Why Tennessee Should Pay Chris Johnson
The Tennessee Titans face a possible protracted holdout from RB Chris Johnson, and while I normally believe players should honor their contracts, I’m siding with Johnson on this one. NFL Network analysts Warren Sapp and Marshall Faulk have both voiced their solidarity with Johnson, and an on-line petition has even been created demanding that Johnson get a raise.
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There are three keys reasons why I support Johnson receiving a new contract. His contribution to the offense, the average life span of a running back and his contribution to the development of QB Vince Young.
Percentage of Offense-
Tennessee started the season 0-6 in 2009. In the first 6 games, Chris Johnson only carried the ball more than 20 times once and averaged just under 100 yards rushing with 3 total touchdowns. After the Titans bye in week 7, Johnson became the focal point of the Tennessee offense and they then ran off 5 consecutive wins and finished the season winning 8 of their final 10 games. In those games, only once did Johnson touch the ball less than 20 times, a 20-17 win over Arizona where he finished with 154 yards and an 8.6 yards per carry average.The Titans second leading rusher was QB Vince Young.
Johnson finished 2009 with 358 carries for 2,006 yards but his talent doesn’t end there. He added 50 receptions for 503 yards and totaled 16 scores. Tennessee’s fantastic finish to the 2009 season would not have been possible without Johnson’s efforts and he might have saved Jeff Fisher’s job. CJ2K totalled over 50% of Tennessee’s offense in 2009 and with no other proven running back on the Titans roster, Johnson can expect more of the same in 2010. LenDale White is now in Seattle and Oregon’s troubled RB LeGarrette Blount has yet to prove anything on the field and can’t be counted on to equal Johnson’s production if he does decide to sit out.
The Average Life Span of a Running Back-
The average life span of an NFL running back is 3 years, yes, Johnson is not your average running back but the 408 touches he had last year has to be concerning. Granted, Johnson will be 25 this season, but the number of touches he had last year will eventually take a toll on his future production. Doubt me? Just take a look at this. Footballdocs.com has done a great job analyzing running backs who carry the ball 370 times a year and the affect on their production. And even though Titans WR Nate Washington says Johnson looks good, a continued workload such as Johnson had last season, will most likely cut his career much shorter and increase his probability for serious injury.
One running back the list doesn’t address is Tampa Bay Buccaneer James Wilder. Wilder back the feature back for the Buccaneers in 1984 and was the focal point of the offense. Wilder totaled 492 touches and 2,229 yards. He followed up in 1985 with a season similar to Johnson’s this year. 365 carries, 53 receptions and 1,641 yards. Wilder played another 5 years in the NFL but he was toast and never approached 1,000 rushing yards again.
Vince Young’s Development-
Tennessee saw improvement last year from Vince Young. Just as the Titans decided to put the ball in Johnson’s hands more after the bye week, Young became the starter at quarterback. Johnson’s production and Young’s effectiveness on the field were not coincidence. The passing game opens up the running game, but the reverse is true as well. As defenses had to focus on trying to contain Johnson, Young was able to find open receivers as well as utilizing his mobility. 37 year old Kerry Collins and Jouneyman Chris Simms are not the answer at quarterback, so Johnson’s presence in the Titans offense is key to Young’s continued development and on field success for the Titans.
Tennessee plays in a division with teams that possess high powered offenses, and they need Johnson on the field. Titans fans want to see more of this……………….so pay the man.
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[...] for the Titans. Aaron Kroh wrote a piece about whether or not the Titans should pay Chris Johnson. But we already know the answer [...]
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[...] was sticking by his prediction of rushing for 2500 yards this season, and disputed his claim. On May 19, 2010, I wrote a column as to why Chris Johnson needed to be paid more than the $550,000 dollars his contract was going to [...]
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pay chris he is one of a kind and we need him