Derrick Johnson KC Chiefs article

[ComstockLode]

DJ will be a special player for the Chiefs

At the top of the list is the aforementioned Derrick Johnson. Without a doubt, he has the opportunity to be one of the games very best outside linebackers. High praise for a rookie who’s never stepped foot on the field but he’s already the teams best cover linebacker. He’s the only one in OTA’s that has been able to stop tight end Kris Wilson. He has such instinctive skills that he’s already ahead of every other linebacker on the roster including Bell.

However, he’s still a rookie and anointing him as the next Derrick Thomas, as others have already done; is something that I’ll never do. Each has their own style and special skills. Thomas was an amazing pass rusher whereas Johnson is better in pass coverage. The knock on Thomas was the fact he could not take on blockers but he used that amazing speed to get around offensive tackles.

Johnson has more speed but he’s nowhere near the pass rusher that Thomas was the peak of his career. But in this defense, he doesn’t have to do that. Johnson instead uses his speed to key in on the ball carrier or receiver. He already possesses the ability to read plays in front of him and has a nose for the football.

In virtually every single practice, Johnson’s coverage skills drew the praise of defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and the rest of the defensive coaches. Routinely on screen passes or flair passes to running backs, Johnson would be in the receivers’ house before the ball made it into their hands. If they were allowed to hit in OTA’s, Johnson would have been arrested for murder. He is so quick to the ball that if he’s not slowed down or blocked at the point of attack, he’ll make play after play.

[jr0ck]

There is little debate that Derrick Johnson is already the Chiefs best defensive player.

WOW...i know the cheifs defense was more spongebob than patrick last year, but this seems to be MIGHTY presumptuous, if not down right insulting to every other player on the defensive roster. let's let him have his first big game, not pre-training camp session, before toting him around in such high regard. i guess kansas city fans like alot of upside down sunshine

[Wild Bill]

I can believe it. I follow the Longhorns religously and have watched this guy from his Freshman season. He is an "UNBELIEVABLE" football player. This guy is going to make an immediate impact in the league and will be a pro bowler for many years to come.

I understand that the Texans system doesn't really fit him, but man, I am really sick that we passed on him. T. Johnson was more of an area of need, but DJ has that it factor that puts him on a different level that the rest of the league. Kansas City is going to be very, very happy for many years to come.

[cadahnic]

No **** about DJ being a special player. Of course he is, that is why almost everyone on this board wanted him in the steel blue. That was not our course of action and he will likely be a linebacker in the mold of Derrick Brooks. Is he better than Morlon Greenwood already, Hell yeah, did the Texans do the right thing by not picking him, we all hope so...

[beerlover]

this is not under the draft thread heading but crystalizes what many Texans/Texas fans felt last draft day when Casserly pulled the trigger & traded down to #16. like it or not this question will be raised over & over again. seems like to me why did the Texans even bother to bring DJ into Relient for a tour, they obviously never had any intention of drafting him? all it did was raise false hope amonst their fan base, it didn't fool anyone else in the league hence he was still there @ #13. in the end he ended up in a perfect situation in KC. good luck to him, the Chiefs & all their great fans who deserve another derrick leading the defense.

From what I’ve seen, I can’t argue with his thinking. The Chiefs stole him with the 15th pick because the rest of the NFL didn’t think he could become a complete linebacker. Well, I have news for the 14 teams that passed on him; Johnson has what it takes to play at this level and be an impact player come opening day. There is no doubt he’ll start for this football team and there is little doubt that he expects anything less of himself.

[ComstockLode]

Originally Posted by Vinny

An off-season fluff piece on the rook. Every team does this with their rookies. I'm sure he will be good but all the quick players look good when there is no hitting.

This was not put out by the chiefs fan site, it was put out by scout.com as a featured article.

See the problem with calling this a fluff piece, is that all of the kansas city fans and coaches wanted Thomas Davis. They were actually disappointed they ended up with DJ. So it would seem they might be a little harder on him because of that fact, not the other way around.

But Quotes like:

In virtually every single practice, Johnson’s coverage skills drew the praise of defensive coordinator Gunther Cunningham and the rest of the defensive coaches. Routinely on screen passes or flair passes to running backs, Johnson would be in the receivers’ house before the ball made it into their hands. If they were allowed to hit in OTA’s, Johnson would have been arrested for murder. He is so quick to the ball that if he’s not slowed down or blocked at the point of attack, he’ll make play after play.

Doesnt really matter if he is hitting or not, they are applauding his coverage skills and his ability to read the offense.

[Big B Texan Fan]

Originally Posted by Vinny

Ok, dj

Yep, ya never know.

[ArlingtonTexan]

Unfortunately, no matter how good Travis johnson turns out to be or not to be, everytime Derrick Johnson makes a solo tackle we are going to have these types of threads. By not taking D.Johnson the Texans are not saying that they think he will suck. They believe that Travis Johnson was a better player and/or fit for the Texans in April 2005.

D. Johnson's job interview is not unlike when any of us get called and the company hires someone else. It does not mean that the team does not like the person/player, and maybe even a lot, but the organization feels that another person is a better fit at the time.

[nunusguy]

As a native of the KC area and one who will always be a Chiefs fan,
I'm happy they got someone who they think can help out their D - god only knows they need improvement in that area.
But when 2 coaches as knowledegible about football talent as Parsels and Schotenheimer who run the 3-4 both rejected him for other picks to play LB,
its already obvious before we even come up to bat that DJs forte is simply not the 3-4.

[texasguy346]

Being the best player on the Chiefs defense is about like being the prettiest girl in the Ozarks(as long as you have more than 3 teeth you've got a good shot at being the prettiest one). In other words it doesn't take much to be better than the rest of the competitors. I am only kidding of course, but still the Chiefs defense only other good player IMO is Surtain. I wish DJ luck in KC, and I'm sure he'll do well under Cunningham & Vermeil.

[throwANDREtheBALL]

I think he's going to be better than Morlon Greenwood and Kailee Wong next year. Then again, who said Greenwood was any good ?

[Big B Texan Fan]

I don't think were giving Greenwood any credit. He's entering those prime years of age, he's played with/watched/learned from some of the greats of the game like Taylor, Thomas, Seau and playing with guys like Surtain and Ogunleye doesn't hurt either. We got him cuz despite all those guys, he still made lots of tackles and lots of plays. He's just as fast as DJ and despite some of his teammates, he gave 110% on every play. He's gonna make a nice addition to our team and be a beast on stunt/delayed blitzes. Just remember all of those "oh so close" sacks that Foreman and Sharper almost had when they blitzed up the middle? He should, with his speed, be able to get most of those, if not at least force errant throws by the QB. I'm glad he's here.

[Huge]

Gary Walker - 32 years old
Seth Payne - 30 years old
Corey Sears - 32 years old
Robaire Smith - 27 years old

Jason Babin - 25 years old
Antwan Peek - 25 years old
Morlon Greenwood - 26 years old
Kailee Wong - 29 years old

Throw in that DJ doesn't fit a 3-4 scheme, does anybody really believe he would've been the better pick? If so, why/how?

[Lucky]

Originally Posted by throwANDREtheBALL

...Then again, who said Greenwood was any good ?

Dom Capers

Who said Greenwood wasn't good?

[DRIFTAWAY]

I am still not over it that we passed on DJ. He will be a very special player in this league for years to come, and would have been a perfect situation for both sides if he did don the steel blue on draft day. It is true that no matter how good Travis Johnson turns out to be, the question will always stay with this franchise of how DJ would have turned out here. I seriously do believe though that if TJ turns out to be a bust, DJ wins DROY and we dont find a perfect LB in Peek or if Wong leaves us in a season or two, that Casserly's job will be in major jeapordy.

Originally Posted by Huge

Gary Walker - 32 years old
Seth Payne - 30 years old
Corey Sears - 32 years old
Robaire Smith - 27 years old

Jason Babin - 25 years old
Antwan Peek - 25 years old
Morlon Greenwood - 26 years old
Kailee Wong - 29 years old

Throw in that DJ doesn't fit a 3-4 scheme, does anybody really believe he would've been the better pick? If so, why/how?

DJ would have fit into Foreman's role just as easily as Wong will. I strongly felt he would have been the better pick at that slot than TJ because of the fact that he's a play maker and TJ was more of a need pick. Add to that the possiblities that we could have had a healthy Pat Williams and allowed DJ time to learn from our veteran LB's, I thought we would be sitting good going into this season. I was shocked when we went with the "additon by substraction" tactic in the off season. We're banking a lot into Greenwood, Buchanon and Peej, instead of Sharper, Glenn and DJ. Still bitter, must take drink.

[Big B Texan Fan]

Originally Posted by DRIFTAWAY

It is true that no matter how good Travis Johnson turns out to be, the question will always stay with this franchise of how DJ would have turned out here.

That Question will only remain with the people that wanted him. I for one did not want him. He played with tenacity and some agression but seemed to be more of a finesse LB (if there is such a thing). He was GREAT @ forcing the strip but it seemed like he was trying that too much as opposed to just making the tackle. If he tries that in the NFL he'll miss many tackles. He is super fast though.

[nunusguy]

In this extravagant praise about DJ, they say he made maybe the best play
of any Chief defender anywhere in recent years - and this was in a mere mini-camp - I think he is gonna be popular in KC ! But as someone said a little
sarcastically in an earlier post, the Chiefs aren't known for D recently. They
used to have some powerhouse defenses.
Also, the story mentions that
15 K turned out in KC to watch the mini-camp ! They got some serious fans
up there.
************************************************** *
"The play of mini-camp, the play of the off-season, maybe the most
impressive defensive play from the Chiefs in several years came during Friday’s workout. Damon Huard dropped back and dumped off a pass to his right. He purposely put a bit more arc on the ball because of a heavy pass rush.
At the moment when the ball reached its highest point, Derrick Johnson jumped and grabbed the ball in the air. He could not hold on as he came back to the ground, but the deflection was almost picked off by a teammate before it fell to the ground. It was a stunning display of athletic ability that left not only the coaches, but his new teammates stunned.
“Brian Waters said something to me after that play,” said Cunningham. “I think that’s what Derrick was able to do in this mini-camp and through the practices; he was able to show not only the coaches, but his teammates, that he’s the real deal.”
Count on this: Derrick Johnson is in the Chiefs starting lineup at left linebacker when the regular season begins. There’s no longer any question about that. This guy is a playmaker on defense, exactly what the Chiefs needed for their defense.
http://www.kcchiefs.com/news/2005/06...from_minicamp/

[jr0ck]

Count on this: Derrick Johnson is in the Chiefs starting lineup at left linebacker when the regular season begins.

there you go vermeil/cunningham, that's how you fix the D, decide who starts before the pre-season scehdule even begins...

[Blake]

I dont understand what the big deal is. Yeah, we didnt get a hometown player, but we did fill a huge need, and should focus more on the players we have, rather than the ones we do not.