Running back Chris Johnson has never lacked for confidence. The Tennessee Titan had a breakout season in 2009, rushing for over 2,000 yards but has yet to come close to that number since. Now as Johnson prepares for a new season with a new running back coach, he is prepared to have a return-to-form season.
While on Jim Rome's radio show, Johnson said he is confident that 2013 could be his best season yet. He plans to rush for more yards than 2009, while predicting a playoff berth for the Titans.
"I know I have another 2,000 yard season in me. I would love to get 2,000 yards again, but I haven't been to the playoffs since my rookie year, I want to get back there," Johnson said.
The Titans will sure like the confidence, but that is not stopping the team from bringing in another running back incase Johnson cannot live up to his words. The team signed Shonn Greene in the offseason who will certainly take away key carries for Johnson during the season. Johnson was not thrilled at the decision made by Tennessee.
"At the end of the day you want to stay in there. But I'd rather have 2,000 yards than have 20 touchdowns, so you got to take the good with the bad," Johnson said.
Not only will Johnson be sharing time with another quality running back, but he will be working under a new coach as well. The Titans parted ways with running back coach Jim Skipper after 2012 and signed Sylvester Croom as the new man in charge of the ground game.
"He's a pretty good coach. I can tell he has a lot of input in the running back like some of the same things Earnest Byner had when he was here. So it seems like everything is going well. He's changed a couple of minor things, so you can tell what type of coach he was and some of the guys he's had before he got here," Johnson said.
The Titans are hoping Croom can bring Johnson back to 2009. Last season, he had a career low 36 catches, not helping the offense. Head coach Mike Munchak stressed that Johnson must improve on that area so the offense can reach another level of diversity. He had at least 40 catches in 2009 and 2011. If Johnson and Croom can work well together, the team could be playoff bound in 2013.
