Advertisement

Tennessee Titans Thursday Throwback: Smash and Dash

Tennessee Titans Throwback Thursday: Smash and Dash

A decade before the Tennessee Titans drafted current back-to-back rushing champion Derrick Henry, 45th overall in the 2016 NFL Draft; they selected a 6’1″ 235 lbs running back 45th overall out of USC, LenDale White. White’s former USC teammate Reggie Bush went No. 1 overall to the New Orleans Saints in the same draft class.

In 2008, the Titans selected running back Chris Johnson, 24th overall out of East Carolina, on the heels of his 4.25 40-yard dash time at the NFL Combine. White only carried the ball 61 times for 244 yards in his rookie season of 2006 due to Travis Henry‘s 1,200 yards season in front of him. Year two saw him rush for 1,110 yards and seven touchdowns. 

When the Titans selected Johnson, the duo was instantly dubbed “Smash and Dash.” White was a bruising back that ran at tacklers, while Johnson, nicknamed “CJ2K,” relied on his speed and one- cut-and-gone ability. Johnson’s rookie season saw the combination run for a combined 2,001 yards, with Johnson having 1,228 and 24 touchdowns, with White accounting for 15. They were definitely living up to their name.

Advertisement

When Both Had a Good Day

The duo’s pinnacle was a regular-season game in 2008 against the Kansas City Chiefs. Each runner surpassed 100 yards on the ground in that game and took it to the house from a long distance. As a team, the Titans rushed for a franchise-record of 332 yards in that game. 

White had an impressive afternoon, rushing for 149 yards on 17 carries while scoring three touchdowns. None more impressive than when he outran the Chiefs’ defense on his 80-yard scamper. After several near misses, Johnson was finally able to break a long one in the fourth quarter. His 66-yard TD run cemented a strong performance that consisted of 168 yards on 18 carries.

Advertisement

They also had another great game on Thanksgiving Day 2008. Both Johnson and White carved up the Detroit Lions for a combined 231 yards rushing and four touchdowns en route to a 47-10 victory.

Short-Lived

Sharing the backfield with Bush in college helped White put his ego aside. Thus, he shared carries with the elusive Johnson without batting an eye and just made the most of his opportunities. 

The 2009 season was White’s last in the NFL. The Titans limited his carries and yards due to CJ2K becoming just the sixth running back in NFL history to rush for over 2,000 yards in a season.

Johnson called Nashville home for the first six of his 10 NFL seasons. All six he rushed for over 1,000 yards and was also a three-time Pro Bowl selection. He went on to play one season with the New York Jets and three seasons with the Arizona Cardinals but never had the success he had with the Titans. Once he lost his elusive first step, he was never the same. Off-the-field issues, including getting shot in his hometown of Orlando, Florida, had as much to do with his career being cut short as much as his on-the-field play.

Advertisement

For a franchise that has seen many running backs, from Earl Campbell to Eddie George to Henry and all those in between, Smash and Dash for that short time was the most effective one-two punch to play for them. Johnson belongs in the conversation with the other three among the best to ever play for the Titans/Oilers. Both remain good friends and are tied to this franchise even today.

Check us out on our socials:   

Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk 
Instagram: @ptsportstalk

Follow Joe Heller on Twitter @JerseyJoe317

Main Image Credit: 

Embed from Getty Images

Advertisement

Check us out on our socials:   
Twitter: @PTSTNews and @TalkPrimeTime
Facebook Page: Prime Time Sports Talk
Join our Facebook Group: Prime Time Sports Talk 
Instagram: @primetimesportstalk

Advertisement

Share this:

NFL Bills QB Josh Allen
Latest News

Gates Top NFL Team From Week 11 (2024)

Week 11 in the NFL brought more chaos, with at least five games on Sunday being decided by a single score. Notably, the Green Bay Packers and Indianapolis Colts won their games by just one point. As a result of their performance, the Buffalo Bills have earned the title of our NFL Team of the Week for the second time this season, having previously received this honor in Week 8.

Read More

Leave a Reply

Your email address will not be published. Required fields are marked *

Browse by Category:
Advertisement
Advertisement

Visit ChiefsBlitz.com for
hard-hitting KC Chiefs coverage.