Jamaal Charles: A breakpoint season UPDATED

Now, the question is more about Jamaal Charles other legacies. Does he have a Super Bowl performance in his future? Does he have a memorable performance in the playoffs yet to be witnessed?

In 2010, the Baltimore Ravens figured out that if they stop the running game of the Chiefs and focus on shutting down their one good receiver (Dwayne Bowe) then they could stop the Chiefs. And that they did that 30-7. At Arrowhead Stadium. While J.C. had 82 yards and a 9.1 ypc average, his 9 carries were simply not enough to make a difference.

Does Jamaal Charles have any Marshawn Lynch type performances up his sleeve?

While Lynch seems to be able to carry defenders on his back for 5 to 10 extra yards, that is not Charles running style. JC is comfortable hitting defenders between the tackles, but it’s his breakaway speed that teams must plan for. However, teams have shown the ability to stop Charles when they make it their primary concern. With Lynch, it seems that no matter how you plan to stop him, unless you get half the team on top of him, like the Chiefs did last year, then he can beat you in most situations.

I’m not sure there was a man, woman, child or alien in the universe who didn’t think Lynch was going to get the ball near the goal line in the last Super Bowl and furthermore the exact same number of entities believed he would score thus sealing a second straight Lombardi trophy for Seattle in as many years. Of course now we all know… the rest of the story.

Jamaal Charles needs success in those kinds of playoff games to fulfill a legacy that would be hall bound.

Looking back over Jamaal Charles’ career, he’s had five excellent seasons. Five years in which he’s exceeded the thousand yard mark.

Larry Johnson only surpassed the thousand yard plateau twice. Priest Holmes only achieved that standard three times with the Chiefs (and once with the Baltimore Ravens).

Denver Broncos Terrell Davis was a finalist for the Pro Football Hall of Fame in 2015. He surpassed the thousand yard barrier four times. Although in 1998, Davis broke through the two thousand yards in a season wall. Then again, T.D. only made it to three Pro Bowls whereas J.C. has already been to four.

The point of comparing Charles to Davis of course is to show that Jamaal has already met the “Terrell Davis” standards for entry into the Pro Football Hall of Fame… at least for consideration. Yet, I believe two more thousand yard seasons should seal the deal.

Jamaal Charles, Tamba Hali, Derrick Johnson and Dustin Colquitt all belong in a Chiefs uniform for the length of their whole careers in my book. Will that happen? We can only hope.

For Jamaal Charles, it seems a more real possibility that he’ll remain in red and gold than his counterparts. His value to the team remains at a pinnacle and it’s hard to name another player who has meant as much to the organization, except perhaps Len Dawson or Derrick Thomas, than Charles has meant to the Chiefs. Canonize him? Why not! How about naming him “Sir Charles?” Sir Charles Barkley has never meant as much to a team as Jamaal Charles has meant to the fans, organization and football team of the Kansas City Chiefs.

What do you think Addict fans? Where does Jamaal Charles stand in the pantheon of timeless running backs? I say this year and next are his breakpoint seasons to establish himself as one of the best to ever roll with the rock.