Notice the offense, and the quarterback. Most of those plays were under center, I-formation with full back as a lead blocker, and Johnson 8 yards deep.
- Zach Mills was a threat to run. A lot of those plays were options with a pitch to Johnson going wide.
- A lot of those plays involved a pitch to Johnson with the full back utilized as either misdirection, or as a lead blocker. The defense could not key on Johnson. Most of those big plays were not simple handoffs as you would see in today's offense.
- The draw plays had Mills going back with his eyes downfield as if to pass, then Johnson with both a lead blocker and tons of space to pick the hole, then accelerate with momentum.
I believe Mills paid a lot of the price for Johnson's success. In the end he could barely make a pass for all of the shoulder damage that he incurred.
Still, I loved that offense for all of the versatility that Mills brought to the game. We did not need to stretch the field with an elite passer because the defense literally had to defend three runners who were not in the same place on the field. Mills was able to spread it around with screen plays and swing passes.
This is nothing to take away from Johnson, who was as good as anyone and proved it in his NFL career. He would have been remembered differently had it not been that he was a head case.
