The curious case of Chris Johnson...

[mrprice33]

I don't have time to fully flesh this out, but I just saw that Donny is lowering Johnson's physical attributes due to his poor production. This struck me as odd. There's no tangible evidence that his physical attributes have changed, as much as the Titan OL is just not playing as well as they had in past years, be it due to scheme or personnel. It made me think though. In a sport where every player is dependent on other players to do their job, can we ever get anything close to a decent approximation of a player's abilities for the purposes of rating? Is there any other way to get a computer simulation to accurately represent nfl players? Consider Larry Fitzgerald. His production has been way off his standard with kurt warner, but Warner isn't throwing him the ball anymore. How can we attribute the reduction in production to one party?

[DeuceZeroz]

I was thinking the same thing myself. Having a less productive season thus far doesnt mean he has gotten slower or cant cut as well as he used to. He is easily still the fastest back in the league an his rating reflects that being at 99. How does not playing well put that fact in jeopardy? It could be scheme, o-line or "who cares? I got my contract-itis". That caught me off guard as well.

[mrprice33]

I get why he does it (I think), but it rings false. If you traded cj for a running back who is on a dominant run blocking team, he'd thrive, I think. At the very least, there's no evidence that he wouldn't.

[EccentricMeat]

Well, honestly, Chris Johnson HAS been slower. He just hasn't had that burst all year. Maybe it's the lack of training camp/pre-season, maybe he's taking the day off because of his contract, or maybe (and this is my honest opinion), CJ just isn't that good of a RB.

The running back is the most overrated position in NFL history. Besides AP and Barry Sanders, how many RBs have been successful without a good O-line? Good O-line's make any running back look good/great. Just look at the Texans. Foster went down with an injury in the pre-season, Tate came in and looked a LOT like Foster. That O-line is what makes those two RBs look as good as they do, not the RBs themselves.

[TNT713]

CJ2K cashed out while he still could. He knew he doesn't have his burst. He's a running back in the NFL. Youthful legs with 'burst' don't last more than 3-4 years.

Sadly, CJ2K doesn't have anything to offer on the football field except speed. His vision isn't all that great, and he's not very elusive. This year he's doing NOTHING between the tackles, and no one is letting him get to the edge.

This is a case where someone takes the money and doesn't run. LOL

Later

[Blue Ninja]

CJ2K is still IMO one of the best running back in the league. He has great vision, and has sick lateral movement and acceleration like nobody. He's had the toughest schedule than any other back in the league. This week against Indy, he doesn't have that excuse. It is a new running scheme and new coach so that has to be a factor.

CJ wasn't dominant because his line was great rather he made his line look better than they really are. In football it takes 11 players to win and produce. Great QBs makes WRs or TEs look great. Great line makes RBs or QBs look great. Great Pass rushing makes secondary look great. same goes the other way.

ofcourse there are clear exceptions though but there arent many.

[KBLover]

Quote: Originally Posted by TNT713

This is a case where someone takes the money and doesn't run. LOL

LOL that's a good one

[KBLover]

Quote: Originally Posted by EccentricMeat

The running back is the most overrated position in NFL history. Besides AP and Barry Sanders, how many RBs have been successful without a good O-line? Good O-line's make any running back look good/great.

Exactly, which is why if HB is doing badly, the run blocking of the OL needs to take a hit unless it's clear the HB just isn't taking advantage of the holes they are making, or another HB on the same team IS doing well - then that might hint at the difference being the HBs themselves.

Otherwise, the "blame" shouldn't go just on CJ. If he's lost explosiveness and what not - represent that of course, but evaluate the OL as well. Just seems when ratings are dropped/increased, it goes all on the skill positions on offense - as if the OL doesn't make any of it possible.

And if it's the scheme, then give the coaches a negative modifier to HBs and leave the actual ratings of the HB alone (unless they also warrant change). That way, the player will struggle on that team with the negative modifier, but a new coach (a user could fire that coach in their franchise) or a new team could revitalize him.

There are coaching modifiers. Use them, EA. Evaluate team schemes and use more subtlety as well as brute force ratings drops.