I watch college football. Sometimes I see a guy who makes me go, “Oh he’s interesting.” I make a note in my phone. I share those fellas with you. Make sense?
Video
Analysis
From Lance Zierlein at NFL.com:
Overview
Active inside linebacker with plenty of passion and aggression but a fundamental lack of NFL-caliber movement skills in space. Johnson is capable of handling downhill duties between the tackles but could struggle to match up with today’s space-oriented offensive attacks.
Strengths
- Active, high-energy player and vocal leader
- Aggressive demeanor is always on display
- Key reader with quick response to guard movement
- Patient to sift through moving bodies and find running back on the other side of it
- Squares pads downhill to squeeze his run fits
- Downhill mindset and takes shots in gaps to try and make a play
- Solid tackle-for-loss total in high-flying conference
- Core special teams member despite being full-time starter
Weaknesses
- Marginal athlete with segmented, heavy movements in space
- Short-strider lacking desired sideline-to-sideline range
- Struggles to access desired lateral burst in his flow to the ball
- Allows climbing guards to get into him first
- Inconsistent playing off of blocks
- Comes in hot and lacking body control as an open-field tackler
- Could struggle to cover if matched up in space
My Two Cents
- Bears may be looking for help at both middle linebacker and beside Eddie Jackson at safety after the coming season. Johnson could conceivably get a look at both spots – though he’s probably not athletic enough to start at either. He’s more likely a special teams guy.
- When I watch Johnson I see a kid who will find a way to be productive on an NFL roster. He’s not going to be a star but the Bears aren’t likely finding stars with their draft positions.
