junebugz Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 So with all the talk going around about whether LJ will be able to produce without Roaf on the line I thought I would do some checking on stats of the games KC played without him last year. @ OAK 9/18 - KC 23 vs. OAK 17 Priest Holmes rush 19/75 1td receiving 3/15 Larry Johnson rush 9/41 0td @ DEN 9/26 - DEN 30 vs. KC 10 Priest Holmes rush 14/61 0td receiving 3/32 Larry Johnson rush 8/13 0td *NOTE - KC was trailing 17-0 by end of first quarter so may not have been their typical game plan from that point forward. PHI 10/2 - PHI 37 vs. KC 31 Priest Holmes rush 18/84 1td receiving 5/24 Larry Johnson rush 7/34 0td OAK 11/6 - KC 27 vs. OAK 23 Larry Johnson rush 22/107 2td receiving 3/48 @BUF 11/13 - BUF 14 vs. KC 3 Larry Johnson rush 27/132 0td receiving 5/46 @HOU 11/20 - KC 45 vs. HOU 17 Larry Johnson rush 36/211 2td receiving 1/6 Granted these defenses are not exactly what you could call stout running D's (with the exception of perhaps Denver). However, the numbers put up by KC rushing during those games are certainly solid. Point here being that just losing Roaf will not greatly diminish LJ's projection IMO. Sure it will have some impact, but a drastic slide seems a little rediculous. The greater impact would seem to come from Herm and the offensive play calling. Herm had really only 2 better than average years with the rushing game in NY. 2001 and 2004. In 2004 when Pennington was playing decent and Martin was tearing it up on the way to the rushing title, all was good. Last year, with line problems and QB woes it was the exact opposite the JETS went from ranking 3rd in yards and 9th in td's to 31st in yards and 24th in td's. So it seems that if Herm has a halfway producing QB, decent OL, and good runner he is capable of producing a top quality rushing team. IMO, KC has each of those components more so than did NYJ in 2004. On a side note, I would think that LJ is going to be highly motivated to have a big year in hopes of cashing in with a big contract later in the year or next off season. *plink, plink* Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Avernus Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 the best thing about LJ is the fact that he is playing for a future contract.... Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modus Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I would be more concerned about the loss of Richardson + Roaf. That being said, he's still a top 3 back. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
The Wolf Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I would be more concerned about the loss of Richardson + Roaf. That being said, he's still a top 3 back. Richardson for sure. I looked up the projected starter on NFL.com...Ronnie Cruz. Any KC homers out there know anything about this kid? Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hat Trick Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Richardson for sure. I looked up the projected starter on NFL.com...Ronnie Cruz. Any KC homers out there know anything about this kid? He was signed to the practice squad in 2004. He backed up Tony all last year. He got in a few games. I saw an interview with him and he talks like a very confident player. He stated he didn't just want to blow up LB's and create holes for LJ, he also wanted to run and catch the ball some. He stated he was out to prove he wouldn't be the weak link to the running game. Take that with a grain of salt, but he's pretty unproven at this point. Hopefully he was watching Tony very closely. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
modus Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I would also be concerned about Al Saunders being gone. Maybe if we're lucky Roaf will come back a week before the season starts. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Pope Flick Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 Interesting #'s from the NYJ during Herm's tenure; Rushin Attempts (NFL Rank) 2001-445(14) 2002-400(29) 2003-409(29) 2004-527(3) 2005-384(27) Make of that what you will, but I was surprised to see them ranked so low more often than not. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Ground Chuck Posted August 1, 2006 Share Posted August 1, 2006 I think sometimes to much change aint a good thing. The Cheifs lost both starting tackles, and even if Roaf returns hes over the hill and injury prone at this point. He would help, but hes not the almighty he once was. They lost a lifer FB in Richardson. Al Saunders may be the biggest loss of them all. The team is older and wafer thin at most positions. If they eat their Lucky Charms and go to church often, LJ and his Cheifs can do some real damage. If anything bad happens to this team, stick a fork in them. LJ would be merely Top 10 in that case. Note to self: I hate owning a 6'1 230 pound RB in todays NFL, wear and tear x10 . . . . . . . P.S. Old man All Pro guard Waters already nursing foot strain. I can hear the bones creaking in KC. Waters is already hitting the flex-all 454. He'll be fine. Look what it did for Joe Namath, gave him the courage to swap spit with Suzy Kolber. Quote Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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