Munchak: Don’t judge CJ based on five carries

Those are b.s. numbers. He had two games where he went berzerk (Tampa and I forget the other one) and padded his YPC and stats, but in most of the games down the stretch, the run game was completely ineffective. Just like it was during the first half of the season.

Quite frankly, the 60 yarders are nice and all, but if you can't pick up three on first down, you are useless.

 

Okay. No need to discuss this any further. lol

 

CJ will be aight.

 

Here is my take on this. I by no means think CJ should be cut, or lose his starting job. But he is a complete different back then he used to be. Sometimes it is like he doesn't even try. He will get the ball, run towards where the hole is supposed to be. If it is not there, he will attempt to cut it back, but if the D has good backside pursuit, then he just drops to the ground. He doesn't try to square his shoulders and grind out 3 yards. And yes I understand that he is not really that type of back, but trying to grind out 3 yards is better than losing 3 and putting us in a 2nd or 3rd and long. I just hope it is better this season.

 

Yes CJ avoids contact. He always did really. He's also not quite as explosive as he once was. The biggest difference between the CJ of 2008/2009 and the CJ of 2010/2011 is the run blocking and perhaps even more importantly the lack of confidence in the run blocking on CJ's part.

 

You rarely see CJ burst through the hole clean anymore. I think partly it is a fall off in blocking. Other backs on other teams get quite a few carries where they get a clean hole to run through.

 

^Not even close. Many times last year it was shown that CJ had clear holes that he just waited too long to hit.

The holes are there. Ever wonder why any RB that comes in after him hits a hole and busts a 10+ yard run?... Not a coincidence.

 

Doesn't look like the OL has improved one bit from last year. I'm not hanging this on CJ because anybody with any sense knows no RB can make headway with a ****** OL. Doesn anybody have Ahmard Hall's number?

 

If that was the case then why did every other RB average WAY less in YPC. I understand there is a talent dropoff but if he's missing holes then why are other players too? Also last year early he was missing a few holes because he didn't get to practice or learn the new scheme, hopefully he took the time to learn that this year.

 

Maybe that is what it is. But most of the time anymore, he looks hesitant or scared when he gets the ball.