Chris Johnson: What To Do?

by Tim on Nov 19, 2009 4:58 PM CST in News Comment 28 comments

For all the wringing of hands over Vince Young's return to Reliant on Monday night, it's understood that Chris Johnson has likely earned the focus of Frank Bush & Company. 1,091 rushing yards, an average of 6.42 yards per carry, 262 receiving yards, an average of 8.73 yards per reception, 9 TDs, and quite possibly the greatest speed in the NFL tend to take the spotlight off even VY.

For all his otherworldly talents, however, Chris Johnson has been contained at times this year. Against Pittsburgh, he was limited to 68 total yards. The Jets held him to 105 total yards in Week Three. The Jags cut him off at 94 yards in Week Four, and Week Five saw CJ post a paltry 43 total yards. Keeping Chris Johnson in check is possible, if not probable.

In their prior matchup with the Titans, your Houston Texans saw Johnson trample them for an insane 284 total yards (197 rushing/87 receiving) and 3 TDs. In other words, that Week Two loss to the Texans accounted for 18% of his rushing yards, 33% of his receiving yards, and 33% of the touchdowns he's tallied on the season. He has to be licking his chops for Monday night.

In all the Chris-Johnson-For-Jebus and Vince-Young-For-Pope hoopla, the point that might not be getting as much run is that, despite Chris Johnson having his way with the Texans in Week Two (included but not limited to lining up wide with no one within 15 yards of him pre-snap), the Texans still managed to beat the Titans in Nashville. What's more, that Texans' defense did not feature Bernard Pollard or Jacques Reeves. That defense did prominently feature Fred Bennett, Nick Ferguson, and Dominique Barber, none of whom are likely to see the field on anything but special teams (at best) come Monday night. Just as VY makes the Titans' offense a different animal, the Texans' defense has evolved into something entirely different.

My question is simple: If you're Frank Bush, what do you do to contain Chris Johnson? My initial thought is that you have to spy him, but with who? Pollard? Brian Cushing? DeMeco Ryans? For those of you who saw any of the games where CJ was held in check, what did those defenses do?

We've all heard and read how teams want to shift the burden to Vince Young and the rest of the offense. Implicit in that assertion is containing Chris Johnson. How do you do it?

Titans vs Texans coverage

0 recs | Comment 28 comments | Share

Story-email Email Printer Print

Comments

You're Making This Too Difficult

Per BP: “Knock the pis out of them!”

by kozanack on Nov 19, 2009 5:22 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Actually

Look back at those game scores get a big lead early is what they did in those games and that was with Collins who we decided could win with his arm (joke). So they let him sling it instead of handing it off to CJ

Yes the jets game was close but not in the beginning jets had 14-0 lead in the first five or so minutes

And Vince Can beat you with his arm

Nobody punished like Earl and No one was nastier than Ryan

by Garcia34 on Nov 20, 2009 3:11 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

"And Vince Can beat you with his arm"

BAHAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!!!

"An open mind is like a fortress with it's gates unbarred and unguarded."

The ROSENFAIL : http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=CAKAKE-uq-8&feature=related

by TexansForever on Nov 20, 2009 3:12 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

We shouldn't fear Week 2 because...

Our run defense has greatly improved since week 2 with the addition of Bernard Pollard and as Dunta and H20 have gotten into game shape. I’ve confidence that CJ isn’t going to run wild or go downfield uncovered. This defense is not the same.

That said, I hope the idea goes as follows: Stack 10 in the box and force Vince Young to beat us with his arm.

Vince has looked good because they’ve asked him to be a game manager. They’re easing him into the role. Force him to read coverages, force him to make decisions, and force him to win the game.

These teams don’t like each other, the crowd will be hot, and the Texans simply must come out and knock the piss outta Tennessee. Come in, hit somebody, and make Vince Young throw the football.

by TexansDC on Nov 19, 2009 5:42 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Guys, guys, guys.

I know you will hate it, and trust me, I am one of the farthest things from a Vince fanatic you will find, but Vince Young helps CJ. Defenses have to account for both Vince and CJ, unlike earlier in the year when we really had just one offensive threat. The only way to stop Chris is to get out to an early lead and make us pass it. That is simply the only way. As it has been said before, he can be bottled up for 25 of 28 carries, but then run for 200 on the other three. Good luck, guys, but I can’t imagine a game where he doesn’t get more than 120 yards rushing and 50 yards receiving.

"We really feel like we can go 10-0 in these last ten games...we’re trying to do something nobody has ever done." Chris Johnson
"This is the only building in the NHL that the fans get up and cheer for no apparent reason just to support us." - Dan Ellis

Official Graphic Designer/Researcher/Grammar Police of MCM.
Official Graphic Goon of OTF.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Nov 19, 2009 5:44 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don't agree with the end hypothesis

But the fact that Young is enough of a running threat to require a spy of his own DEFINITELY has helped CJ out a lot.

- Rivers McCown, From Mom's Basement | Twitter

by riversmccown on Nov 19, 2009 5:59 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

How about those Options we've seen them run.

That is certainly difficult to account for when you have VY and CJ in the backfield.

I’m looking forward to this game!!

by distant_texans_fan on Nov 19, 2009 6:25 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You're probably right.

I’m going to change it to 150 total yards running and receiving.

Official Graphic Designer/Researcher/Grammar Police of MCM.
Official Graphic Goon of OTF.

by Aditya T (smashville) on Nov 19, 2009 6:29 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

If CJ had a total of 150 running and receiving yards, I would call that a good job and be proud of the d, as long as they don’t focus on him and let someone else beat us.

Miss-placed Houstonian living and going to school in the wilderness of Wyoming.

by BigNate7 on Nov 19, 2009 8:30 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

CJ doesnt have to be stopped, just contained from multiple big plays. He wasnt stopped the first time and we still won. So much is being focused on stopping Chris Johnson, but I dare say if you dont stop Matt Schaub from anally raping your secondary Chris Johnson’s yardage will be the least of your concerns.

Be judgmental about the actions of the past, be hopeful about the actions of the future. -The Homers Creed

by DaGoaT on Nov 20, 2009 9:42 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

Fuck Keith Bullock, Bud Adams, and the Titans

After reading this I wish we were the Thursday night game… I can’t wait for this game. I hope the Texans skull fuck the Titans on national T.V.

by wasteph on Nov 19, 2009 8:12 PM CST reply actions 3 recs

My first thought was

only 262 receiving yards?

He got 100 last week, receiving, and 70 on one play against us. Where are the screens?

Stuff the box. 11 guys.

Smushiak will take us to the playoffs in 2009.

by texanphil on Nov 19, 2009 8:32 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I think we'll have to stack the box

Let’s face it: VY isn’t a great passer and the Titans receivers are not that scary either. Let Dunta and Frenchy cover them 1 on 1 and get our safeties up on CJ. Kind of like what we did against the Jets, except hopefully with better results.

by cubic on Nov 19, 2009 10:37 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

I don't think we change much

This team has been shutting down the run very well since we added Pollard and the rest of the defense started playing with more discipline. I think you make some adjustments because you don’t have to respect the pass nearly as much but play a similar brand of defense as we have been. If it ain’t broke.

R.I.P Jazz #6

by was385 on Nov 19, 2009 10:54 PM CST reply actions 0 recs

Stick a microphone in front of him.

That will slow him down.

You are banned from Music City Miracles.
Happy Now Tits?
You are banned from Blogging The Boys.

by CFHTim on Nov 19, 2009 11:43 PM CST reply actions 2 recs

I never understood why the most ignorant sounding people are the ones who always feel the need to talk the most. I really wish I did, because then I might understand myself so much better.

by nolander on Nov 20, 2009 12:21 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

and so I don’t get flamed too bad, CJ seems like a nice enough guy, kinda like Marshawn Lynch.

by nolander on Nov 20, 2009 12:23 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

I say...

Spy CJ wit pollard and Cushing so they both get opportunities to get good licks on him. Knock the golds out of his mouth!!! And for the cry baby VY we should not over rush him but stay in front of him to keep him contained. If we do that then he will be forced to beat us in the air and personally I don’t think he would do a very good job at that. If we do that my friends then victory will be ours. All I know is that the damn fags oops I meant jags need to lose Sunday!!!!!!

by Texan_4_life on Nov 20, 2009 2:04 AM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

I like that planning

and I think to top it off you put Meco or Diles as a spy on VY just incase he decides to run it.

Confucius says "man who stands on toilet, high on pot".

by Bobobigbro on Nov 20, 2009 11:49 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

That's What I'm Talkin' About

Somebody needs to go all Jack Tatum on CJ…

by kozanack on Nov 20, 2009 2:40 PM CST up reply actions 0 recs

And...

The steelers and broncos need to lose to because they are in the wild card spots now. It’s gonna be tough for us to get back in there. Alot of teams are close and fighting to get in there but I hope we come out on top!

by Texan_4_life on Nov 20, 2009 2:11 AM CST via mobile reply actions 0 recs

Adjustments...

have been Bush’s strong points, I’m confident that we will keep CJ in just enough check to smack them oiltits in da mouf!

GO TEXANS!!!!

This is the year.......

by Texanmaniac on Nov 20, 2009 8:38 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

This is exactly like the 49ers thread but with more profanity.

Carry on!

DannoE

"You may say I'm a dreamer, but I'm not the only one."

by DannoE on Nov 20, 2009 9:11 AM CST reply actions 0 recs

The difference is the 49ers don't have a passing game to exploit the Titans' secondary

As was said earlier by a Titans fan, CJ will get stuffed on 25 plays then have 150 yards on his other three…, the problem with that is he is your ENTIRE offense so when you’re playing against a team that can consistently move the ball and score on your defense banking on 3-4 big plays from your offense isn’t going to cut it. The Titans have a strong running offense and terribad passing offense, the Texans struggle against the pass and are pretty stiff against the run. The Titans have a decent run defense and a terribad passing defense, the Texans can’t run the ball and are a top3 passing offense in the league.

by Bryan72076 on Nov 20, 2009 9:28 AM CST up reply actions 0 recs

You just don't get it Bryan.

The 9ers have Willis is the end all, be all of football players and if Coach Mike had put him in at QB the 9ers would have scored 28 second half touchdowns and the Tits would be 2 -7.

Confucius says "man who stands on toilet, high on pot".

by Bobobigbro on Nov 20, 2009 11:59 AM CST up reply actions 1 recs