The Magic of Adding Johnson

[LittleDavis]

This signing reminds me of the Edgerrin signing...basically the same age and both entering their 8th year. James was more of a workhorse than CJ but both have been elite RB's. The difference is the caliber of the Cardinals team that they play for. Our O-line and QB play was horrible when James came here and he came from a great system with a great QB with the Colts. CJ is the opposite...he came from horrible franchises with bad O-line and QB play. I think he is still an elite player and I think he supplants AE by week 1.


Prediction: CJ 1400 rushing and 350 receiving with 7 total TD's
AE 500 rushing and 600 receiving with 5 total TD's

I'm drinking the CJ koolaid...plus I have always loved the way he plays the game. Once upon a time I chose him over AP in my fantasy draft.

 

[Buckybird]

Not so sure you can say that considering Jim Taylor, Earl Campbell, Floyd Little, Larry Czonka and Leroy Kelly are in the HOF. Only Campbell has more yards than Johnson and none had a 2,000 yd. season to their credit. Would you consider Steven Jackson and Frank Gore HOFers? Both have over 11,000 yds and are still playing. Jackson is 16th all time and Gore is 20th. Only Tomlinson, Corey Dillon and Fred Taylor are ahead of these two guys and are not in the HOF. Every other RB ahead of them is in.

AP is 28th and Johnson is 36th. Lynch is 35th, 67 yards ahead of Johnson. I would think what he does over the next couple of years will determine if Johnson is a HOFer. I would not count him out quite yet.

I get your reasoning & logic cardpa, but there's more to it than just numbers. Let's not kid ourselves here, a players reputation & perception by his peers & the HOF voters are a tremendous reason along with his stats when elected.

Remember this is the Hall of great, not the Hall of very good!!! Have you ever heard voters ask the question "can you write the history of the NFL without this players name"?

Two names at the opposite end of my logic come to mind. You brought up a great name in Jim Taylor. Imo he got in at the early part of the HOF, when the number of qualified players were on the low end & because he played for the great teams of the Pack. Most of those great players from the team are in the HOF except for Jerry Kramer. Imo Taylor got in on reputation & persona. The next player I thought of was Gale Sayers. Everyone knows he was great in a very short career, so again his reputation exceeded his production, though he was very good for a short time. Paul Hornung even more so.

The other names you mentioned were considered great players of their era, especially Campbell & AD whom are considered at the top of the RB list of all time. Personally I don't think Csonka deserves induction, but he did play for those undefeated Dolphins (and so did Griese) so their perception among the voters & peers are very high. You could also throw Kurt Warners name to this list. If he didn't have phenomenal few seasons in Cardinal red & lead them to a Super Bowl, I doubt he would ever get in.

Just my 2 cents. Unless CJ has 2 or 3 more very good years he stands almost no chance for the reasons I stated above. Let's hope he is very good because it improves our odds of a Lombardi Trophy!!!

 

[Shaggy]

I agree with Shane, he's unlikely to get 1000 yards. That said he adds experienced depth at the right price and could surprise with his production. I just hope he stays motivated if Ellington gets the bulk of the touches.

That's just it, I don't think Ellington will get the bulk of the touches. I think he will be a starter, but will go back to being what he was as a rookie where he dominated without dominating the touch category. CJ helps AE with what I think AE is good at, moving around the field from RB to WR.

CJ will dominate the backfield if he is motivated to get that pay day for next year. I think he will have the motivation. Hope to see him play this Saturday.

I don't care if CJ makes the HoF. I just hope he makes 10+ TD this year.

 

[Buckybird]

I agree with Shane, he's unlikely to get 1000 yards. That said he adds experienced depth at the right price and could surprise with his production. I just hope he stays motivated if Ellington gets the bulk of the touches.

Harry could we see AE & CJ on the field at the same time? Boy is that a scary thought for defenses

 

[Phrazbit]

This year, we will have two or three 1000 yard receivers and at least one 1000 yard rusher.

Probably two 5,000 yard passers also.

But I can only see one guy, maaaaybe two getting over 25 TDs.

 

[WildBB]

Harry could we see AE & CJ on the field at the same time? Boy is that a scary thought for defenses

I think this is the whole point for the signing. They could conceivably have BOTH Ellington (slot) and David Johnson (H-back), on the field the same time with CJ at RB.

This could cause nightmare matchup problems for teams that really bring the pressure, because all of them can make tremendous RAC plays and can keep Palmer upright when the heat comes.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

Wonder what CJ is thinking now that the Oline may not be at full strength for a while?

 

[Iceman]

Wonder what CJ is thinking now that the Oline may not be at full strength for a while?

Yep. The Oline dropping like flys. Hopefully guys can step it up and be strong at their positions. My hope (and could happen) is that CJ outplays AE and gets more snaps. And this being that AE is playing at his potential, but CJ does so well that they can't afford to take him off the field. Man, if this happens it's gonna a super exciting season to watch! Just hope majority of the guys can stay healthy and the ones that are hurt now come back and stay healthy for the rest of the season

 

[D-Dogg]

Chris Johnson will not rush for 1000 much less 1300

I don't think so either, but it's not beyond possibility for him to get 1K all purpose yards.

I'm kind of meh on the whole signing, but it is another weapon.

People who think they are getting CJ2K are on crack tho.

 

[D-Dogg]

I think this is the whole point for the signing. They could conceivably have BOTH Ellington (slot) and David Johnson (H-back), on the field the same time with CJ at RB.

This could cause nightmare matchup problems for teams that really bring the pressure, because all of them can make tremendous RAC plays and can keep Palmer upright when the heat comes.

This is the intriguing thought about CJ. Weapons galore and lots of speed. Keep a defense on its heels so it can only throw 4 on the rush.

That's gold for Palmer.

 

[BullheadCardFan]

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[cardpa]

I get your reasoning & logic cardpa, but there's more to it than just numbers. Let's not kid ourselves here, a players reputation & perception by his peers & the HOF voters are a tremendous reason along with his stats when elected.

Remember this is the Hall of great, not the Hall of very good!!! Have you ever heard voters ask the question "can you write the history of the NFL without this players name"?

Two names at the opposite end of my logic come to mind. You brought up a great name in Jim Taylor. Imo he got in at the early part of the HOF, when the number of qualified players were on the low end & because he played for the great teams of the Pack. Most of those great players from the team are in the HOF except for Jerry Kramer. Imo Taylor got in on reputation & persona. The next player I thought of was Gale Sayers. Everyone knows he was great in a very short career, so again his reputation exceeded his production, though he was very good for a short time. Paul Hornung even more so.

The other names you mentioned were considered great players of their era, especially Campbell & AD whom are considered at the top of the RB list of all time. Personally I don't think Csonka deserves induction, but he did play for those undefeated Dolphins (and so did Griese) so their perception among the voters & peers are very high. You could also throw Kurt Warners name to this list. If he didn't have phenomenal few seasons in Cardinal red & lead them to a Super Bowl, I doubt he would ever get in.

Just my 2 cents. Unless CJ has 2 or 3 more very good years he stands almost no chance for the reasons I stated above. Let's hope he is very good because it improves our odds of a Lombardi Trophy!!!

Bucky you make very good points and I agree with you that it's not just stats that will get you in. I also agree that the teams you played on have an impact and I am in complete agreement that Csonka should not be in there. CJ needs to have another 2-3 very good years to have a chance. I think the 2K year helps his cause to some extent. I also think that if he plays for the Cardinals the next 3 years that will elevate his status because I believe the Cardinals will be in the playoffs mix during that time. I guess all I was trying to say is if he can tack on an additional 3K yards over the next 3 years it would elevate him into the top 20 all time rushers. People are already punching AP's ticket into the HOF and the reality is he hasn't played on any good teams to speak of. CJ is in the same boat. As you are I am hoping CJ has a great year for the Cardinals and it helps lead the team to a Lombardi trophy. I just have a feeling that the team got a steal with CJ and he will become the primary ball carrier on the team with Ellington becoming more of a Hybrid RB/WR than a true RB. If CJ can return to his previous form I can easily see him going over 1200 yds this season. Then the only question is how do you afford to keep him? I do have a lot of ifs in here however there are not out of the realm of possibilities.

 

[Cheesebeef]

Bucky you make very good points and I agree with you that it's not just stats that will get you in. I also agree that the teams you played on have an impact and I am in complete agreement that Csonka should not be in there. CJ needs to have another 2-3 very good years to have a chance. I think the 2K year helps his cause to some extent. I also think that if he plays for the Cardinals the next 3 years that will elevate his status because I believe the Cardinals will be in the playoffs mix during that time. I guess all I was trying to say is if he can tack on an additional 3K yards over the next 3 years it would elevate him into the top 20 all time rushers. People are already punching AP's ticket into the HOF and the reality is he hasn't played on any good teams to speak of. CJ is in the same boat. As you are I am hoping CJ has a great year for the Cardinals and it helps lead the team to a Lombardi trophy. I just have a feeling that the team got a steal with CJ and he will become the primary ball carrier on the team with Ellington becoming more of a Hybrid RB/WR than a true RB. If CJ can return to his previous form I can easily see him going over 1200 yds this season. Then the only question is how do you afford to keep him? I do have a lot of ifs in here however there are not out of the realm of possibilities.

He's played on three playoffs teams, two he singlehandedly put in the playoffs (2008 and 2012) and played on a team that was ONE play away from the Super Bowl in 2010.

 

[Russ Smith]

I can't remember if it was ESPN or NFLN but they were talkign about the signing and one of the ex players said it really depends on which CJ they signed. He said if he's motivated it's a good signing, if he's not, he could be a problem where you're better off releasing him.

His comment was Johnson has always been about money and fame. said after the 2K year and then getting a big contract, he hasn't been the same player because he wasn't motivated anymore, he'd done what he wanted to(2000) and got what he wanted(Paid).

If CJ has mellowed and is in shape and motivated he can help, if he's not in great shape or if he's in it for the wrong reason, he can be a bad influence on Ellington and a disruption on the team. Said until now CJ is a guy who if he's not the feature guy on offense, you should not have him on the team, selfish guy.

 

[Dude]

I can't remember if it was ESPN or NFLN but they were talkign about the signing and one of the ex players said it really depends on which CJ they signed. He said if he's motivated it's a good signing, if he's not, he could be a problem where you're better off releasing him.

His comment was Johnson has always been about money and fame. said after the 2K year and then getting a big contract, he hasn't been the same player because he wasn't motivated anymore, he'd done what he wanted to(2000) and got what he wanted(Paid).

If CJ has mellowed and is in shape and motivated he can help, if he's not in great shape or if he's in it for the wrong reason, he can be a bad influence on Ellington and a disruption on the team. Said until now CJ is a guy who if he's not the feature guy on offense, you should not have him on the team, selfish guy.

1 year deal for the vet minimum unless he goes off. I don't think he's here for the money. If he doesn't play well it's IMO only because he's done.

 

[DeAnna]

Came across this article on CJ2K from April 2014 - before he signed with the Jets.

No matter where Johnson signs, you have to lower the expectation level. And he has to realize the "me" act doesn't fly when your numbers dip dramatically.

We will never see the old Chris Johnson again. That's someone we haven't seen in years.

Yeah, I guess he is motivated now!

http://www.nfl.com/news/story/0ap2000000340482/article/chris-johnsons-cj2k-days-are-over-but-possible-value-remains

 

[NoelPHX]

He might just see that 1000 yards. Maybe more.

 

[CardsSunsDbacks]

He might just see that 1000 yards. Maybe more.

He is on pace for 1300. So if he can stay healthy all year I think the 1000 yard mark is pretty much a certainty and 1300 or so is a possibility.