Great Article About Travis Johnson

[TexansFanatic]

After reading this Lopez article in the Chronicle, I'm a lot more excited and hopeful about this draft pick.

http://www.chron.com/cs/CDA/ssistory.mpl/sports/3297395

[SheTexan]

After reading that this morning my first thought was, I wonder how many penalties this guy is going to cost us! Guess we will see!

[edo783]

If we can keep him from doing stupid stuff, he might be just what we need. Might take a season or two like it did for Peek. I like the motor though.

[nunusguy]

"This is the most daring draft choice the Texans have made in their four-year existence"
****************************
Cass did make a provocative selection, some say a misguided reach. It definitely wasn't the most popular pick with many locals as they wanted him
to take another guy named Johnston who went to a certain Univ about 190 clicks up 290 N&W of Houston. And if he was to take a DL, most thought
it would be Marcus Spears from another well known school in the area, LSU.
I dunno.....TJ can definitely talk the talk, we'll see soon enough if he can walk the walk.

[Vinny]

The Chronicle listened to the fans....they are doing a much better job this year. It took them a few years but I think they finally figured it out. There is a demand for some local football coverage around here.

On the article, I think fire and attitude is exactly what we needed to add to this team. We needed some attitude, passion and cockiness as long as the cocky guy is talented...and he ought to be since he was the first D-lineman off the board in the draft. He could bring some Warren Sapp-like presence to our line. We have too many passive personalities on this team in the past so I welcome some of this attitude.

I didn't know he asked for 75 because of Decon Jones. nice

Yet Johnson is reverent of the veterans in camp. Respectful. He studies the game and understands the responsibilities of his place. When the Texans asked Johnson which number he wanted to wear last spring, he told them, "Anything in the 90s. Or No. 75."

He wears No. 75 to pay tribute to Deacon Jones, one of the all-time great defensive linemen, who retired eight years before Johnson was born. First shown a tape of Jones by coach Kevin Rooney at Sherman Oaks (Calif.) Notre Dame High School when he was a sophomore, Johnson has idolized the Hall of Famer since.

"Deacon was a ferocious player, always intense in everything he did," said Johnson, who as a high school senior met Jones on a TV show in Los Angeles. "I'm in love with the history of the game. To me, Deacon Jones is probably the greatest defensive lineman of all time. I aspire to be like that. When I'm done playing, I want people to remember great things about me just like they do him."

"Deacon was a ferocious player, always intense in everything he did," said Johnson, who as a high school senior met Jones on a TV show in Los Angeles. "I'm in love with the history of the game. To me, Deacon Jones is probably the greatest defensive lineman of all time. I aspire to be like that. When I'm done playing, I want people to remember great things about me just like they do him."

Johnson brought some 30 tapes of great defensive linemen with him to Houston. He watches the tapes to study footwork, hand movements and techniques. He'll rewind a play 15 or 20 times trying to pick up an edge. He has tapes of Jones, Reggie White, Warren Sapp and others. "You have to know the history of the game to be great," Johnson said. "I'm an ESPN Classic junkie. You've got to watch their tapes. You've got to understand what they did, why they did it and how they did it."

[F-minus67]

This guy seems to bring an intensity that no other player has had on defense in the history of this team. I mean most of the players just do there job and thats that, but he really could inject some life into the other players on defense along with Dunta.

[Blake]

I dont want this guy to try to be the next Decon Jones, I want him to strive to be the first Travis Johnson. This article makes me believe that he can, and is willing to do just that.

He is an overachiever with the body of a player who shouldnt have to. So that makes me think he can be special.

I have no doubt that with the addition of Johnson, and Peek to this defense, we will cause more sacks, picks, and overall havoc.

[texasguy346]

Johnson brought some 30 tapes of great defensive linemen with him to Houston. He watches the tapes to study footwork, hand movements and techniques. He'll rewind a play 15 or 20 times trying to pick up an edge. He has tapes of Jones, Reggie White, Warren Sapp and others. "You have to know the history of the game to be great," Johnson said. "I'm an ESPN Classic junkie. You've got to watch their tapes. You've got to understand what they did, why they did it and how they did it."

This is the excerpt I find most encouraging. Sounds like he might be a screening room junkie. I don't imagine he'll mind staying late studying game tape to see where he can make improvements. Very good news.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by Vinny

The Chronicle listened to the fans....they are doing a much better job this year. It took them a few years but I think they finally figured it out. There is a demand for some local football coverage around here.

That's what I'm talken about, kudos to the Chronicle, their coverage for the Texans is off to a spectacular start !

[stephen1]

tj said the only person that can stop him is himself, but many draft experts said he took plays off at fsu. i just hope he stops that before buffalo.

[scourge]

Originally Posted by stephen1

tj said the only person that can stop him is himself, but many draft experts said he took plays off at fsu. i just hope he stops that before buffalo.

yeah, and I also read that he has ADD or ADHD and wasnt on his medication all the time so he had lapses in concentration and problems focusing.

That's why I dont take all of those "took plays off" stories too seriously. As long as he takes his medication everything should be gravy, and I'm sure that the Texans will do their best to see that he stays focused.

[HJam72]

How short must your attention span be to let your mind wonder during your own college football game? :brickwall

I meant that as a joke, but I'll save it and use it fpr real if he does that in the NFL.

It seems odd to me that they call it ADD, because I always think of a kid having trouble with early mathematics. Kind of funny and kind of not funny.

[Wolf]

Texans seemed to have a player here.Based on his attitude he shouldn't underachieve. Capers will have his hands full teaching this guy some "controlled agression" and when the play is over, leave the shoving alone because there are some sneaky veterans we will be playing against and I am sure the scouting report on TJ is being filled out as we speak

[mes311]

Originally Posted by scourge

yeah, and I also read that he has ADD or ADHD and wasnt on his medication all the time so he had lapses in concentration and problems focusing.

He did a short thing with Bob Allen last night during the news and he said he has ADD and ADHD. The overall interview showed he's pretty funny and quick witted.

[El Tejano]

Originally Posted by texasguy346

This is the excerpt I find most encouraging. Sounds like he might be a screening room junkie. I don't imagine he'll mind staying late studying game tape to see where he can make improvements. Very good news.

Also it was said that while Johnson was on his "holdout", he called the Dline coach at 1am just to talk about a particular assignment. But yeah, wanting to be like Deacon Jones is a cool thing because this means this kid wants to be a great player.

[Corrosion]

Originally Posted by DC_ROCK

I have no doubt that with the addition of Johnson, and Peek to this defense, we will cause more sacks, picks, and overall havoc.

I would tend to agree with the assesment that the Texans D will produce more numbers this season with the additions of P. Buchanon and Morlon Greenwood via FA Travis Johnson via draft and A. Peek moving into the starting line-up .

Although i do have reservations about the personel changes ,

First of all can Peek and Travis Johnson refrain from costly penalties ? This is probably the major reason Peek did not see extended playing time last season , we all know the guy has the ability to be a game changer but an unsportsman like conduct penalty can be just as damaging to a defense as a sack is to the offense . Johnsons seeming hot headed-ness could have the same effect ....

Replacing A.Glenn w/ P.Buchanon looks like a winner from a physical standpoint . Glenn had injury problems and had probably lost a step but was like having a coach on the field . He made very few mistakes . Does Buchanons pure speed and ability make up for that ? We'll have to wait and see.

The changes at Linebacker seem to have been made for three reasons , Money , Speed and to make room in the starting line-up for Peek . In a perfect world i'd have liked to have seen Sharper stay w/ the Texans . The Aquisition of Greenwood does add speed to the position vacated by Foreman and with the move inside by Wong allows for the most athletic group to be on the field . Although i doubt Wong is long for a Texans uniform .(He wants to play outside) .