2012 NFL Draft: 4 Reasons the Titans Must Find Chris Johnson's Replacement Now

As great as Chris Johnson's first three seasons with the Tennessee Titans were, 2011 gave the impression that his quick, elusive running style might not prove to be the franchise's long-term answer.

Yes, he did break the 1,000 rushing yard mark last season. But the fact that 13 other running backs finished with more yards proves the decreased credibility of the landmark.

Johnson's 4.0 yards per carry was just 40th in the league and he only posted four 100-yard games with six games rushing for less than 35 yards.

Johnson did admit that his elongated holdout prior to the 2011 season had an impact on his readiness as a player both physically and mentally. Yet, he never fully rebounded as he averaged less than 50 yards each in his last four games.  

Johnson was an unpopular pick in the 2008 draft when he was taken in the first round and had many Titans fans scratching their heads. It's time for them to bring out the head scratching once again and find the real back that will be running the show during the Jake Locker era. 

Teams Are Getting a Grip on Him

It's hard to assess how much of Tennessee's improved passing game was the byproduct of teams scheming to stop Johnson from shredding the field. 

However, there's no doubt that the other 31 teams are effectively figuring out how to eliminate the 80 yard scampers that helped to get CJ2K his nickname. 

He hasn't flashed a 50-plus yard run since the opening game of 2010 despite notching seven in his 2,000 yard campaign in 2009. Not only that, a good chunk of his rushes seem to get blown up at the line.

Vince Young showed the possibility of being the face of the franchise in Nashville before defenses got a grip on his unusual style of play. Johnson could experience a similar downfall with the Titans (minus the shoulder pads throwing and emotional problems). 

Constantly Looks for Home Run

With Chris Johnson's stellar NFL career has come a bit of an ego. 

Way too often, Johnson looks to bounce a run to the outside in the hopes that he's suddenly Usain Bolt instead of lowering his head for the four easy yards available.

The Titans didn't give Johnson $56 million to spend all of his time looking for the end zone and accepting one-yard gains when it wasn't there. They gave it to him for first downs (with some big plays sprinkled in).  

There's no statistic to back it up, but I'd need dozens of hands to count the amount of times I found myself saying "Adrian Peterson would've got five-plus on that play" last season.  

Sorry CJ, you're still the fastest man on the field but teams aren't downplaying your abilities anymore. Being a top-paid player comes with a heck of a lot of attention. 

Ringer Rarely Reliable

Titans backup running back Javon Ringer has been a good change of pace and it's been nice to see a Tennessee runner actually hit somebody to break a tackle, but he still doesn't provide the consistency they need at the position.

I know what you're saying. "What does CJ's backup have to do with CJ?"

Well, it's obvious Tennessee won't bring in somebody to immediately replace Johnson, so their best bet is finding a guy through the draft or free agency that has high potential and can compliment Johnson better.

At 5'9", Ringer isn't big enough to shed linebackers and is mainly a lesser form of Johnson. He's rarely been in Michigan State form during his short NFL career, and the draft-savvy Titans could find a better answer at the backup spot to eventually take over the reigns for Johnson. 

Doesn't Fit Munchak's System

Titans head coach Mike Munchak has had his fingerprints on the franchise's running game since he was drafted in 1982, and they never featured a speedy, shifty back before Johnson came around.

Munchak, then the offensive coordinator, paved the way for Titans great Eddie George for many seasons. George was the epitome of a smash-mouth runner and fought for every yard he got.

Then came Chris Brown, who enjoyed a considerably shorter tenure but still ran a similar style. Even Travis Henry was known for laying the lumbar more than his quickness during his success at Tennessee. 

My last column explained why the Titans should acquire free agent Marshawn Lynch, and while the move might be a long shot, a player of Lynch's strength and running style would be the perfect compliment to Johnson and could give him a run for his money—literally. 

The Titans were best with George as the feature ball carrier and they'd be best fit to try and find a player of his stature and ability. Munchak knows that better than anyone.