Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles Getting Comparisons to Titans RB Chris Johnson

by Joel Thorman on Dec 20, 2009 9:19 AM CST in 2009 Kansas City Chiefs Campaign

Is the comparison fair? Probably not at this point but in our world every player is the next somebody. For Kansas City Chiefs RB Jamaal Charles, the comparison has been the next Chris Johnson, all-world running back for the Tennessee Titans.

Both are small, shifty and have the ability to score anywhere on the field. Johnson demonstrates that ability on just about a weekly basis. Charles has just flashed that potential only now and again.

Both lead their respective teams in rushing. Charles just passed 600 yards and Johnson just passed 1,600 yards. Both lead their teams in receptions - Charles with 34 and Johnson with 42.

Yeah, they're not the same player, but we need the comparisons to make us feel that our player is the next someone.

"I'm a physical player and I can run the ball just like Chris Johnson does," Charles said after last week's loss to the Buffalo Bills when he rushed for a career high.

Kent Babb of the Kansas City Star has a fantastic piece on Charles detailing his rise from an inactive afterthought in the second week of the season to one of the building blocks of the Chiefs future.

While reading and hearing the thoughts of more and more people who are talking about the Chiefs tailback,the JC-to-CJ comparison keeps popping up.

"He looks a little bit like the [Chris] Johnson kid from Tennessee, where he has that home run ability," Browns defensive coordinator Rob Ryan said this week. "They're using him all over the place. They flex him out as a receiver and he's doing some great things out there, beating corners and things like that."

"Jamaal has an ability to score form anywhere on the field and not a lot of guys in the NFL have that ability," Chiefs LB Mike Vrabel said this week. "Certainly those guys are hard to come by."

He's definitely not Chris Johnson yet but at least over the last five weeks the comparisons have becoming more and more realistic.

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Comments

That tenth of a second make a world of difference

I love JC and he has gamebreaker speed. But CJ has omfgwtf was that blur speed. He has speed that has lierally never been seen before at the position. JC can’t be caught from behind. CJ can’t be caught from in front.

With that said, the style of play is very similar and it is the best current comparison for JC. Similar body…similar run style…similar talents. Just glad to see this as the comparison ratrher than comparing JC to Barry Sanders which was done frequently earlier this year. This comparison at least makes sense.

This is my signature line. It is full of awesome and win.

by KCSatchmo on Dec 20, 2009 9:25 AM CST reply actions

I think the top-end speed is there for both

However, JC doesn’t have the acceleration that CJ does, which makes a WORLD of difference in tight spaces where you have to make one juke and take off again.

"The first step to penetration... must not be lateral"
-Confucius, in contrary to Glenn Dorsey lining up in the 2-tech

by ArrowSpread on Dec 20, 2009 11:06 AM CST up reply actions

good comparison...

but the production isnt quite on the same level YET. There is no slowing down johnson, he will get his yards recieving or rushing and always seems to break AT LEAST one big run a game where as charles can stryggle and sometimes doesn’t hit the home run. I think next season charles will make improvements and we can see more of johnson in him and this comparison will come closer to true, but for now i will take it

by dt58 on Dec 20, 2009 10:04 AM CST reply actions

Not fair

Charles has not played a full season he was stuck behind 2.7 for part of the season.

by Charles # 1 chiefs fan on Dec 20, 2009 10:23 AM CST reply actions

also

lets get a decent O-line in front of him next year and we will see big improvements, this year he is having to make his own hole most of the time. I will give the O-line credit though on the big run against the Bills they created a huge hole, they just need to do it more often.

by banshee_01 on Dec 20, 2009 10:31 AM CST reply actions

yeah think about it

we give up the most sacks in the nfl, and LJ was averaging 2.7(fixed to 2.9 so ill still say 2.7) behind the same line charles is averaging double….I mean, hes already over 5 yards a carry….if he gets a line, he may have the YPC of a madden franchise RB.

by SDChief on Dec 20, 2009 10:42 AM CST up reply actions