Rashad Johnson

[76Texan]

The more I watched this guy, the more and more I like him.

So far, I've reviewed his game against Clemson, Georgia, Tenn, Miss. St., Auburn, Florida, and Utah.

I came away very impressed even though none of his Ints were during those games.

His game againts the LSU Tigers must have been something (3 Ints).
I intend to watch that one eventually.

Sure, he could fail to make a tackle occasionally, but that would be against a great move or a great burst by an explosive player like that guy Jacoby Ford from Clemson who just won the 60m dash NCAA indoor track. He at least can slow down the offensive player enough for his teammate(s) to help or recover.

Rashad is the best field general I've seen this year.

I'm watching the 07 LSU game just now and I have to stop at half time to rave about a couple of plays.

No, it's not the Int he made with a good read of the QB.

The two plays are as followed:

1. LSU faked a run to the left.
Rashad lined up on that side, just outside the DE.
He started to his right to support the run.
He changed course with the hand-off from the RB to the receiver for a reverse.
He recognized it even before the exchange took place, which is remarkable.
His turn was nice and fluid.
But what he did next was even better.
He read the WR, and as the guy was about to plant his foot to throw downfield, Rashad already turned and head back to the left corner where he anticipated the direction of the pass.
Once again, he shows that he can flex his hips.
He was a good ten yards further from the QB (turning receiver on this play) than the LCB who bit on the play fake. Yet he arrived first for the TD-saving tackle. The LCB (Simeon Castille) didn't make a bad turn either, but RJ's anticipation was better and he didn't have to turn 180 degree.

2. On 3rd and 13, Matt Flynn was in the shot gun. He would step back a few, such that he was about 8 yards behind the LOS for the throw.
Rashad was about 12 yd from the LOS from the other side.
He inched up and started the blitz from 7 yd off the LOS as the ball was snapped.
He didn't get the sack, but did put in a nice blow as Flynn released the ball.
He covered 15 yds in about 1-3/4 sec maybe a little less.
And he had to look for the hole opening between the LT and the LG (it wasn't quite there at the beginning.)

Note: Simeon appeared in 7 games as a reserve for the Bengals (UDFA.) His brother Tim is a FB for the Cards. Their father Jeremiah hold the Tides' school record 16 Ints and played 6 yrs in the NFL (14 Ints). Simeon's 40 time was around 4.58 but he had 12 Ints for the Tides so the guy wasn't all bad.

[Goatcheese]

Must spread rep.

I've been on the RJ bandwagon since October.

OJ Atogwe 2.0

I have him ranked 30th on my big board.

Another guy you should take a peek at is Michael Hamlin from Clemson. I would love to see these two get paired up in the Texans secondary. The Texans have never had one Ballhawking safety, let alone two.

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by Goatcheese

Must spread rep.

I've been on the RJ bandwagon since October.

OJ Atogwe 2.0

I have him ranked 30th on my big board.

Another guy you should take a peek at is Michael Hamlin from Clemson. I would love to see these two get paired up in the Texans secondary. The Texans have never had one Ballhawking safety, let alone two.

Haha, you have it right in the middle of my projection. I said between 20 and 40.

Yeah, both of those safeties from Clemson ain't so bad themselves.
I've checked them out in about 5 games. The thing is, they would make some nice plays and then miss a few. Which isn't terrible by any stretch of the imagination. Same with Delmas or Chung or Moore, etc. Each has his own pros and cons.

I'm going for Rashad even though he's not the best athlete of the bunch, but he knows how to play anywhere on the field. After all, consistency can really help a team preventing quick six. Rashad had many tackles that prevent a score and also many "close, almost" Ints.

[Ole Miss Texan]

Wow, great job! The thing I want most in a safety... no let me rephrase that, the thing I want most in a defensive back is his ability to anticipate. I'm not as concerned about his 40 time, but his anticipation and his burst to close.

So should we be looking for Rashad as a 2nd rounder for us?

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by Ole Miss Texan

Wow, great job! The thing I want most in a safety... no let me rephrase that, the thing I want most in a defensive back is his ability to anticipate. I'm not as concerned about his 40 time, but his anticipation and his burst to close.

So should we be looking for Rashad as a 2nd rounder for us?

I hate to fall in love with a prospect, but most definitely, yes!
If the Texans pass him up at their second round spot, I will be doing a lot of @$%#&*%*&# for sure, haha!

But unless we trade back, I don't think we'll see him in Texans uni, which would be a shame.

This guy can do it all.
He can defend the redzone, the short field. He can go up against the big receivers, the TEs (not because he's all that physical, but he knows how a play can develop, and so try to get himself in the correct position to defend it.) He knows the downs and distance.
He can blitz thru any gap or off the edge. He can play nickel. He can play rover, supporting the run. He can play SS, FS.

I have not seen a safety that was asked to do so much and perform all those tasks up to the level, and that include Berry, Mays, and Burnett.

[Ole Miss Texan]

Originally Posted by 76Texan

I hate to fall in love with a prospect, but most definitely, yes!
If the Texans pass him up at their second round spot, I will be doing a lot of @$%#&*%*&# for sure, haha!

But unless we trade back, I don't think we'll see him in Texans uni, which would be a shame.

This guy can do it all.
He can defend the redzone, the short field. He can go up against the big receivers, the TEs (not because he's all that physical, but he knows how a play can develop, and so try to get himself in the correct position to defend it.) He knows the downs and distance.
He can blitz thru any gap or off the edge. He can play nickel. He can play rover, supporting the run. He can play SS, FS.

I have not seen a safety that was asked to do so much and perform all those tasks up to the level, and that include Berry, Mays, and Burnett.

That's some high praise there. If I'm not mistaken, I believe Nick Saban said he was the smartest player he's ever coached (meaning football IQ). Some places I see he's a 2nd/3rd rounder... some think he's a 1st. Most all my favorite "football player" guys are in the trade down and select range. In this weak of a safety class, I'm starting to doubt he lasts to our 2nd too.

[Texan4Ever]

I like Rashad Johnson as a safety but I also like Sean Smith from Utah as well. I think we need to groom a future FS and I hope we can take Smith over Johnson because the guy has the cover skills needed to be a threat and he is also tall and has quicks.

I am actually all for trading the 1st round pick for more picks in the 2nd that way we can grab Sean Smith/or Rashad Johnson and Tyrone McKenzie and cover both of our needs at S and OLB.

[badboy]

Would ya please stop talking about this excellent true free safety, already. 31 other teams are reading this MB and I have already had to move this player from 4th to my 3rd round and you guys are talking him up even more. Shhh!

[Mr teX]

Thing i like most about him is how he plays the ball in the air. He's got excellent body control. That, coupled with his football IQ make a lethal combo for a safety to have.

[76Texan]

Originally Posted by badboy

Would ya please stop talking about this excellent true free safety, already. 31 other teams are reading this MB and I have already had to move this player from 4th to my 3rd round and you guys are talking him up even more. Shhh!

Haha, OK, I stop.
Should we start installing some smoke screen from now on?