Maurice Jones-Drew: Don't Expect MJD to Be This Year's Version of Chris Johnson

Maurice Jones-Drew has gone through a lengthy holdout this offseason, but do not expect the Jacksonville Jaguars running back to put up a lackluster season like Tennessee Titans star Chris Johnson did last year. 

Jones-Drew signed a four-year contract extension in 2009, but after leading the NFL in rushing yards last season, he believes he should be one of the highest-paid players at his position. The Jaguars see no reason that he should not be playing out his current contract. 

It appears at this point that the running back will miss the entire preseason, and it is not certain if he will even be available for Jacksonvillle’s season opener. However, Jones-Drew’s running style and work ethic will allow him to be successful in 2012, unlike Johnson in 2011.

Johnson is a home-run hitter whose success depends on breaking off long runs. In his breakout season when he rushed for 2,006 yards, Johnson broke off 22 runs for 20 or more yards. He slowed down in the next season, racking up 1,364 and 13 runs of 20-plus yards.

Even during last season when Johnson was declared a disappointment, he had 11 of these long runs. Jones-Drew, in contrast, had nine 20-plus yard runs this past season, the highest total of his career.

Despite his size, MJD is an extremely tough runner capable of handling 20 carries a game and grinding out tough yardage. He is a blue-collar back who can handle the punishment he receives when running between the tackles.

This is not the first time that Jones-Drew has had to fight through adversity to record impressive statistics. The running back tore his meniscus prior to the 2010 season but played through the injury to carry the ball 299 times for 1,3924 yards.

He had surgery to repair his knee following the year, and that caused him to miss much of the team’s preseason activities. Then he went on to have a career year and rush for more yards than any other player.

He was able to overcome a serious knee injury and still perform. He already knows what it takes to produce at a high level after missing time in the preseason. He is not the type of player to sit back and relax while holding out.

When he finally does return to the football field, he will be ready to hit the ground running.