Chris Johnson can't say he wasn't warned. As practices with the veterans loomed last week, running backs coach Earnest Byner told the Titans rookie his life was about to change. Sure, he might have run by his competition in college, but in the NFL things would be different. With each phase — from minicamps in May and June to training camp in July and August to the regular season — the speed would be turned up a notch.
Then the first-round pick suited up with the veterans and blew by them. Turns out that 4.24 speed is fast no matter what. "From the look of it, his jog is fast," quarterback Vince Young said. "When he gets more comfortable, he'll really take off.'' Johnson still has plenty of time to get comfortable. Veterans and rookies were on the field together for the first time last week to run through three days of organized team activity work. The offseason program continues this week, but players won't be back on the field until late next month.
Johnson made his presence known in his first practice with the veterans. He lined up wide and caught a pass behind one of the linebackers. "They quickly learned how much cushion to give him,'' Byner said. Johnson said the veterans have already given him a nickname: Speedy. In the two practices open to media last week, he lined up as a running back and receiver in a variety of spots. On several plays near the goal line he caught screen passes and scooted into the end zone. He also fielded punts. He wasn't perfect, but coaches excused him when he got confused and wasn't in the right place.
"I just have to learn that playbook,'' Johnson said. "I know more plays than I did, but I have to learn more. My main thing is when I learn the playbook, everything will be all right.''
Source: Jim Wyatt, tennessean.com
05-27-2008, 02:58 PM
Titans Rookie Chris Johnson Quickly Impresses With His Speed
