Chris Johnson: 10 Reasons Tennessee Titans RB Is Still Best In NFL

Chris Johnson of the Tennessee Titans is off to a miserable start for the 2011-12 regular season.

The All-Pro running back has rushed for a combined 98 yards through three games, easily the worst of his career.

Despite a lackluster start to the season, Johnson remains the best running back in the NFL.

Johnson Is a Playmaker

CJ2K remains one of the best playmakers in the game. You can compare him to Desean Jackson in the sense that he is boom-or-bust.

Johnson's stats this season don't jump off the page, but they never do unless he can break a long run. An example of his rushes are for a gain of three, loss of one, then a 45-yard run.

His constant ability to turn a five-yard rush into and 85-yard touchdown makes him the most dynamic back in the NFL.

Missing Ahmard Hall

The starting fullback for Tennessee, Ahmard Hall, was suspended for the first four games due to the use of performance-enhancing substances.

Hall helped lead Johnson to 2,000 yards rushing in 2009, but his absence has offered a glaring hole in the Titans' run game.

With Hall's return next week, Johnson should be back on track.

Offensive Line and CJ Not in Sync

The Titans lack of running has been a mix between Johnson's inability to hit the right gap and the offensive line's inabilities to open running lanes.

Tennessee returned their entire offensive line from 2010, so there is no logical reason for the two parts not connecting other than a lack of preseason play.

First Three Games Have Been His Preseason

While many have called for Javon Ringer (five carries, 21 yards, one touchdown against Baltimore) to get increased playtime due to CJ's lack of production, they seem to forget Johnson missed the entire preseason.

Players generally take the first three preseason games to get in sync with their entire offense and get into football shape, so Johnson should be ready to go against Cleveland this week.

Johnson Believes He Is Just Getting into Shape

It took three games, but Johnson finally believes he is in game shape.

The Titans have missed the dynamic plays CJ has provided over the last three years, but if Johnson can provide a spark to this offense, Tennessee might be able to get over the subtraction of Kenny Britt from their lineup.

Lack of Productive Playcalling

Chris Palmer has a distinguished NFL coaching career as a receiver, running back, and quarterback coach while also registering time as offensive coordinator for a variety of different teams.

This is his first year as offensive coordinator for the Titans, which explains the increased pass production, but also the lack of variety in run plays.

To get Johnson going, Palmer must call more plays that allow the fourth-year back space to work with, such as pitches instead of slow-developing stretch plays Tennessee has relied on.

Best Open-Field Player in the League

CJ2K's dynamic running style is the reason he rushed for 2,000 yards in 2009.

Johnson's quickness, combined with his ability to break tackles, makes him a threat at all levels of the field, but especially in the open field.

Dynamic Downfield Threat

While Johnson doesn't have the best hands in the world, the Titans are taking a play out of the Saints playbook by splitting CJ out wide this season.

Quarterback Matt Hasselbeck connected with Johnson for a key third-down conversion against the Broncos Sunday afternoon, a 34-yard pass to the Pro Bowl running back.

If Johnson continues to get bottled up in the run game, Tennessee will continue to find ways to get him the ball down the field as a receiver.

Defense Is Playing to Stop Him

Why is Matt Hasselbeck off to the best start of his tenured career?

He did have Kenny Britt and a solid core receivers catching passes, but defenses are also playing the run while giving up the pass.

Johnson is averaging 2.1 yards per carry and defenses will continue to put eight men in the box to stop him.

CJ Is Still Young

Chris Johnson is more a finesse running back, so he hasn't taken the pounding that guys like Adrian Peterson and Frank Gore have.

Johnson is only 26, so compared to the likes of former 2,000-yard rusher Barry Sanders, CJ has a good four or five productive seasons left. In his ninth season in the league, Sanders finally eclipsed the 2,000 yard mark. Johnson is only entering his fourth.

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