NFL star Chris Johnson talks athletics
Tennessee Titans running back Chris Johnson attracted the attention of NFL scouts last winter when he
ran 40 yards in a league record 4.2 seconds. Prior to embarking on a career in American football, Johnson was an elite high school sprinter and one of the USA’s brightest young track talents. Johnson spoke to spikesmag.com about his track and field past and how it helped his blossoming gridiron career.
You’re enjoying a sensational rookie season in the NFL. How has your track and field background helped your American football career?
CJ:
I feel like when you run track, you get faster and faster the more you train. And that speed has obviously helped me as an American football player. Also growing up running track helped me stay in top shape all year round and that made me more successful when it came to the American football season.
Speed, balance and concentration are key skills needed to be a good running back in the NFL. Did you learn some of those skills on the track?
CJ: You’re right. You have to possess all those attributes to play American football, but also any sport you compete in. Running track helped me with those things, but
I think it helped me the most with my burst, acceleration and top-end speed.
Was it a difficult decision to choose between track and American football for a career?
CJ: No, not really. I enjoyed running track but I always wanted to be an American football player at the professional level.
Do you have any buddies still in track and field?
CJ: I ran with
Xavier Carter [former American football player at Louisiana State University and now a 100m and 200m sprinter] and
Walter Dix (bronze medallist in the 100m and 200m in Beijing]. Those are the two main guys I follow.
Dix was the only man faster than you in high school – what did you think when you saw him on the podium in Beijing?
CJ: I was rooting for him and Xavier. I’m always glad to see them succeeding. I also ran two track meets in college at East Carolina and went up against LeShawn Merritt there. When any of those three run, I always root for them.
How would you compare your speed now to high school – do you feel you are faster?
CJ: Well,
when I was running track I was closer to 165 or 170 pounds. Now as an American football player I weigh around 200 pounds. You need that muscle in American football to play and survive against some of these guys that are so big. So I’m in better shape to successfully do what I do now. Faster? I don’t know. But
if I was running track full-time, I think I would be one of the fastest guys out there.
So Dix was the last man to beat you on the track, could you take him now?
CJ: Right now he’s a track guy – that’s what he does. So he might have the advantage on me. I think if I focused on track, I would be right up there with the likes of Dix and Carter.
I think if they had to run in American football pads like me, then it would be pretty close.
Would you say it’s important for an NFL player to have track and field experience?
CJ:
I think it helps, especially for some of the positions like running back or wide receiver. But saying that, there are a lot of NFL players who didn’t run track and they are still amazing athletes.
How does track and American football compare? In one you’re on your own and the other is the ultimate team sport.
CJ: They’re both good in their own way, but really different. In the 4x100m and the 4x400m relays there are a lot of team elements. You have to work together, especially when practising the hand-offs. In the individual events though, you’re really out there doing your own thing and it’s all up to you. In American football, you’re one of 11 guys on the field for your team and everybody has to work together to be successful.
See Johnson in action this weekend as the Titans face the Baltimore Ravens on Saturday, 10 January from 9.30pm on Sky Sports 2.
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