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Redskins coach Mike Shanahan has a long history of building a dominant running game no matter the personnel. He magic isn't working this year. The team has rushed for only 107 yards on 40 carries through two games. Starter Clinton Portis is averaging only 3.1 yards per carry, and backup Larry Johnson averaged only 0.4 yards on five carries before being cut Tuesday.
Johnson, 30, signed a three-year, incentive-laden contract with Washington in March. He finished last season with the Bengals after being released by the Chiefs in November. His time in Kansas City was marred by off-the-field problems, including two suspensions in his last 12 months with the team. Johnson's best years were 2005 and 2006, when he had consecutive 1,750-yard seasons.
To fill Johnson's roster spot, the team signed free-agent running back/kick returner Chad Simpson, who might fit better as a third-down complement to Portis. Simpson (5-9, 216) spent time with the Bills and Colts this offseason before being released in both places.
"We were caught completely off guard by it," Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer, told The Washington Post. "It was not something that we were expecting. I was told by the Redskins that this was a short-term situation brought on by the need to have a special teams running back, that they cannot afford the luxury of two starting running backs for this week.
"Larry feels he's in great shape and has a lot to offer to teams. And as I told the Redskins, it's my job to try to find Larry the best possible situation. His preference would have been to play for the Redskins for the remainder of his career."
The Redskins were so inept at running the ball Sunday against Houston that Shanahan called only seven runs after halftime even though he was trying to protect a 17-point lead. The team does have a constantly shuffling line and two older running backs, although Portis is showing more burst than in recent years.
"Sometimes if they're overloading the box or giving you looks that the runs might not do so well against, hey, check it and let's throw it. Donovan spent the day doing that," guard Artis Hicks told The Washington Post. "There's a little frustration by the guys up front that we didn't have a good day on the ground, but hey, Houston had a good strategy."
ProFootballTalk.com reports the Redskins could re-sign Johnson, similar to how the Pittsburgh Steelers cut and re-signed quarterback Byron Leftwich in a roster maneuver.
Johnson, 30, signed a three-year, incentive-laden contract with Washington in March. He finished last season with the Bengals after being released by the Chiefs in November. His time in Kansas City was marred by off-the-field problems, including two suspensions in his last 12 months with the team. Johnson's best years were 2005 and 2006, when he had consecutive 1,750-yard seasons.
To fill Johnson's roster spot, the team signed free-agent running back/kick returner Chad Simpson, who might fit better as a third-down complement to Portis. Simpson (5-9, 216) spent time with the Bills and Colts this offseason before being released in both places.
"We were caught completely off guard by it," Johnson's agent, Peter Schaffer, told The Washington Post. "It was not something that we were expecting. I was told by the Redskins that this was a short-term situation brought on by the need to have a special teams running back, that they cannot afford the luxury of two starting running backs for this week.
"Larry feels he's in great shape and has a lot to offer to teams. And as I told the Redskins, it's my job to try to find Larry the best possible situation. His preference would have been to play for the Redskins for the remainder of his career."
The Redskins were so inept at running the ball Sunday against Houston that Shanahan called only seven runs after halftime even though he was trying to protect a 17-point lead. The team does have a constantly shuffling line and two older running backs, although Portis is showing more burst than in recent years.
"Sometimes if they're overloading the box or giving you looks that the runs might not do so well against, hey, check it and let's throw it. Donovan spent the day doing that," guard Artis Hicks told The Washington Post. "There's a little frustration by the guys up front that we didn't have a good day on the ground, but hey, Houston had a good strategy."
ProFootballTalk.com reports the Redskins could re-sign Johnson, similar to how the Pittsburgh Steelers cut and re-signed quarterback Byron Leftwich in a roster maneuver.
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