LJ Not only Great Back but Great Toreador - The Orange Mane

broncosteven · 12-12-2005, 08:22 AM

http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/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/kansas...s/13386337.htm

-Slap- · 12-12-2005, 08:24 AM

The goddamn bastard knocked me out of the fantasy league playoffs yesterday, though.

-Slap- · 12-12-2005, 08:25 AM

I can't believe people are jamming on Tynes for that missed kick. The snap was horrible.

ludo21 · 12-12-2005, 08:26 AM

I didnt know that fumble was a LJ mess up.

Even tho last week Tatum got ran over, he still made the block and we got the first.

LJ, what a puss.

Rascal · 12-12-2005, 08:26 AM

Plus if you look at the hold just before the ball was kicked the holder moves the ball and it is tilted about 5-10 degrees to the right which is where the ball went.

-Slap- · 12-12-2005, 08:28 AM

Fatlock makes me smile when he writes articles like this one.

Rascal · 12-12-2005, 08:28 AM

The guy missed a block and he is a p***Y?

The guy is a stud and I would be glad to have him. He can't pass block but that doesn't mean you question the guy's toughness.

Idiot writers and the coaching staff in KC are a bunch of idiots. Thank God.

fontaine · 12-12-2005, 08:29 AM

Even as a Broncos fan, I have to admit this has got to be one of the most selective and cherrypicked pieces of "journalism" I've seen by fatlock.

It's no secret that huggies boy hadn't refined his game to all aspects like blitz pickups, blocking, taking care of the ball etc but that was known a while ago, and one of the reasons why he was splitting carries with Holmes. But the chefs have no choice to put him in full time and blaming him for missing (possibly) the postseason is as lazy as it is lame when he's done just as much as anyone to give them a chance.

ludo21 · 12-12-2005, 08:30 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

The guy missed a block and he is a p***Y?

The guy is a stud and I would be glad to have him. He can't pass block but that doesn't mean you question the guy's toughness.

Idiot writers and the coaching staff in KC are a bunch of idiots. Thank God.

he is a chief, thats why

i thought the snap was horrible as well.

bendog · 12-12-2005, 08:30 AM

hey, they were jumping on elam for the misses when Sourpuss was the holder.

bendog · 12-12-2005, 08:32 AM

how can a guy not be able to pass block? There are only two elements necessary for a RB to pick up a blitz. 1. Being able to remember what you are responsible for, and being able to see whether or not you need to block. 2. Taking the hit.

55CrushEm · 12-12-2005, 08:38 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

The guy missed a block and he is a p***Y?

The guy is a stud and I would be glad to have him. He can't pass block but that doesn't mean you question the guy's toughness.

Idiot writers and the coaching staff in KC are a bunch of idiots. Thank God.

It sounds like he's done it alot more than that one time.....if that's the case, then YES, he's a P***Y. He needs to realize that his job is to do MORE than run the ball.

Rascal · 12-12-2005, 08:40 AM

Well Tatum can't exactly pass block very well either.

Most RB's when they get in the league have zero experience when it comes to pass blocking so they are going to struggle. Most are due to missed assignments (who to pick up in blitzes and multiples and line shifts). Bell missed two yesterday if I remember correctly.

redrage · 12-12-2005, 08:40 AM

He's actually improved quite a bit, but is still pretty inconsistent. Clearly an area to concentrate on in practice.

broncosteven · 12-12-2005, 08:40 AM

Why are they not blaming DJ for the hold on 4th & goal? He got beat in coverage. Sure he is a Rook but he is the GREATEST ROOK EVER right? & if he is a rook why is he out there all alone. I Love GOOOONTHER.

No KFC Star Blames the best player on the team so they can run him out of the 2 bit town! Woo hoo!

Rascal · 12-12-2005, 08:41 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by 55CrushEm

It sounds like he's done it alot more than that one time.....if that's the case, then YES, he's a P***Y. He needs to realize that his job is to do MORE than run the ball.

Then I guess Bell is a p***Y as well. Like I just said...most RB's when the come into the league are horrible blockers.

-Slap- · 12-12-2005, 08:47 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

Then I guess Bell is a p***Y as well. Like I just said...most RB's when the come into the league are horrible blockers.

LJ's been in the League for three years now. I agree its BS to blame missing the playoffs on one bad play, but there's no doubt that he's an indifferent blocker and there's no excuse for it.

I also dispute the notion that most RBs are bad at blitz pickups when they come into the League. TD and Clinton Portis stood up linebackers that outwieghed them right away. If Tatum would do that all the time, he wouldn't be whiling away so much of his career on the bench.

-Slap- · 12-12-2005, 08:48 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

Then I guess Bell is a p***Y as well. Like I just said...most RB's when the come into the league are horrible blockers.

Hey, if you're going to Bell a p*ssy twice in this thread, then maybe there's something to that notion. I don't think the coaching staff would still be viewing him as a part time player if he showed them a little more toughness on occasion.

Old Dude · 12-12-2005, 08:50 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Rascal

Well Tatum can't exactly pass block very well either.

....

Speaking of which, who was it who missed the assignment and allowed Jake to get trapped for a huge loss late in that game yesterday. Anderson wasn't in on the play. I couldn't tell whether the misread was by Hape (86) or Bell (26). All I saw was the edge of the jersey with a "6" on it. I suspect that in this case it was Patrick, though.

-Slap- · 12-12-2005, 08:51 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by broncosteven

Why are they not blaming DJ for the hold on 4th & goal? He got beat in coverage. Sure he is a Rook but he is the GREATEST ROOK EVER right? & if he is a rook why is he out there all alone. I Love GOOOONTHER.

No KFC Star Blames the best player on the team so they can run him out of the 2 bit town! Woo hoo!

He doesn't like the city anyway and he never has, so nothing they say about him really matters anyway.

If Fatlock is taking potshots right now, its probably because surly Daiper Boy has cussed him out in the past.

Good!

-Slap- · 12-12-2005, 08:53 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Old Dude

Speaking of which, who was it who missed the assignment and allowed Jake to get trapped for a huge loss late in that game yesterday. Anderson wasn't in on the play. I couldn't tell whether the misread was by Hape (86) or Bell (26). All I saw was the edge of the jersey with a "6" on it. I suspect that in this case it was Patrick, though.

I know Tatum left Jake's ass hanging in the breeze last week because he went the wrong way on a running play. Maybe he's just dumb. Remember now, this is the kid who came to his first training camp in Denver and requested number 7.

bendog · 12-12-2005, 09:00 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by -Slap-

I know Tatum left Jake's ass hanging in the breeze last week because he went the wrong way on a running play. Maybe he's just dumb. Remember now, this is the kid who came to his first training camp in Denver and requested number 7.

yeah, but on the missed blitz yesterday by that huge linebacker, both Johnson and Tater were in the backfield. Tater had inside blitz protection and Johnson outside. What blew Shanny off was, Den obviously read blitz and from the right side, because both running backs went there, but neither one of them took the RT's outside shoulder. Tater was looking center guard, and Johnson guard tackle. Should have been a td or big gain. Who blew taking the outside blitz? Tater or Johnson? I dunno. I guess Johnson since he was the furtherest out there.

The Big E · 12-12-2005, 09:00 AM

Still, I'd rather not face LJ twice a year, p***Y blocker or not. As long as he puts up big #'s for my FF team and the queefs still lose, I'll be quite happy with the situation there.

12-12-2005, 08:22 AM	#1
broncosteven The Kranz Dictum MWA: Flight Director Join Date: Jun 2005 Location: Tranquility Base Posts: 29,056 Adopt-a-Bronco: MONEYBALL #38	LJ Not only Great Back but Great Toreador http://www.kansascity.com/mld/kansas...s/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/kansas...s/13386337.htm

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12-12-2005, 08:24 AM	#2
-Slap- Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 31,895	The goddamn bastard knocked me out of the fantasy league playoffs yesterday, though.

12-12-2005, 08:25 AM	#3
-Slap- Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 31,895	I can't believe people are jamming on Tynes for that missed kick. The snap was horrible.

12-12-2005, 08:26 AM	#4
ludo21 RIP Darrent Williams Join Date: Mar 2005 Location: Glendale, AZ Posts: 17,915 Adopt-a-Bronco: Paul Ernster	I didnt know that fumble was a LJ mess up. Even tho last week Tatum got ran over, he still made the block and we got the first. LJ, what a puss.

12-12-2005, 08:26 AM	#5
Rascal RIP Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 16,581 Adopt-a-Bronco: Turf	Plus if you look at the hold just before the ball was kicked the holder moves the ball and it is tilted about 5-10 degrees to the right which is where the ball went.

12-12-2005, 08:28 AM	#6
-Slap- Ring of Famer Join Date: Dec 2002 Posts: 31,895	Fatlock makes me smile when he writes articles like this one.

12-12-2005, 08:29 AM	#8
fontaine Ring of Famer Go John Manning! Join Date: Jul 2002 Posts: 12,429	Even as a Broncos fan, I have to admit this has got to be one of the most selective and cherrypicked pieces of "journalism" I've seen by fatlock. It's no secret that huggies boy hadn't refined his game to all aspects like blitz pickups, blocking, taking care of the ball etc but that was known a while ago, and one of the reasons why he was splitting carries with Holmes. But the chefs have no choice to put him in full time and blaming him for missing (possibly) the postseason is as lazy as it is lame when he's done just as much as anyone to give them a chance.

12-12-2005, 08:30 AM	#10
bendog Marginally Continent David Bowens, he'd be an upgrade Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Folsom Prison Posts: 19,935 Adopt-a-Bronco: David Bowens	hey, they were jumping on elam for the misses when Sourpuss was the holder.

12-12-2005, 08:32 AM	#11
bendog Marginally Continent David Bowens, he'd be an upgrade Join Date: Jun 2001 Location: Folsom Prison Posts: 19,935 Adopt-a-Bronco: David Bowens	how can a guy not be able to pass block? There are only two elements necessary for a RB to pick up a blitz. 1. Being able to remember what you are responsible for, and being able to see whether or not you need to block. 2. Taking the hit.

12-12-2005, 08:40 AM	#13
Rascal RIP Join Date: Mar 2004 Posts: 16,581 Adopt-a-Bronco: Turf	Well Tatum can't exactly pass block very well either. Most RB's when they get in the league have zero experience when it comes to pass blocking so they are going to struggle. Most are due to missed assignments (who to pick up in blitzes and multiples and line shifts). Bell missed two yesterday if I remember correctly.

12-12-2005, 08:40 AM	#14
redrage Perennial Pro-bowler Join Date: Sep 2003 Posts: 825	He's actually improved quite a bit, but is still pretty inconsistent. Clearly an area to concentrate on in practice.

12-12-2005, 09:00 AM	#23
The Big E Ring of Famer Join Date: Oct 2003 Location: Hermosa Beach Posts: 1,910	Still, I'd rather not face LJ twice a year, p***Y blocker or not. As long as he puts up big #'s for my FF team and the queefs still lose, I'll be quite happy with the situation there.