The effect of mobile quarterbacks on running back success

In 2009, Chris Johnson had one of the best statistical seasons the NFL has ever seen. He became just the 6th player in the history of professional football to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season — he’s since been joined on that list by Adrian Peterson who became the 7th to accomplish the feat in 2012 — and broke Marshall Faulk’s total yards from scrimmage record, combining for a whopping 2,509 yards combined rushing and receiving.

Johnson was sublime during that season and his offensive line — Michael Roos, Eugene Amano, Kevin Mawae, Jake Scott, and David Stewart — deserves a lot of credit too, but CJ never becomes CJ2K without Vince Young’s legs. Johnson’s production jumped from 99.3…