Chris Johnson Destined For Mediocrity In The 2010 NFL Season

Chris Johnson is doing what he has to do this season (looking for a huge extension) in the wake of a monstrous season as the running back for the Tennessee Titans. Johnson racked up an incredible 2006 yards in the 2009 NFL season but even more impressive was his 358 carries. Unfortunately for Johnson, any player that has put up numbers as gaudy as his in one season has never been able to duplicate the production.

Chris Johnson has Suffered Unspeakable Punishment in 2 NFL Seasons

Chris Johnson's NFL rookie year of 2008, resulted in 1228 yards on 251 carries. Stack that on top of Johnson's 358 carries it equals 609 carries over his first two seasons. That is a lot of punishment all by itself but then throw in Johnson's receiving touches and subsequent yards.

Johnson caught 50 passes for 503 yards out of the backfield during the 2009 NFL season for a total of 408 touches and this doesn't take into account dropped passes and resulting hits Johnson suffered during the 2009 NFL season.

In Johnson's rookie NFL season he caught 43 passes for only 260 yards as he learned the in and outs of defensive speed in the NFL. This could be an area where Johnson could improve, while his rushing numbers decrease. Johnson's total touches in his first two NFL seasons equals 702, an unfathomable amount of spine bending hits by NFL defenses in just two years of NFL play.

History Not on Chris Johnson's Side to Repeat a 2000 Yard Season

Chris Johnson has already stated his goal is to rush for 2500 yards in the 2010 NFL season. There are several reasons why this won't happen. First of all Johnson is handicapped by history since the NFL became a league.

The best a player has performed after a 2000 yard NFL season is NFL Pro Football Hall of Famer, Barry Sanders. Sanders rushed for 2053 yards in 1997 and backed it up with 1491 yards. Sanders then retired, telling the media he wanted to be able to walk when he was a grandfather.

Chris Johnson is in for a Tough 2010 NFL Season

With his quarterback, Vince Young in turmoil and his head coach Jeff Fisher disappointed in Chris Johnson's holdout, don't look for Chris Johnson to carry the ball more than 250 times in the 2010 NFL season. Look for Fisher to make an example of Johnson this year and try to keep Johnson fresh for the second half of the NFL season.

Johnson will carry the ball 250-275 times and could be close to equaling Barry Sanders 1491 yards in the 2010 NFL season. Johnson is a bigger back than Sanders and could be up to the task but he does initiate a lot of contact. With Johnson laying down the sword of 2500 yards, not many linebackers are going to let him pass without pain in the 2010 NFL season.

Todd Jacobs is featured on many webstites you may contact him through Suite 101, Associated Content or view his handicapping picks on www.lasvegasinsideinfo.com.