By Denny O'Brien
©2007 Bonesville.net
All Rights Reserved.

OK, ‘fess up. After last year, you convinced yourself that Chris Johnson was destined for the slot, a role that on good days might produce a half-dozen catches and 85 yards.

If not, you were in the minority. Because his struggles with consistency at running back had many — including me — sending C.J. on a deep route to the receiving corps where East Carolina lost two of its primary playmakers and its most consistent possession receiver.

It certainly made sense. Johnson had fallen short of the textbook definition of the position, at times looking more like a three-year experiment than a true feature back. He struggled between the tackles, wasn’t the best cutback runner on the planet, and he had a tendency to run squarely into the defensive line for no gain.

At no point during his first three seasons did Johnson indicate his ability to carry a hefty workload. He even lost his starting job last season to Brandon Fractious, eventually finding himself lost in the mix at receiver down the stretch.

So what’s the difference? How has Johnson suddenly gone from a speedster who plays football to a true football player who possesses breakaway speed?

Part of that answer rests squarely on the shoulders of Johnson. His determination during the spring to reclaim his position started with his commitment to find comfort between the tackles.

Where he once avoided contact, Johnson now seems to invite it. That was certainly the case during a run against Memphis on Saturday in which he broke two tackles at the line of scrimmage, reversed field and scampered 28 yards.

It was a play that somehow got lost in the shuffle of runs that included 70, 50, 44, and 16-yard scores. But during his 301-yard ransacking of the Memphis defense, it was the most telling moment in Johnson’s metamorphosis as a runner.

The better kept secret to Johnson’s success lies directly on the broader shoulders of the most underappreciated group on ECU’s roster. The offensive line has steadily improved throughout the season, and this former patchwork unit has developed into a steadying force.

“The running backs and quarterbacks running the ball did a great job once they got into that second level of turning and making one miss,” Pirates coach Skip Holtz said after the Memphis game. “We were the recipient of a bunch of big plays because our backs did a great job of making that one safety miss.

“I think the real difference is the job that (Steve) Shankweiler has done with that offensive line. What that offensive line did today was they got them through to the second level. Once they got there, they can make some things happen in space.”

The line certainly created plenty of that against Memphis. Many of the holes Johnson was awarded were big enough to juxtapose five ample-sized running backs, perhaps with room to spare.
And unlike previous seasons, Johnson doesn’t moonwalk when opposing defenses are parted. He now hits the hole with a fury.

“This is the first year that we’ve really felt comfortable enough to put the quarterback under center, put the tailback into the I (formation) where you have a chance to hand the ball to a guy like Chris Johnson,” Holtz said. “There at the very end, we turn and cut that one back all the way against the grain.

“That’s one of the benefits of being way back there in the I (formation). You get a chance to see everything unfold. He’s really becoming a weapon for us and doing some great things.”

Doing them often, too.

After Saturday’s touchdown tour of Liberty Bowl Memorial Stadiums, Johnson has a cool 18 on the year (13 rushing, 4 receiving, 1 kickoff return). And with each TD, he keeps climbing ECU’s all-time scoring chart, passing players far-less scrutinized during their careers.

Sometime next week, he almost assuredly will reach another milestone, topping the 1,000-yard mark. Later, he should find himself a spot somewhere on the All-Conference team and in strong contention for the league’s offensive MVP.

If neither occurs, someone hasn’t been paying attention.

I sure have. And right now, C.J. has my vote as the league’s top offensive star. Betcha he gets the nod from Tommy West, too.