FLOWERY BRANCH — The streak could receive a serious challenge Sunday.
The Falcons have not allowed a 100-yard rusher in the past 13 games, including the playoffs, dating to last season. For matters of trivia, the Panthers’ Jonathan Stewart was the last to break the 100-yard mark, rushing for 133 yards Dec. 12.
Enter the Titans’ Chris Johnson.
Granted, the running back has had a less-than-stellar season after putting his name in the NFL record books during his first three years. Johnson ranks 23rd in the NFL in rushing with 496 yards this season. Last season, he finished fourth with 1,364 yards. In 2009 he became the sixth player in NFL history to gain over 2,000 yards in a season when he led the league with 2,006 yards.
Johnson stayed out of training camp in search of a new contract. In September, the Titans made him the highest paid running back when he signed a four-year extension worth $53.5 million, including $30 million guaranteed.
Johnson has two 100-yard games this season, including a 130-yard performance Sunday against the Panthers. He has rushed for 53 yards or less in six of the Titans’ nine games this season.
“He’s a Pro Bowl-caliber back, one of the better backs in the league,” Falcons defensive tackle Corey Peters said. “He’s having kind of a down year this year. I’m not sure why, but when you watch the film he definitely shows signs of explosiveness. We know that he can break out at any given time.”
The Falcons figure to make it difficult for Johnson. In addition to the streak of not allowing 100-yard rushers, the Falcons’ defense is tied for third in the league against the run, allowing 90.3 yards per game. The Titans, by contrast, rank last in the league in rushing offense at 81.3 yards per game.
“They are not going to give you a lot of opportunities to break a long one,” Johnson said. “When you get that opportunity, you have to execute on that chance.”
Titans coach Mike Munchak said he would like to get Johnson between 20-25 carries per game, similar to what the Falcons prefer to do with Michael Turner. The Titans have fallen behind early and been forced to throw this season. In all six games that Johnson has rushed for 53 yards or less, he has 15 carries or less.
Falcons linebacker Curtis Lofton said the team’s success against the run starts with attitude.
“No one gets 100 yards against us,” Lofton said. “We go with the mindset that no one is going to run the ball against us. Stopping the run is first and foremost.”
From a technical standpoint, the Falcons will scheme against Johnson’s speed and cut-back ability. Both coach Mike Smith and defensive coordinator Brian VanGorder said leverage will be key to stopping the run.
“You have to be very disciplined in your defense because he can cut back on you,” VanGorder said. “If you don’t leverage him properly, he can turn a small gain into a big play. That’s, to me, the emphasis with him. He’s got great, great, ability to cut back, and he has great speed. We know what kind of back he is. His record speaks for himself.”
In simplistic terms, leverage is a method of containment. A player is responsible to keep a ball carrier on his inside shoulder in every defensive scheme. All others in pursuit are responsible for closing on the near shoulder.
“Chris is maybe the fastest running back in the league,” Smith said. “... He is a guy that will run the ball between the tackles. Last week [against the Saints’ Darren Sproles] we knew the ball was going to be on the perimeter. Chris can run the ball between the tackles and on the outside.
“He has the speed and the vision to take it anywhere. The play could be designed to go to the left outside, and it could go all the way back to the right outside the defense.”
Next week the Falcons host the Vikings and Adrian Peterson, who currently ranks fifth in the NFL in rushing.
“I think everybody really takes it to heart and does their job in the run game,” Peters said. “We try to make teams one-dimensional.”
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