Johnson, Chiefs stymied by suffocating Jaguars' D

08.10.2007 15:00 Sport and Travel - Source: USA Today

This is life now for the NFL's most prolific running back of the past two seasons.

When his day ended Sunday, the Kansas City Chiefs star had touched the ball 14 times against Jacksonville and gained 15 yards. Overall, the Chiefs had the second-most miserable rushing day in franchise history — managing just 10 yards and failing to score until the game's final, meaningless play — and fell 17-7 at home.

BOX SCORE: Jaguars 17, Chiefs 7

"I really can't explain it. I don't have the answer to it," quarterback Damon Huard said after a team that started the day third-worst in the league in rushing somehow became even less potent.

Johnson, who ran for 3,539 yards and 37 touchdowns in 2005 and 2006, carried nine times for 12 yards before a 17-point deficit essentially took him out of the game midway through the fourth quarter.

It was his lowest rushing total since back-to-back games without a carry midway through his second season as a pro in 2004, when he was a backup to Priest Holmes.

"We just aren't doing our jobs, and it's every aspect," offensive guard Brian Waters said. "When you run the ball, it's more than just the line. It's the tight ends. It's the fullbacks. And it's the running back. As a group, we haven't been doing very well. We're one block away here. We're one cut away here. Our techniques and fundamentals are just breaking down play by play."

Johnson left the Chiefs' somber locker room without talking.

Early-season disappointment has turned into frustration for the two-time Pro Bowler, who missed 25 days of training camp while holding out for a reworked contract and then averaged fewer than 47 yards in Kansas City's first three games. He gained 123 in a come-from-behind win at the San Diego Chargers but never got unwound against Jacksonville.

The Jaguars (3-1) limited his opportunities, in part, by hogging the ball. Their three scoring drives averaged 11 plays and 79 yards and totaled more than 19 minutes — producing a John Carney field goal, Maurice Jones-Drew's 52-yard touchdown run and quarterback David Garrard's 3-yard TD toss to Dennis Northcutt.

They also did what has become the norm against Kansas City (2-3): stack the line, target the 6-1, 230-pound Johnson — who is averaging 3.3 yards a carry and 55 a game and is yet to score — and make the Chiefs move through the air.

"You have to wrap up and bring extra people, because he's pretty darn good," Jacksonville coach Jack Del Rio said. "We were forcing them into situations of having to throw the ball and not allowing Larry to get going."

Five games into this difficult season, Chiefs tight end Tony Gonzalez said Johnson is simmering.

"He's his biggest critic. He doesn't need someone like me or the media or anybody else to light a fire underneath him," Gonzalez said. "He wants to be the best. I'm sure he has his reasons why he wants to be the best; we all have different reasons. Whatever it is, I'm sure it's digging at him right now."

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