Can Derrick Johnson play MIKE?

[oafusp]

Mike = Middle LB (for those that don't know)

Johnson is getting a lot of hype, a lot of comparrisons to Ray Lewis and Arrington.

Watch this kid....he might be a good idea if Pierce does not sign and Barrow's knee it TOAST. If Piece could move from outside LB to middle...then this kid too?!!?!!

Remember, defenses are a teams foundation. Plus, we could get a free agent WR.



http://www.footballsfuture.com/2005/pro ... hnson.html

Derrick Johnson may be the most explosive linebacker in the past few years in college football. He routinely makes big plays, and has done so all four years at Texas. Last year as a junior, Johnson racked up 125 tackles with 20 of them for loss, 2 sacks, 4 INT, and 9 pass break ups. His 3 year totals at Texas are amazing: 328 tackles, 46 tackles for loss, 8.5 sacks, 8 INT, and 22 pass break ups.

There aren’t too many linebackers out there that possess the type of physical ability and all around ability on the football field that Johnson has. Johnson is tall, and extremely athletic. He plays sideline to sideline, and has excellent closing speed. He can drop into coverage with ease, and has the ability to make plays on the football in coverage. He is also very good at moving forward towards the passer or stuffing the run. Johnson just has a nose for the football, and is in on every play. He is the type of all around LB every team wishes they could have.


The biggest weakness with Johnson’s game is that he needs to get stronger. He still has a lanky frame, and looks to have the ability to bulk up over 240 with ease and not lose any speed. His lack of bulk shows at times in the run game when it comes to fighting off blockers. He has improved on this during his senior season, but he can still be taken out of the plays.

Johnson is about as good a LB prospect as you will find. He looks a lot like LaVar Arrington did at Penn St, and he has the frame to bulk up like LaVar has. If linebackers were put at more of a premium, Johnson could be the first player taken off the board. It looks like he is a Top 10 lock at this point, with a very good chance of getting taken in the Top 5.

Strengths: A playmaker in every sense of the word...Powerful tackler...Makes play sideline-to-sideline...Excellent instincts...More than holds his own in coverage and has fluid hips...Highly productive...Explosive athlete...Very good when blitzing and pursues well...Always around the action...Has a knack for making the big play.
Weaknesses: Could stand to add some weight and bulk up...Struggles to take on blocks...Will ignore his assignment at times in an effort to make a play...Will miss some tackles.
Notes: May have been the first linebacker selected had he come out after his junior season (ahead of Jonathan Vilma)...Has a brother (Dwight) who played in the NFL and is the cousin of Kevin (Ex-Florida St.) and Ben Emanuel (UCLA)...One of the best linebacker prospects to come along in years.

If the WR's are gone at #9....then take the best player on the board....right?

[ii7-V7]

Most mock drafts have him going at #3 or #4. Even with Pierce gone...assuming he goes...We still have an incredibly talented and deep LB corp. I wouldn't draft a LB at all!

Chad

[Scooter]

Yes, he could play the Mike - he's a good LB. But I think there are better MLB's than to move a guy that can run like DJ inside. He's a natural OLB. A good coach is going to move him from Sam to Will and bring him on blitzes.

[oafusp]

Yes, he could play the Mike - he's a good LB. But I think there are better MLB's than to move a guy that can run like DJ inside. He's a natural OLB. A good coach is going to move him from Sam to Will and bring him on blitzes.

WOW, imagine how crazy that would be....

Arrington
Washington
Johnson


They would be the quickest, scariest, rabid LB corps in the league. It would be nuts...plus they'd have Sean Taylor.

What?

[VASkin27]

We have to remember the money issue. If we drafted Johnson, we would have several superstar players who are going to want superstar money, just on defense. Taylor, Arrington, Johnson, etc. While on offense we have one: Portis. Defense is the key to winning, but we have to balance out the money between sides if we want to win games and score more than 10 pts a game.

[oafusp]

We have to remember the money issue. If we drafted Johnson, we would have several superstar players who are going to want superstar money, just on defense. Taylor, Arrington, Johnson, etc. While on offense we have one: Portis. Defense is the key to winning, but we have to balance out the money between sides if we want to win games and score more than 10 pts a game.

I think the Colts won a lot of games the last 4 years...all their money is on offense...but their achilles heel is defense...However, the Colts have slowly been building a good defense.

Like many GM's in the league I believe you take the best player available when you pick. If the WR's are gone I say go for LB - Johnson...(only if Pierce does not sign).
You are going to pay the same amount of money to that player no matter which postion they play. So money is not an issue...you have to factor in the rookie money pool too, we have #9 pick money.

No money on offense? Are you kidding me? Randy Thomas is the highest paid Guard in the league...Clinton Portis is the 2nd highest paid RB in the league, Jon Jansen has a huge multi-year contract (thank God), Chris Samuels (no comment), and Coles is still a Redskin...and his cap figure will remain.....and one last guy...Mark Brunell, his salary is big too. Believe it our not...the Redskins offense is paid more than the defense.


right?

[Jeremy81]

my opinion is if the two WR are taken at the #9, then we trade down to get more picks...i think new orleans would be willing to trade down in order to get the guy mentioned in this thread...they need defense and johnson is someone they could really use...I'm not sure what other teams would be willing to trade up with us, but if we could find someone, we could fill a lot of needs with good players...not the best on the board, but good enough to make a difference on our team

[air_hog]

Derrick Johnson is a stud. He is this years Sean Taylor aka the best defensive player. I'd take him only if Mike Williams and Bryalon Edwards were gone. Plus I bet you he could play DE.

[curveball]

Johnson is an over rated stiff. He refuses to take on blockers, disappears for long stretchs and never really came up big in big games.

Think Arrington's lack of discipline but without the pure physical abilities or big plays.

[JansenFan]

Come on Curvie....tell us what you really think.

Are you a Texas fan, just out of curiosity? If so, I would assume you have seen most of their games and therefore have good insight on this kid.

[curveball]

Come on Curvie....tell us what you really think.

Are you a Texas fan, just out of curiosity? If so, I would assume you have seen most of their games and therefore have good insight on this kid.

I'm a Notre Dame fan, but follow UT because I recieved my masters from there and Pann State because of my current location.

DJ can be neutralized by any blocker. In space he can make plays, but how many times are NFL LBs unaccounted for?

He'll make some plays as a WIL in the NFL, but does a team really want to invest a top ten pick in such a limited role player? People want to talk about his pass-rushing skills, and he could rush Baylor's QB, but when Sproles can pick him up, there's a problem.

I'd much rather have Merriman if looking to get after the QB and for all around LBs, Crowder's the best of the bunch.