Chiefs Should Trade L.J. For Roy Williams

My main objection to the platoon approach is that we lack the right kind of blocking scheme for it. If we had a ZBS in place, then yeah, maybe.

Until our line can start opening holes, we just increase the likelihood of using him up by running him into the ground. As I said in another post, if he wants more carries, he honestly needs to start making something of the ones he's getting. You know, like maybe make a cut for once in his life?

Alternatively, if we can somehow, someday manage to build a 2 touchdown lead, then I have little doubt he'd be getting all the games carries and stats he can handle.

If none of the above happens, then the best thing we can do with/for him is to sandbag until he can be of real value. Besides, right now I think there are too many questions about him (durability, performance, attitude) to believe he would bring the kind of trade value you believe he's worth, potentially or otherwise.

I disagree. At Larry's age giving him 12 carries a game is a waste of his enormous talent and contract. I say let's get younger and implement a platoon if we aren't going to use him. It's a waste for him and us. I guess we just see this one differently.

Adam,

My point is that there is nobody "out there" that will dramatically alter the Chiefs' fortunes this season. The chosen course is to develop youth; the overall effectiveness of that approach can not and will not be known until much later in the season. Suggesting we should send our best RB packing after only two games solves nothing. Rather, it would be no more than an act of naked desparation both in perception and in reality.

TLH, when did I ever say that any of this is Larry's fault? He's still got it--not his fault. Did you even read the post? Scram.

Rofl, wow, hahahaha. I suppose you're right, it is bad to lump Han Solo in with the likes of Chan and Herm. Ahaha.

Lol...I would never insult Han Salo like that, xxxlp. Chewie just ripped your arms off...ragarrrggargaggahhhhh!

Sarah Palin is the Billy Volek of game changers. Her 15 minutes are almost up :)

I'm not a fan of staying on a disastrous course. Uh, and I'm talking about football here...lol...

Get outta here, TLH. Scram back to that abyss of a Cowboys blog.

Adam, by the way, I like the Cherm moniker, but I'm sticking with 'Han Duo', *get it, Han Solo? x 2 people?* Ha. Wow, I'm such a nerd at times.

If you want a game-changer, trade for Sarah Palin. Otherwise, stay the course until the next round of FA and/or the '09 draft.

Shameful moment in Arrowhead Addict history. Just sad.

WHOA WHOA WHOA WHOA! Remember this post: http://thelandryhat.com/2008/06/08/nfls-five-top-running-backs/
And then remember these comments:"L.J. did almost as much in three starts, sitting behind Priest Holmes for almost the entire year–like 600 yards, nine rushing TDs–as Marion did in his best year–900-plus yards, 10 rushing TDs.
Larry Johnson led the NFL in rushing over a two-year period, and you don’t have him in your top five. Wow. And Zach’s right, he’s taken his team just as far as Romo and Barber, with, as you note, less talent around him.
Ranking Addai and Barber above of him is an absolute joke. Oh well, I wouldn’t expect anything else from the ol’ TLH. You’re entitled to your opinion, I suppose."

Wow. I want Adam over to The Landry Hat ASAP for a full apology and exclusive post on the argument that Marion Barber is and always will be a better back in the NFL when all is said and done. I told you, a few good years from LJ were just flukes.

thunderdunk is correct. nobody in their right mind would trade us for Larry with his 5m a year contract. I like the man, but he's on borrowed time and we have plenty of talent at RB.

Yah, I mulled over the LJ trade. Figuring we could probably get a 1st and a 3rd for him. But every time I ran it through the computer it came up flat. In the post after this one, I describe how we should get ahold of Quinn with a flip flop. Get a stud MLB and a super stud center with our picks. But if we traded LJ we could probably fix the rest of our O line......but who the hell would they block for? I agree I love our 2 other RB. But they arent the RB anchor that LJ is. Go read my other post in the next artical.

LJ has a huge contract the no one in their right mind would assume.

The Packers are sitting up there in the hinterland, with Aaron Rogers, Brian Brohm, and Matt Flynn languishing on their roster. Think D-Bowe and Matt Flynn might be able to play some ball? There, I.M.H.O., is where we need to be dealing.

Oh I'm not saying it wouldn't hurt our game tremendously, and I for sure would be sad to see someone with his talent let go, but it IS possible to succeed without LJ. Of course, to do that, we'd have to have a FULL decent line, not just a left side of one. And if we had that, then LJ would be able to at least have a chance to be his old self, causing this to be a moot convo.

xxxlp

I know what you're saying. And I ALSO believe that you dont have to be a feature back to be in the NFL (ie; Denver) But LJ is more than just a feature back. LJ is our star. No average NFL fan remembers every name of Denver's RBs they've had in the past 4 years. They've had more backs than I've had high school girlfriends (and that was a lot). Larry Johnson is a guy that fans will always remember. Even NON-Chiefs fans.

You cant possibly tell me that you'll ever see a RB come through the way LJ came through KC. I'm sure years from now there will be another guy, but its not Jamaal Charles. Its not Kolby Smith. Its not now.

If we ever traded LJ, it'd be a pretty sad day for me and a lot of other people.

Thanks, Scott Van--enjoying yours, too!

Adam,

For the past week I have been preaching "Trade LJ," but after your last few posts, and now your alledged conversion to let LJ go, I'm beginning to have second thoughts. I've been looking over game stats from 05 and 06 and I'm embracing the fact (yes, I said FACT) that with an O-line that can execute basic blocking strategies, LJ can dominate the line. I do still believe that LJ is "running the play" instead of "making the play," but when you have eight men in your face when the QB hands you the ball, what the heck do you do? Yes, Like Double-D say, I'd like to see him make something out of nothing, but his state of mind is so down right now that he's doing all he can to hit these eight men face on.

How about we call one of those "makeover" shows and ask them to visit Herm's closet. Maybe they can peel those stupid pants off of Herm (ooohhh, bad image), replace them with some nice slick leather and slide his stupid but down I-70 (preferrably to the west) until someone who gives a darn grabs on to him.

I still don't understand how his Jets resume landed him a job in KC. The following is from http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Herm_Edwards#Criticism

Criticism
Herman Edwards' performance as a coach has drawn a variety of criticisms.

Teams coached by Edwards have typically started most seasons with poor performances, leading to speculation that Edwards does a poor job of preparation in the preseason. [4] Additionally, Edwards' record on opening day of the NFL season is 2-6, and his teams have been outscored 203-135 (including 87-30 in the last 4 season openers, all losses) in these games. Ironically, the last season opening game that Edwards' current team, the Chiefs, managed to win was against Herm Edwards, when he was still coach of the New York Jets.
Edwards has been criticized for a number of perceived clock management gaffes.[5][6][7][8]
Edwards' game plans have often been criticized as too conservative with little or no imagination.[9] A prime example of Edwards' game plans, the lone Chiefs 2006 playoff game was one of the worst offensive performances in recent history.[10][11][12]
Edwards has been accused of running multiple running backs into the ground, most notably Curtis Martin and Larry Johnson.

And we hired this guy. I'm not sure who is the dumbest SOB, Herm or whomever decided to hire him.

Okay, done venting. Keep rocking Adam, I'm really enjoying your words

Fan Since 67 (Scott Van)

Well to be fair, in today's NFL you don't NEED a feature back. Runner-by-committee seems to be working pretty well. Hell maybe we could trade for their RG or RT in that trade as well. I mean Kitna is throwing up 4,000 yard season, he's gotta be getting decent pass protection. Not ALL of it is from his receivers getting YAC.

Jason, it was already said... Who would pass it to that tandom? Tyler Thigpen? Marques Haggans? I think not. It wouldnt work. Say we let go of LJ and we are left with Charles and Smith... Im sorry but neither of those 2 are a Feature back in the NFL that #27 is. Then you'd be crying for a League leading RB.

i love lj but with the attitude and the way he looks after a run it probably is the time to get roy, that would give us the best receiver tandom we'vr ever had.

I would trade L.J. for Roy Williams in fantasy at this point. Cherm (Chan + Herm) has destroyed his fantasy value.

Would you trade LJ for Roy Williams in fantasy? No probably not despite how they are both doing so far. Our line could be fixed in a year if we really wanted it to. 39 million buys a lot of gristle. LJ is more valuable than a #1 wideout. I'd much rather us trade LJ for someone like a young QB in Derek Anderson or someone of his ilk that is struggling with their current team. Matt Leinart? Brady Quinn? I think we can pay a big time WR to come in easier than we can a QB.

Herm Sucks

I'm as big a fan of LJ as there is, but if Detroit would do this, I would. Roy Williams is a great WR, and with Bowe gives us bookend WR's for the next 5 years, and LJ will be a reserve or out of the NFL in 5 years. Having both Willimas and Bowe would leave no choice but force Herm to allow Croyle to go downfield, since WR would be the absolute strength of the team.

Sudden-
It was an inferred point by the person who runs the Falcons blog, not something someone at AP posted.

As far as trading LJ for Williams, nope. Both our GM's might be dumb enough to go thru with it, but it won't benefit the Chiefs in any way. We're better off with LJ being mishandled with the bad playcalling. Hell, in another 5-6 years he might still be fresh enough to be a Jerome Bettis when we actually get a shot at the big one after Carl and Herm are gone.

I still haven't seen a source that says they PLAN on giving the goal-line carries to anyone but LJ. I saw that ArrowheadPride had posted something about it and someone gave me a link to the KCStar article. But the article says they have been using other backs in goal-line situations (which they have in the last two games because we were in passing packages and LJ doesn't stay in when we pass lest we get another QB killed and end up with Colquitt throwing the ball). But nowhere have I seen a single quote attributed to ANYONE on the Chiefs coaching staff or front office saying that LJ would not carry the rock by the goal-line. As dumb as Herm and Chan can be at times, they're both smart enough to know who the power rusher is when you've got a first and goal inside the five.

At least you came out the closet Adam - even if it was Herm's. No homo.

KC Mizzou - not going to argue with you there. My only wish is that LJ could be more of a "make something out of nothing" type back. If we had one of those, then I would want that guy getting all the carries.

Adam - Herm's closet, LOL.

Adam,

Not only does Herm have a closet full of stupid pants but he has been passing them out left and right to his supporters. Those athletic supporters of Herm are his best customers for the stupid pants. By the way, the pants are a perfect fit for Herm's athletic supporters. For all you Herm guys, they look great on you. They are sooooooooo you.

He can only "pound it" if you LET him "pound it" Double D.

Double D, yes, I did put on stupid pants this morning. I actually borrowed a pair of Herm's--he's got a whole closet full. I was the one who first said we should trade Kolby. But using L.J. this way is a waste of an enormous contract and talent.

Did you wake up and put on your stupid pants this morning Adam? It's not just LJ, none of our RBs got carries last Sunday. LJ's mere 12 carries represented 75% of all RB carries for the entire game! He's getting his fair share of the load alright, it just ain't much of a load.

LJ is exactly the guy you use to preserve a lead - I mean assuming that ever happens again.

Even more importantly, other than maybe Battle, LJ is our only "pound it" style back. Neither Kolby, Jamaal, nor Dantrell are built for that. You get rid of LJ and then you got what?

You really want to trade an RB? Shop Kolby.

Jeremy, nice!

If Herm was running for President, he'd say "the fundamentals of the Chiefs are strong."

I'd like to see what we can add to the O line next year before trading him. His value isn't going to go any farther down than it already is.

no, lj definitely cant be traded. look what happened last year when we lost lj, but then again it pry cant get much worse than whats happening this year. i know u may think kolby smith and jamaal charles can replace him, but they cant. hes too good to trade, we need him, even though he hasnt started off so great. but if u did want to trade him, we might as well get a position that we would use, cuz we wouldnt be able to get bowe and williams enough catches to keep them both quiet. if we were to trade him, we might want to get a QB, maybe quinn or anderson, or a RT.

Herm Edwards is a dumb sonofabitch. There. You said it and I feel better.

AHHHHH!

I am sick of his terrible press conferences and all this blowing hot air up my ass.

If Herm was on the Titanic, he would be at the helm saying everything is OK. We just got to see what this ship is made of. We are going to let the ship just try to sail, blurrp!!, gargle, gargle...

Not only would I hate to see Larry Johnson go, but why trade him for a receiver who won't get the ball thrown his way? As bad as our receivers are, Herm is not going to let anyone who happens to be the quarterback of the hour throw downfield anyway. That would be too much like offense.

I agree ROC27. It seems to me that the coaching staff has this huge experiment going on about evaluating the young players, (apparently they didn't have enough time in OTA's, training camp, and preseason) instead of planning and executing the plan to defeat an opponent. To me, that means putting the ball in LJ's hands the right way. I know the organization has already written this season off, and perhaps they and putting LJ in that same spot. It's a shame to let that talent stand on the sidelines. Only time will tell.

Nope... Sorry. I'd never agree with EVER trading L.J. I totally understand what you're saying. I KNOW you like L.J. as much as anyone here... But I STILL don't agree with this at all.
But I also understand that L.J. just might want to go if he's not being used or getting the respect that he deserves... I'm a Chiefs fan FOREVER, but man L.J. will always be my dude.

1. LJ is the only Chiefs player in years that I have fully embraced and stuck up for despite his personality that rubs people the wrong way. I would be pissed if he left KC.

2. There is only huge problem with having a speedy, big-play receiver: HERM WILL NEVER LET THE QB THROW THE BALL DOWNFIELD. Herm is so obsessed with chewing clock that he is ruining this team ...