Chris Johnson doesn’t look like Chris Johnson anymore, and he seems as confused as anyone.
The Titans running back had just four yards on 11 carries last week against the Patriots, and he called it another “frustrating” day.
“It’s just a situation where me and my teammates know we have a lot more work to do,’’ Johnson said, via Jim Wyatt of the Tennesseean. “Of course it makes you run angry, it makes you upset. . . . When things don’t go right I know everything is going to get pointed at me because I am the main focal point, I got a big contract.
“At the end of the day I just have to continue to work just like my other offensive players.”
Johnson does make a valid point about the money. Ever since he got it, he doesn’t look like the same guy.
He responded to his $53.5 million deal signed a year ago with a 1,047-yard season, or just over half his 2009 total.
Of course, it’s not fair to blame just Johnson.
“We could sustain our blocks better, we could run to the hole better, we could make better calls,’’ offensive coordinator Chris Palmer said. “It’s a combination of things. Everybody blames the quarterback when it’s not complete but is the protection alright? This is a team sport and you need all 11 guys involved whether it be the run game or the pass game.”
All those things are true, but Johnson hit on the salient point. He’s the playmaker, and the money maker. When things fall apart, it’s going to fall back on him.