Despite slow start, Browns have sights set on Titans RB Johnson

Associated Press

cleveland

Sooner or later, Chris Johnson will bust through the line, break a tackle, fake a defender out of his cleats and outrun everyone to the end zone.

It’s going to happen.

It’s just a matter of when, not if, Tennessee’s star running back gets loose.

“Let’s hope the time isn’t Sunday,” cracked Cleveland cornerback Sheldon Brown.

The Browns’ (2-1) main objective will be to stop Johnson when the Titans (2-1) visit today looking to shift a running game that has thus far been revving in neutral through the season’s first three weeks.

Johnson, who sat out training camp in a contract dispute, has gained just 98 yards on 46 carries — a jaw-dropping 2.1 yards per carry.

One of only six players in NFL history to rush for 2,000 yards in a season, Johnson isn’t giving the Titans much of a return on the $53 million investment, including $30 million guaranteed, they gave him about a week before the season started.

He’s taken the money.

Now, it’s time to run.

“Everybody on offense has to pick their game up,” Johnson said.

In a win over Denver last week, the Titans lost top wide receiver Kenny Britt to a season-ending knee injury, a major loss for a team searching for its offensive footing.

By missing weeks of practice time while waiting to get paid, and because of the lockout, Johnson may not yet be in “football shape.”

The tiny holes he slipped through in the past are currently sealed, and the former track star’s world-class speed isn’t quite at its usual warp levels.

Still, he’s dangerous and the Browns will be mindful of No. 28’s every move.

“We’ve just got to be aware of winning first down,” said Browns linebacker D’Qwell Jackson, selected the AFC’s defensive player of the month for September.

“We know he’s going to get a lot of touches, so we got some things set up this week to where we’re always going to keep an eye on him — not to give away what we’re doing — but we’ll have a special eye out for him.

“We know he’s going to get his touches, we know if we contain him we increase our chance of winning.”

Not that they have to prove their legitimacy, but the Browns know a win over a quality opponent will improve their image around the league.

Cleveland’s first three opponents — Cincinnati, Indianapolis and Miami — are a combined 1-8, so a victory over a team with a winning record would add credibility to the Browns’ start.

A win would make Cleveland 3-1 for the first time since 2001.