Jamaal Charles: A Chris Johnson Clone or Shadow?
by Vancouver Chiefs fan on Nov 30, 2009 4:42 PM CST
Email
Print
After that beating i witnessed yesterday at the hands of the chargers, i couldn't help but fall back into optimism mode, or as i like to call it "glimmer of hope mode". Now i've been contemplating this for a few weeks, basically ever since Jamaal Charles was handed the keys at running back he has impressed. With limited carries he continues to put up big numbers.
The knock on Charles from the beginning was his size will stop him from being an every down back. So i thought about that, and the first thing that came to my mind was: What about Chris Johnson? Their body type and frames are seemingly identical. When he broke into the league last year, everyone thought that he needed Lendale White to be successful. This season he is clearly proving that wrong. White has been a ghost. Once a promisiong young power running back, he has now been relegated to about 4 carries a game.
So what makes Chris Johnson so much different from Jamaal Charles?? Not much, it seems. Their Yards Per Carry average is the same, their running style is the same, and they both have the ability to be legitimate recieving threats (just ask Quintin Jammer).
The only recognizable difference i can see is that Chris Johnson is being given a better shot at succeeding. Sure Johnson's numbers are bigger, but at this point you can honestly say it might be because he gets about 10 more carries a game than Charles. And at their rushing rate that figures to be around 66 yards a game. More than that, Charles might even be able to imporve on what Johnson is doing if was given the same sort of blocking, instead he has one of the worst O-lines in football. Also, Johnson is 24, where Charles is 22, and the added experience and maturity could go a long way for the young tailback.
I know Charles has been getting alot of pub lately but it just seems to be from the local media. His own coach seems hesitant to put his full confidence in him. Now is he seeing something i'm not? I know Charles has had some untimely fumbles but so have other major running backs (LT, AP, ect.). So my question is: Is Jamaal Charles a running back worthy of the same type of attention or at least opportunity as Chris Johnson? Or he is mearly a mirage, and a poor mans version of the Tennesse standout?
This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of Arrowhead Pride's writers or editors. It does reflect the views of this particular fan though, which is as important as the views of Arrowhead Pride writers or editors.
24 comments
|
0 recs |
Do you like this story?
Comments
It isn't that Jamaal isn't worthy of being compared to CJ
it is just that he hasn’t earned it yet.
Make no mistake, Charles is going to get carries the rest of the way. If it wasn’t for the ridiculous amount of turn overs and the lopsided score Charles may well have been on his way to a huge day on the ground.
As long as the scores is close Charles is going to be given the chance to earn some attention. The Bills and the Browns are pretty soft against the run. I have the Cleveland game circled on my calendar is the day Jamaal goes off for well over 150 yards.
Although I hope he does that this Sunday against the Donkeys instead.
Please help send my girlfriend to Broadway! Visit http://magonbroadway.blogspot.com/
Agreed
He has quite a ways to go before he earns comparisons to CJ. Johnson’s the toast of the league right now. Charles is doing well, and I’m among his biggest fans, but he’s not in the same metaphorical league as Johnson is right now.
by burntorangehorn on Nov 30, 2009 5:10 PM CST up reply actions
True
I agree with you both, that charles needs to EARN the same acclaim that Johnson is enjoying. Im speaking more about the recognition of this guy’s skill set, and that it is comparable to Johnsons. Basically the acknowlegement that the chiefs have something, and not just a decent player on a bad team. It seems like Kansas city media are the only people taking this guy seriously. Everyone else still seems to think its impossible or highly unlikely that Charles could be a number 1.
LJ is gone... Long live King Charles!!
by Vancouver Chiefs fan on Nov 30, 2009 6:16 PM CST up reply actions
Fumbles aside
I have been more excited about our ground attack with Charles than I’ve been in a long time. A couple of times I noticed he used his small stature to his advantage by tucking himself behind linemen, then finding a small seem and bursting through it like a bullet. He has definitely shown the ability to make defenders miss in open space. I think we’ve seen some improvement in him protecting the ball as the season has gone on. He also showed great hands on that long pass play. Right now he is our main weapon (running, returning, and not a bad pass catcher), so we should continue to showcase him and let him mature as a player. I can’t wait to see what he can do behind a more talented line with an offense that demands more respect passing the ball. I think he has that extra gear that we’ve been wanting a back to have for a long time now…
Chiefs run game
Thats what i was getting at, just that Charles deserves a bit of credit/respect for what he’s been able to do thus far. The chiefs run game was non-existent before he became the starter. Even in the pittsburg game it would have been nice to see him get some more carries (but we wont complain because it was a win).
LJ is gone... Long live King Charles!!
by Vancouver Chiefs fan on Nov 30, 2009 6:37 PM CST up reply actions
There will never be another Barry Sanders.
by ChiTownChiefs on Nov 30, 2009 6:12 PM CST up reply actions
At This Point I'd Say
A better version of Leon Washington. And I mean that in a really good way…Leon Washington is a good player.
He just hasn’t produced enough to be compared to CJ. Not many backs in the NFL have.
Moderator - Arrowhead Pride
Leon Washington
Ya he KILLED us last year, almost 300 total yards that game.. ouch
LJ is gone... Long live King Charles!!
by Vancouver Chiefs fan on Nov 30, 2009 9:20 PM CST up reply actions
Wow! It is WAY too early to be comparing those two.
Not even in the same breath. Cj shreds defenders like butter. He’s a different level RB all together. Hey anyone can surprise and wouldn’t it be super luck to have Jamaal become that surprise star?
Does he get enough credit yet? Yes. Because he’s getting the amount of praise deserving of a back that’s only carried the load for two games and has a fumble already. Yes because too many hundreds of players have had instant accolades thrown at them only to disappoint later on. We don’t want another flash in the pan, which happens more than not in the NFL. We don’t want to jinx it either. He’s getting plenty of credit for an above averge RB on a 3-7 team. Period.
His day will come, if he continues to earn it.
Not even in the same breath?
I think thats a little extreme. Don’t get me wrong, I agree that RIGHT NOW johnson and charles are on different levels. What i am trying to say is that its not far off to say that Charles has the same type of skill set that could eventually get him to that level. I guess its just nice to have something to potentially look forward to with this team for a change.
LJ is gone... Long live King Charles!!
by Vancouver Chiefs fan on Nov 30, 2009 8:55 PM CST up reply actions
About Charles getting over 100 yards on the Den D.
For whatever reason, we run well against Den. LJ was easily able to put up over 100 in like almost every HOME game for some reason. Charles should do it if given the chance.
When you fail to prepare, you prepare to fail.
This guy
has blown wind in our sails after LJ took it all out. He has the tools to be a premier back. Now let’s just hope he can do it.
About his size
Charles may not be a “power back” in build, but he sure as hell runs like one. I just remember my favorite run of his this season. Dude ran the f over Ryan Clark. Clark is possibly the hardest hitting DB in the league, or at least one of them. Him and Charles went helmet to helmet and Clark ended up on the ground while Jamaal spun out of it and would’ve taken it to paydirt if he didnt run into his own blocker.
For justice we must go to Don Pioli
As fast as...
Charles is I think CJ might actually be faster. Correct me if I’m wrong, but didn’t CJ break Deon’s 40 time at the combine. He ran like a 4.19! Also, CJ seems to have a bit more power than given credit for.
The Titans have one of the best O-lines in the entire NFL
There is no way you can compare the Titan rushing attack with ours. You could put just about any RB behind the Tennessee line and they would be successful. The fact that CJ is a total freak is just icing on the cake.
Interesting Note
The only team CJ and Charles have both started against this year is Pittsburg, and there stats happen to be pretty similar. CJ: 15 carries for 57 yards… Charles 17 carries for 58 yards… Also Johnsons total is padded due to a long of 32 yards, where Charles had a long of only 10. It stands to reason then that in that game Charles was consistently able to get better runs than Johnson. Again, I’m NOT saying Charles is better or even as good as JOhnson right now, just that there seems to be ALOT of similarities.
LJ is gone... Long live King Charles!!
by Vancouver Chiefs fan on Dec 1, 2009 2:39 PM CST reply actions
Comments For This Post Are Closed
Secondary Sidebar
User Tools
FanPosts
Community blog posts and discussion.
Certain photos copyright © 2012 by Associated Press or Getty Images. Any commercial use or distribution without the express written consent of Associated Press and Getty Images is strictly prohibited.
