Roschon Johnson Was Blunt On Why He Should Be Starting
Something isn’t working with the Chicago Bears’ running game. It is a mix of issues. The offensive line is missing too many blocks. Defenses are stacking the line of scrimmage, hoping to force Caleb Williams into throwing the ball. However, the reality is their running backs aren’t doing a great job of finding the lanes available. D’Andre Swift is especially guilty of this. He is averaging just 1.8 yards per carry through three games. Tracking data says he should be at 4.18 yards. This is a big reason why many have called for Roschon Johnson to get more of the load.
The former 4th round pick may not have the same explosiveness as Swift, but he believes he is every bit as good of a running back. He made that evident to Courtney Cronin of ESPN, hinting he is more physical and has better vision.
“I think I bring a physical style, but also a style that can make one or two miss in a subtle way. Nothing really too flashy, but something that’s real physical, downhill, someone that can make the right decisions.”
He’s not lying. Johnson is averaging 1.4 yards after contact. Swift is 0.9. While not great, his 3.8 yards per carry is significantly better than Swift’s 1.8. It isn’t always about speed and athleticism with running backs. Vision and contact balance mean far more. Johnson has both.
Roschon Johnson is ready for this opportunity.
He’s been trapped behind “more talented” running backs for most of his career. It was Bijan Robinson at Texas. Then, last year, it was Khalil Herbert and D’Onta Foreman. All the while, he kept producing when given the opportunity. The Bears seem to think it is time they gave him a heavier workload. The timing couldn’t be better. Los Angeles is 31st in the NFL against the run. Strong backs like David Montgomery and James Conner have given them problems. They may try stacking the box, but their pass defense is also 29th. Chicago gets Keenan Allen back for this game.
Everything lines up for Roschon Johnson to have a coming-out party. His bruising style is exactly what the Rams have struggled against. He even presents a challenge in the passing game for his blocking and underrated pass-catching skills. The Bears drafted him in the 4th round for a reason. It is finally time to show everybody why.