broncosteven
12-12-2005, 08:22 AM
http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/13386337.htm
Blame rests with L.J.’s olé
JASON WHITLOCK
IRVING, Texas — If Sunday’s heartbreaking 31-28 loss to Dallas prevents the Chiefs from making the playoffs, it’s Larry Johnson’s fault.
Maybe you spent Sunday night cussing kicker Lawrence Tynes and long snapper Ed Perry for botching a would-be game-tying 41-yard field goal. Or maybe you’re mad at the officiating crew that properly flagged Derrick Johnson for holding (and mistakenly identified Greg Wesley as the culprit) on a critical fourth-down play in the game’s final minute. Or maybe you spent the evening lamenting KC’s bad luck, wondering how Patrick Surtain dropped an easy pick-6 interception.
Your angst and sorrow are misguided.
The Chiefs didn’t blow Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter. They lost the game, and perhaps ruined their season, just before halftime when Larry Johnson declined an opportunity to block Dallas linebacker Scott Fujita.
On second and goal at the Dallas 9, Fujita, the former Chief, sashayed right past Johnson as he flopped on the ground like a fish out of water. Fujita then barreled into quarterback Trent Green, separating KC’s QB from the football. Dallas’ Marcus Spears scooped up the ball and ran 59 yards, setting up the Cowboys at the KC 26 with 1 minute, 2 seconds left in the half. Drew Bledsoe hit tight end Jason Witten with a 26-yard TD pass, completing the good-old-fashioned game-turning 14-point swing.
When L.J. whiffed, the Chiefs were up 14-10 and about to tack on a touchdown, or at least a field goal. Instead, the Cowboys went into the halftime locker room ahead 17-14.
On the road, against a good team, when you’re in a tight playoff race, when your remaining schedule consists of playoff-caliber opponents, it’s criminal for a player to give an effort that weak on such an important play.
It’s selfish. It’s immature. It’s classic Randy Moss.
The play perfectly crystallizes (justifies) why Dick Vermeil and Al Saunders were reluctant to put their trust in Larry Johnson. And let me be clear: I have no problem with Saunders choosing to throw the ball in that situation. Saunders called a beautiful game and did an excellent job of keeping the Cowboys’ defense off balance.
Nope. The only problem was Johnson’s flop.
“When they don’t block you real well, you should get to the quarterback,” Fujita said of his big play.
Johnson is a marvelous talent. But it’s perfectly fair to question whether Johnson is a winner. Johnson is great when you hand him the football, when it’s time for him to pile up yards and improve his leverage for a reworked contract. Johnson rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday. He set a Chiefs record for consecutive 100-yard games, cracking triple digits for the sixth straight game.
But Johnson’s half-hearted and soft pass-blocking effort undermined Kansas City’s offensive attack. It wasn’t just that one critical play. The Cowboys ran over and around Johnson every time he was asked to block.
“We were looking for opportunities to go one on one with their backs,” Fujita said diplomatically.
Kansas City fullback Tony Richardson might be the best blocking back in football. It’s difficult to believe that Dallas’ linebackers were looking for opportunities to go one-on-one with Richardson. By the fourth quarter, the Chiefs’ coaching staff acknowledged Johnson’s lack of toughness and put him on the sideline in obvious passing situations.
Embarrassing. Johnson has whined and rebelled and complained for three years. I thought some of his complaints were legitimate. Sunday, he looked like a running back who needed to take his diapers off. By refusing to cowboy-up and take on Fujita or any rusher, Johnson sold out his teammates. The Chiefs were reduced to playing training-camp-cut casualty Dee Brown in passing situations.
Of course, after the game Johnson declined to talk.
Vermeil wouldn’t elaborate on the sack and fumble, saying he’d like to look at game film.
“We’d like to block that guy,” Vermeil said.
Running-backs coach James Saxon declined to comment.
Yeah, the Chiefs have to handle Johnson with kid gloves now. The Chiefs have no idea whether their other special-needs running back, Priest Holmes, will choose to play again. Johnson has all the power. Like his predecessor, he can do whatever he wants.
Priest didn’t like to practice, communicate or honor a contract he deemed unfair. But when
More Here: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/13386337.htm
Blame rests with L.J.’s olé
JASON WHITLOCK
IRVING, Texas — If Sunday’s heartbreaking 31-28 loss to Dallas prevents the Chiefs from making the playoffs, it’s Larry Johnson’s fault.
Maybe you spent Sunday night cussing kicker Lawrence Tynes and long snapper Ed Perry for botching a would-be game-tying 41-yard field goal. Or maybe you’re mad at the officiating crew that properly flagged Derrick Johnson for holding (and mistakenly identified Greg Wesley as the culprit) on a critical fourth-down play in the game’s final minute. Or maybe you spent the evening lamenting KC’s bad luck, wondering how Patrick Surtain dropped an easy pick-6 interception.
Your angst and sorrow are misguided.
The Chiefs didn’t blow Sunday’s game in the fourth quarter. They lost the game, and perhaps ruined their season, just before halftime when Larry Johnson declined an opportunity to block Dallas linebacker Scott Fujita.
On second and goal at the Dallas 9, Fujita, the former Chief, sashayed right past Johnson as he flopped on the ground like a fish out of water. Fujita then barreled into quarterback Trent Green, separating KC’s QB from the football. Dallas’ Marcus Spears scooped up the ball and ran 59 yards, setting up the Cowboys at the KC 26 with 1 minute, 2 seconds left in the half. Drew Bledsoe hit tight end Jason Witten with a 26-yard TD pass, completing the good-old-fashioned game-turning 14-point swing.
When L.J. whiffed, the Chiefs were up 14-10 and about to tack on a touchdown, or at least a field goal. Instead, the Cowboys went into the halftime locker room ahead 17-14.
On the road, against a good team, when you’re in a tight playoff race, when your remaining schedule consists of playoff-caliber opponents, it’s criminal for a player to give an effort that weak on such an important play.
It’s selfish. It’s immature. It’s classic Randy Moss.
The play perfectly crystallizes (justifies) why Dick Vermeil and Al Saunders were reluctant to put their trust in Larry Johnson. And let me be clear: I have no problem with Saunders choosing to throw the ball in that situation. Saunders called a beautiful game and did an excellent job of keeping the Cowboys’ defense off balance.
Nope. The only problem was Johnson’s flop.
“When they don’t block you real well, you should get to the quarterback,” Fujita said of his big play.
Johnson is a marvelous talent. But it’s perfectly fair to question whether Johnson is a winner. Johnson is great when you hand him the football, when it’s time for him to pile up yards and improve his leverage for a reworked contract. Johnson rushed for 143 yards and three touchdowns on Sunday. He set a Chiefs record for consecutive 100-yard games, cracking triple digits for the sixth straight game.
But Johnson’s half-hearted and soft pass-blocking effort undermined Kansas City’s offensive attack. It wasn’t just that one critical play. The Cowboys ran over and around Johnson every time he was asked to block.
“We were looking for opportunities to go one on one with their backs,” Fujita said diplomatically.
Kansas City fullback Tony Richardson might be the best blocking back in football. It’s difficult to believe that Dallas’ linebackers were looking for opportunities to go one-on-one with Richardson. By the fourth quarter, the Chiefs’ coaching staff acknowledged Johnson’s lack of toughness and put him on the sideline in obvious passing situations.
Embarrassing. Johnson has whined and rebelled and complained for three years. I thought some of his complaints were legitimate. Sunday, he looked like a running back who needed to take his diapers off. By refusing to cowboy-up and take on Fujita or any rusher, Johnson sold out his teammates. The Chiefs were reduced to playing training-camp-cut casualty Dee Brown in passing situations.
Of course, after the game Johnson declined to talk.
Vermeil wouldn’t elaborate on the sack and fumble, saying he’d like to look at game film.
“We’d like to block that guy,” Vermeil said.
Running-backs coach James Saxon declined to comment.
Yeah, the Chiefs have to handle Johnson with kid gloves now. The Chiefs have no idea whether their other special-needs running back, Priest Holmes, will choose to play again. Johnson has all the power. Like his predecessor, he can do whatever he wants.
Priest didn’t like to practice, communicate or honor a contract he deemed unfair. But when
More Here: http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansascity/sports/football/nfl/kansas_city_chiefs/13386337.htm