CJ, MJD. Vikings: suck. Titans: (ahem)suck(cough). Jags: suck. An elite RB doesn't really do anything for your team in terms of wins and losses.

 

Which is what I'm saying! What's a ferrai jacket if you don't own a ferrai? It's pointless, just like CJ without a stud oline. Despite this TheSureThing and Kaotik still act like CJ is the key to a superbowl.

 

On a team with inconsistent QB play, a RB can be very valuable. However, at the end of the day, it's all about the QB and the defense. Everything else is just a nice-to-have.

 

if CJ had such a good day against the Bungles where was he in the second half when a 2 score lead eviscerated?

Got too do it when it counts for it too mean anything. CJ was successful against TB and Buffalo. Getting FDs that really mattered late in the game. That is some good stuff. The whole team looked good in Carolina, but they stink, still beating the snot out of a bad team is a good thing.

 

Yes