Johnson, Portis are still question marks in new system. Matt Bowen
Now that former Chiefs and Bengals RB Larry Johnson is in Washington under Mike Shanahan, is there a plan for the Redskins backfield?
This past week, I questioned the idea of bringing a player like L.J. over to Washington mainly due to his running style and the offensive system he is coming into. Johnson is a straight up and down runner, and when you have a player like that who is older, and on the downside of his career, it almost becomes target practice for safeties coming down as an eighth defender or a linebacker running through the hole.
And, in Shanahan’s system, will Johnson be able to generate enough quickness with his first step and get his shoulder pads squared to the line of scrimmage in the inside and outside zone running scheme?
I thought it would be easier for the Skins to look to the draft to find a runner that is an ideal fit for Shanahan, instead of finding a former feature back who is just looking for a job.
Portis—when healthy—is that type of player who can take a handoff, plant and even cut back with enough quickness and burst to be productive. We saw it from C.P. when he was a Bronco with Shanahan out in Denver. But, even that can be brought into question right now. Portis missed a lot of time last season, and now he is being virtually challenged by his head coach to act like a leader and be a big part of the team’s off-season workouts.
Those are “voluntary,” but as coaches will say behind meeting room doors, if you “volunteer not to show up,” then you are telling the team something by your actions.
Can C.P. be that leader, the player who led this franchise to the playoff back in 2005? The same back who could control the flow of an offensive game plan? Remember, this is a player that was brought into question multiple times last season under Jim Zorn.
On paper, this is a backfield that is now loaded with two big names, but names don’t win on Sundays. The hope in D.C. is that the scheme will lend itself to the production of both Portis and Johnson. However, the offensive line is still a major question mark, and an entirely new system is hard to teach with two weeks of OTA’s, mini-camps, and training camp.
It is going to be a process to start winning again in Washington and I am not so sure that the combination of Portis and Johnson is the right way to start.
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A little forward thinking here please!! I am sure the new regime has a plan...say drafting a young speed back ideal for Shanny's system. With CP as the main back, a young gun to learn the system from him, and LJ filling two roles missing in DCfor many years...a legit threat to the starting role from CP(hence competition at each position that Shanny is calling for, and a pound the rock TD machine at the goal line. Doesn't sound like a bad plan to me. Much better than Rock and Ladell for another year!!
A little forward thinking here please!! I am sure the new regime has a plan...say drafting a young speed back ideal for Shanny's system. With CP as the main back, a young gun to learn the system from him, and LJ filling two roles missing in DCfor many years...a legit threat to the starting role from CP(hence competition at each position that Shanny is calling for, and a pound the rock TD machine at the goal line. Doesn't sound like a bad plan to me. Much better than Rock and Ladell for another year!!
"target practice"
...vivid description! Especially coming from a guy who knows firsthand because he's done the targeting himself.
I remember what William Henderson was like the last year before he retired where he was just getting jacked up every time he touched the ball, even on swing passes. I'd watch and think "man!...dude's gotta' retire before he doesn't get up from one of those."
Yeah... running backs... When it goes, it's gone. LJ's been declining steadily since the year that he, Tomlinson and Shaun Alexander were all vying for the MVP. The Chief's offense that season was pretty much LJ left, LJ right, LJ left. ...3 yards and a cloud of dust all year long. He wound up with 400+ carries and a ton of yards, but he's never really been right since. It's been a long time since he scared defensive coordinators or opposing fans.
Also, if I were a Skins fan, I'd be just as annoyed at the prospect of having to root for a guy who has routinely beat up on women throughout his career, but that's a comment for a different column.
Other than possibly pressuring Portis to step up, I'm not really sure what LJ will bring to this offense. He's a downhill runner, not a slasher. As for the GL back, when there was a half decent OL, Portis was always a very capable back at the stripe.
I'm agreeing with Skinner, in that I'm seeing them draft a quick, slasher type back to push for playing time early. ATM, I see LJ as pressure, but really little more than their new #2 RB.
I'm with Skinner too. It's not a championship-caliber signing...but this isn't a championship contending team. They are probably two years away from making any noise. They need to rebuild the lines and get set at QB first. LJ isn't all that, but they aren't paying him all that. He can plow into the (terrible) line at get 2.9 ypc as well as anyone. Meanwhile they'll draft a young back or two and with luck have one of them ready to go when the o-line is in some sort of shape.
Can't restock all the shelves in one year. LJ should be a reasonable stopgap. And if he's not, his contract makes him cuttable, unlike, say Clinton Portis.
Hmm...let me think now. Who's opinion should sway me more - a six-year player or 26-year coach with multiple Super Bowls and who studies film of every play of every player's career on his team? Gotta go with Shanny on this one.
And who was that north/south runner in 1983 who set the NFL record for most TDs in a season, rushed for over 1,300 yards, was the Super Bowl MVP but was in the second-to-last year of his 14-year career? Oh yeah, it was John Riggins.
What better to motivate Portis? A rookie with no experience or Larry Johnson? did Marcus Mason motivate Portis to step up his game?
Line up in the I at the goal line - hand off to Johnson, pitch to Portis, pass to Cooley? It brings options to the gameplan.
"It's been a long time since he scared defensive coordinators or opposing fans. "
dan
I disagree. I think Larry Johnson is still scaring fans. Every time he opens his mouth I get scared and more than a few "fans" have a right to be afraid of him. I hope he never gets mad at me.
Coach- I am pretty sure it is 7 years for Matty, and the John Riggo statement? Please, different time, completely different scheme.
LJ might have fit in Gibbs' offense.... no chance in Shanny's. Guy is a bad apple as well. Nice going Snyder.
I am going to go with the former player who actually played with Portis on this one. Bad, bad move.
This signing is the first questionable move by the new regime. Matt states the obvious objection. Why sign a guy on the downside when you already have a guy on the downside? Plus, LJ is not the typical Shanahan back.
Is Shanahan living in the past, picturing both LJ and CP as they were when he was last coaching? Or do he, Kyle and Bruce Allen actually know what they are doing? Time will tell.
Regarding running style, we need to keep in mind that the Redskins also do not have the typical Shanahan zone blocking line. While the line is a work in progress, two starters at guard, Dockery and Mike Williams, are big roadgrader types, not agile zone blockers. Perhaps Shanahan is planning more of a power run game.
LJ will likely be filling the role Ladell Betts was supposed to play, were he used properly and had he stayed healthy, and he helps Shanny motivate Portis to step up. Shanny knows exactly what he's getting with CP.
I think the move actually makes sense, though Chester Taylor would have been a lot better signing. Unfortunately, I doubt Chester was interested in vying with Portis for the top spot. He has a far better chance of winning out over Forte.
For the first time in years there is a plan for the future for this franchise and if you look at the LJ signing you can see that. A low risk incentive laden deal...For all those who used this franchise as it's whipping post . Enjoy it while it last Cerratto is no longer around to give juicey tidbits.
Shanny would have done better to get Hillis from the Broncos, He is a Riggins throw back a real Bruiser who can make a defense hurt in the second half.
Let's break this into two questions: do you like the deal, and do you like LJ as a Redskin?
Frankly, I like the deal. Incentive laden, low downside, not a lot of cash for an experienced veteran. Not an expensive move for a guy who could be a contributor if Portis goes down to injury.
That said, I don't like Johnson as a Redskin. While I think LJ still has some tread left on the tires after his time in KC -- his carries count was very low, and he showed in his brief tenure in Cincinnati last year that he still has some power (he averaged 4.4 ypc) -- he's not the right guy to pair with someone like Portis. Johnson would make sense as a pairing if Portis still had the kind of burst and speed he did in his youth, but these guys are too similar now, there's very little change of pace between the two.
Frankly, out of all the veteran running backs on the market this offseason -- Jones, Tomlinson, Parker, Taylor, Johnson -- I liked LJ the least. So: low downside considering the money, but basically zero upside. This is a known commodity without the tools necessary to thrive in the Shanahan system.
I think you cannot go wrong with Larry Johnson. He has been a great talent in the league for a long time. I would not pass him up.
Mar 13, 2010
06:12 PM
Johnson is at the stage where he needs a hole in order to make good yardage. He was never really quick or fast to begin with & he's not agile either. Add to that how he sulked his way through his first few years & said how he didn't even want to play for KC, what kind of player do they think their getting?
He will also turn 31yrs old this year too.
Typical Redskins signing.