Chronic: Travis Johnson heeds warning

[TexanSam]

In the offseason, coach Gary Kubiak called in defensive tackle Travis Johnson and told him the Texans staff was not happy with his work ethic or his conditioning, and if the former No. 1 pick wanted to be part of this season's team he would have to change his approach.

Kubiak got Johnson's attention.

"They said they weren't pleased with the way I was working, so I figured I'd just take it back to the old school, take it back to what got me here," Johnson, 25, said. "So while everyone else was still drooling on the pillow, I got up at 4:30, got to the stadium at 5 and started working. And I'm still working.

"He stood out like a man among boys," Franklin said. "I saw this article about him in the paper, so I cut it out and mailed it to him. I wrote on it, 'You're playing too high. You have to get your pads down.' But the corrections I made then are the same ones I'm making now."

I'm glad to hear he's working harder but I think the tone of the article still makes it seem kind of apparent that he's not what the Texans expected him to be. I get the impression than Johnson thinks he's much better than he really is, but that might just be me.

link

[aj.]

In the offseason, coach Gary Kubiak called in defensive tackle Travis Johnson and told him the Texans staff was not happy with his work ethic or his conditioning, and if the former No. 1 pick wanted to be part of this season's team he would have to change his approach

Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, we have our annual "coaches warn TJ or else" article ... because just like last year, he appears fat, lazy, sluggish, unmotivated and this year I'll add a new word: stiff

But yeah, he's working hard to improve.

[Malloy]

Originally Posted by aj.

Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, we have our annual "coaches warn TJ or else" article ... because just like last year, he appears fat, lazy, sluggish, unmotivated and this year I'll add a new word: stiff

But yeah, he's working hard to improve.

He works hard to improve EVERY year... just too bad he lets it all go as soon as the season is over :I

[HJam72]

He'll get in shape when he gets cut and can't afford the food anymore.

[Texans_Chick]

Originally Posted by aj.

Like the swallows returning to Capistrano, we have our annual "coaches warn TJ or else" article ... because just like last year, he appears fat, lazy, sluggish, unmotivated and this year I'll add a new word: stiff

But yeah, he's working hard to improve.

But you see, John McClain likes him because he's personable and a good quote.

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

But you see, John McClain likes him because he's personable and a good quote.

...and they have the same basic shape

[Porky]

Originally Posted by ObsiWan

...and they have the same basic shape

Don't insult McClain like that.

[Errant Hothy]

So we're all paying no this no atention, or just writing it off as McClain dribble?

On defense, the linemen will rotate, but when everyone's healthy, Mario Williams and Anthony Weaver will start at end. Anthony Maddox and Amobi Okoye will start at tackle. Johnson is putting heat on Maddox.

http://blogs.chron.com/sportsupdate/...r_lb_jobs.html

[nunusguy]

I dunno but I gotta wonder if Kubiak & Co. would be less critical of TJ and more into being apologists like they are with Mario if TJ had also been their pick ?

[ObsiWan]

Originally Posted by Hoth-Boy

So we're all paying no this no atention, or just writing it off as McClain dribble?



http://blogs.chron.com/sportsupdate/...r_lb_jobs.html

There's no "Stop the Presses" stuff to get excited about in there.
Its just a status report.

[Errant Hothy]

Originally Posted by ObsiWan

There's no "Stop the Presses" stuff to get excited about in there.
Its just a status report.

I don't know. With the way the majority of this board views TJ, the fact that he is even competing for a starting spot would/should be stop the press type news.

I like T.J...I think if he can stay healthy and motivated he can help this team.

[Marcus]

I still don't think he makes the team.

[Mr teX]

The guy apparently has the skills to play at this level, you don't get to FSU & considered a consensus 1st rounder without them. I'd even go so far as to say that he has the skills to dominate. But he apparently suffers from LWS (lendale white syndrome) so named b/c lendale has by most accounts perfected it in 1 season. Suffers from LWS think that their work ethic from college will be good enough for them to dominate in the NFL like they did in college. Ordinarily, thinking this way isn't a problem, but when you don't have any type of work ethic to speak of, well you get the picture.

& even more bad news for us, it's a chronic condition, meaning don't read to much in to "breakout" seasons around contract re-up time.

[gtexan02]

Originally Posted by Marcus

I still don't think he makes the team.

Kubiak has publically stated that TJ is pushing Maddox hard for his starter role. I dont see how you cut a guy who is practically a starter, especially when we have horrible DT injury history

I think T.J makes the team pretty easily....

[HJam72]

Originally Posted by xtruroyaltyx

I think T.J makes the team pretty easily....

So do I, but I don't think he'll win that starter spot back. I don't really think he wants it bad enough.

Did you ever wonder if some guys just want to make the team and sit on the bench? You don't get lifelong knee and back problems from sitting on the bench--plus it's just easier.

[GP]

Originally Posted by Texans_Chick

But you see, John McClain likes him because he's personable and a good quote.

You and I had a conversation on the boards about TJ some time ago.

I ragged him pretty hard because I felt he had some sort of mental/emotional issue going on (something similar to Social Anxiety Disorder) that kept him spaced out and unplugged from "the moment."

You told me that you had met him, that he was a great guy who did something special for a person in need, etc.

Just curious about where you think he's at now.

I read that during drills--when there's a break in the action--he's off by himself numerous times, playing the loner role again (it seems). I think he's so different (attitudinally) than mots of the other guys that it places him a little outside the ring of acceptance...and I think he isolates himself because he feels he's different than the average NFL player. And I think all this contributes to his lack of performance--He doesn't care what people think of him, he can go inside his shell and hide there if he wants to.

At the end of the day, I don't think TJ places high value on what he gets done on the football field. I think he's a guy that can easily get on with life without playing the game anymore.

How else can you describe it? I mean, the guy made it at FSU...so we know he is capable. But did the fire die a little as college ended and football became a job? I just think there's something going in in TJ that runs contrary to what an NFL player has to do/think to be a good player.

You hear what he says about himself--how he wants to be like Deacon Jones--but then it doesn't match up when you hear the coaches speak on it.

[Mr. White]

Looks like GP's got it nailed. Sounds like the guy knows what to say to make it look like he's been busting his ass, but I don't buy it.

"They said they weren't pleased with the way I was working, so I figured I'd just take it back to the old school, take it back to what got me here," Johnson, 25, said. "So while everyone else was still drooling on the pillow, I got up at 4:30, got to the stadium at 5 and started working. And I'm still working."

"I guess that, eventually, you've got to look in the mirror and say, 'I'm the one that's causing me to not do these things. The only person that can stop Travis is Travis.' "

You don't tear muscles by staying in shape over the offseason. Especially with a new coaching staff coming in.

The coaches didn't want a repeat of last season when Johnson suffered a torn calf muscle in the preseason and another in the regular season, causing him to miss the last seven games.

NEWSFLASH: Some guys play pro football for the paycheck.

[nunusguy]

Originally Posted by gpshafer_1976

How else can you describe it? I mean, the guy made it at FSU...so we know he is capable. But did the fire die a little as college ended and football became a job? I just think there's something going in in TJ that runs contrary to what an NFL player has to do/think to be a good player.
You hear what he says about himself--how he wants to be like Deacon Jones--but then it doesn't match up when you hear the coaches speak on it.

He made it at FSU his senior year, as he was just a one-year starter.
Those kinda guys make me nervous, the one's who have a more abbreviated college resume. In comparison, I think DeMeco was a 3-year starter at 'Bama, and that's in the SEC, the closest thing to the NFL in college.
That's what I call solid credentials.
And the guys used medication for some kind of behavioral problem in the past. Mood swings or whatever ?
It seems to me that the Texans inclination almost might be to search for a
reason to cut TJ ? He wasn't their pick, and by letting him go it frees up cap space for the new regime over the longer term for "their own".