Johnson Struggling to get ground game going with Texans on deck. John McClain, Ultimate Texans.
Mike Munchak and Bruce Matthews are members of the Pro Football Hall of Fame because they were among the greatest blockers in NFL history. Now they are coaching the worst running game in the NFL.
It is difficult to imagine Munchak, Tennessee’s head coach, and Matthews, the Titans’ offensive line coach, having a running game that ranks last at 39 yards a game and 2.6 yards a carry.
One of the biggest mysteries in Nashville is whatever happened to running back Chris Johnson. From 2,006 yards in 2009 to $30 million guaranteed last season to 45 yards on 33 carries in three games this season.
It's not a mystery, at least, not to anyone who's been watching Johnson run. The guy has no head for contact any longer. He moseys into the hole and then, when he sees the safety or line-backer bearing down, he goes into tap-dance mode, tries to bounce outside.....right into the waiting arms of a tackler for a minimal gain or loss. Yes, the holes aren't as big as they used to be, signs of a Tennessee team that's done a horrible job building an O-line, but they are there. It's just that Johnson doesn't have the will to hit them hard any longer.
It's well known that McClain has a soft spot in his heart for K.S. (Bud) Adams and the Titans, it has to pain him to be writing about a team that's this bad. Fortunately, for him, he's been able to take out that frustration on an average Texans team in years past. This year however that habit is just making him look sad.
I just have one thing to say about this:
John McClain's picks for week 4, John McClain, Ultimate Texans
McClain’s record last week: 4-12 (.250) straight up; 5-11 (.313) vs. spread
Season: 24-24 (.50) straight up; 17-29-2 (.375) vs. spread
Ouch.
Judging by this week's picks he's not going to improve those numbers much. Granted, it's been a tough year to pick, with a lot of formerly good teams falling by the wayside, but still. 25% last week? Yeesh.
