On the first day Larry Johnson was eligible to return to the Chiefs, they choose instead to cut him loose. Instead of the open-arm treatment after another loss, they give him the pink slip.
Johnson has been shelved for the past two weeks due to a suspension stemming from "conduct detrimental to the team". After a few public
'gay slurs' and comments attacking the credibility of the head coach,
the Chiefs choose to go into another direction with the running game.
So what does that mean for the Chiefs ground game? It means more of
what we saw in Jacksonville on Sunday, but hopefully with more
attempts.
Jamaal Charles led the Chiefs with 36 yards rushing off of 6
carries. He was complemented by Kolby Smith with 4 carries for 17
yards.
With the Chiefs playing catch-up the majority of the game they chose
only to run 12 times the entire game. However, we were able to get a
glimpse of what these two backs roles will most likely be for the rest
of the season.
Charles had the majority of the yards, but most of it was gained
through draws and plays to the outside. Smith looks to be the between
the tackles runner going forward with the Chiefs.
With the release of Johnson earlier this morning, it seems that the
Chiefs are content to go on without Johnson, and to hand the reigns
over to the two-back approach.