Titans' Johnson faces challenge of another 2,000-yard rushing season
FORT LAUDERDALE, Fla. -- Chris Johnson had what he called a "dream season" in 2009. There was no other way he could describe it.
The Titans second-year running back made history this season. He became the sixth running back to rush for 2,000 yards and set an NFL record with 2,509 yards from scrimmage, breaking Marshall Faulk's mark of 2,429 yards set in 1999.
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| Chris Johnson will be the AFC's starting tailback in Sunday's Pro Bowl. (AP) |
While Johnson was proud of what he accomplished, he fell short of Eric Dickerson's record for rushing yards in a season. Dickerson ran for 2,105 yards in 1984 -- Johnson finished with 2,006 yards.
Johnson said at Thursday's Pro Bowl practice that his goal next season is simple -- 2,106 yards. That would give him the record he missed out on and make his dream come true.
"I'm waiting for somebody to pinch me and wake me up," Johnson said. "Nobody ever pinched me."
Johnson might get a rude awakening in 2010 since the five previous 2,000-yard running backs did not duplicate the feat the next season. It's hard to get back to that level as history suggests.
Dickerson finished with 1,234 yards in 1985 as his carries went from 379 in his record-breaking season to 292. Jamal Lewis also saw a decline in production from 2,066 yards in 2003 to 1,006 yards in 2004 as his carries fell from 387 to 235.
Barry Sanders had 335 carries for 2,053 yards in 1997, and his carries actually went up in 1998 to 343. But he only ran for 1,491 yards in what turned out to be the final season of his career as he abruptly retired at 30.
Terrell Davis was never the same after running for 2,008 yards in 1998 on 392 carries. He finished with only 211 yards in an injury-plagued 1999 and never got back to being a 1,000-yard rusher, let alone 2,000 yards. O.J. Simpson had 2,003 rushing yards in 1973 on 332 carries, but he only ran for 1,125 yards in 1974 with 270 carries.
Johnson could duplicate this season's performance in 2010. He has a solid offensive line, and the Titans are dedicated to giving him the ball. But that was the same scenario for the other five 2,000-yard backs.
Don't say Johnson has an advantage based on his age. Like Johnson, Dickerson and Lewis were 24 when they set the mark.
But Johnson's teammates feel he is capable of having a repeat performance. They know he is a special talent.
"He was phenomenal," Titans center Kevin Mawae said. "He's a unique running back that can kill you with speed, but he's also a power back as well."
Johnson said having Vince Young as the starting quarterback all season in 2010 will help his production. Young took over for Kerry Collins this season Week 8, and Johnson was unstoppable from that point on.
In 10 games with Young under center, Johnson ran for 1,410 yards. If you project that for a full season then Johnson would have run for 2,256 yards, easily breaking Dickerson's record.
"If he was there for the first six games, there's no telling how many yards I would have rushed for," Johnson said. "I make him better, and he made me better."
Said Young: "We're going to make each other better. I'm honored playing with him. I know he does a lot for me playing in that backfield. It's a vice-versa thing. I have a lot of respect for that guy. It's just his second year, and the things that he's doing right now are pretty scary."
Johnson was scary for opposing defenders this season. He did things most running backs only dream of, and he was deserving of being named the Associated Press Offensive Player of the Year.
But now Johnson has to try and get back to this level. He has to try to make history for a second season in a row while chasing Dickerson's record. He has to hope that nobody pinches him and wakes him up.
