Offense: Larry Who?

From Oakland, California

The Chiefs did not exactly scorch the earth of northern California with their running game on Sunday against the Oakland Raiders.

But they accomplished things that for eight games they were unable to do, largely with Larry Johnson as the featured back. Against the Raiders, that was due to the speed of one Jamaal RaShaad Charles.

“I told the coaches I can make plays,” Charles said in the winning locker room on Sunday. “I can make 40-yard runs. I can make 60-yard runs. Just give me a chance.”

Getting the opportunities that in the past have gone to Johnson, the second-year back out of Texas ran for 103 yards on 18 carries, including a 44-yard touchdown scamper on a 4th-and-1 play that gave the Chiefs their first rushing score in the last 39 quarters dating back to Game No. 15 of last season.

It’s ironic that Charles score and his performance came against the Raiders. The first time these teams faced each other in week No. 2 back in September Charles was a healthy game-day scratch. At the time, the Chiefs coaching staff was trying to alter his attitude and approach, letting him know that the privilege of playing in an NFL game must be earned, not given.

The message was received, because since then Charles has worked harder, assumed less and now with Johnson gone, he’s ready for the opportunities, like Sunday’s game in Oakland and the 44-yard touchdown scamper that was the Chiefs play of the game.

“It was a toss outside and I saw everybody coming and they didn’t have anybody inside,” Charles said of the touchdown run. “I saw a hole and I just ran. I saw Chris (Chambers) make a good block and I just ran to the pylon.”

The run and his overall performance in the game continued a maturation process that Charles has shown in the last month. A lot of people forget that Charles won’t celebrate his 23rd birthday until next month. He’s still the guy who likes to slide down the railing on the steps the players use coming off the practice field and returning to the locker room. He still has those moments where coaches and teammates aren’t quite sure he’s focused in the way he should be.

But he’s getting better and growing according to Todd Haley.

“I’ve seen a big change in him the past three or four weeks in his overall personality,” said the Chiefs head coach. “You can see him growing into being a player. I think this guy has been working hard, going back all the way since the off-season. He’s done everything asked of him.

“I let the whole team come in later (on Saturday) because we had a later flight, but he was in there early with the other backs. He’s been doing things like that way back since the off-season and he continues to do that. If he’s consistent and isn’t a yo-yo then things generally go your way.”

All Charles has been looking for is opportunity. Coming into the game, he had just 46 touches in the seven games he played. Sunday, he got 2 touches against the Raiders.

“They have three running backs and we had to show them what we have,” Charles said after doing just that. “I guess they believe in the running backs they kept because they let L.J. go.”

Overall, the Chiefs ran for only 112 yards and averaged just 3.6 yards per carry, not exactly a huge day at the office for the running game. But they were able to make enough plays to get the Charles TD run and three field goals by Ryan Succop.

With four minutes, 38 seconds to play, the Chiefs took possession of the ball at their own 29-yard line. They’ve practiced this situation since the first day of training camp. The premise is simple: run as much time off the clock as possible and do whatever can be done to not give the ball back to the opponent.

The Chiefs actually got something done, as Charles ran twice for nine and six yards and a first down. That nine-yard run was wide left and it’s a play that Johnson would have gotten stopped for no gain because he does not have the speed. Charles ran again for two yards and then Smith picked up seven yards, but the play was wiped out by a holding penalty against TE Leonard Pope.

They ended up punting the ball away, able to chew up 2:45 off the clock. That set up some late theatrics by the Raiders, but the Chiefs survived and won for the second time this season.

“We’ve got room to improve,” said QB Matt Cassel. “But we got enough done to get the win. It’s always good to beat a division team on the road. That’s hard to do. But we got that done.