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Herman Johnson

76Texan

Hall of Fame
So why there's not even a bleep on this guy around here?
I may be wrong, but, is it true that the Texans have some interest in him?
 
I'll tell you now so you won't be surprise if they decide to take him in the second round.
It looks to me like he can play better in the ZBS.
I'm studying him now.
 
I'll tell you now so you won't be surprise if they decide to take him in the second round.
It looks to me like he can play better in the ZBS.
I'm studying him now.

From what I heard, he lost alot of weight(down to 350 ish) and has pretty good footwork. I would like him in the 3rd. He would add to the run game alot, especially in the Red Zone. Briezel is great depth filling in for injury.
 
In the 06 game against the Vols, he was listed at 351 lbs, and his ab looked better than the rest of the O-linemen.
In the 07 game against the same, he was still there and looking good.
In the 08 game against Bama, he was still listed at 351 lbs (Nov 08),
but I noticed that he has grown a bit in the mid-section, nothing outlandish though. But the listing weight might be no longer valid.
Still, he looks very fit.
I will have to rewind the game to study his movements more carefully though.
 
While watching the Bama-Tigers game, I notice another classic interception in OT by a safety we won't name.

I doubt that any in the college rank would have that in the bag.
I don't know how many in the NFL could have had that one, probably just the experienced guys who've been around the blocks.
It's like the guy was given the play so he knows where the ball is going to be!
 
While watching the Bama-Tigers game, I notice another classic interception in OT by a safety we won't name.

I doubt that any in the college rank would have that in the bag.
I don't know how many in the NFL could have had that one, probably just the experienced guys who've been around the blocks.
It's like the guy was given the play so he knows where the ball is going to be!

Rashad Johnson of course.
 
Could Herman Johnson be a Charles Spencer esque player? A guy Kubes drafts that is a mauler but also nimble enough to play in the ZBS Gibbs is coaching? I would very much enjoy that to be the case because we need someone who can get some push up the middle in the short yardage situations, moreso than we need a big back imo. You give Slaton some push and he can get it in the endzone much easier than "insert big back here" can get the ball in the endzone with our current interior OL starters.
 
You don't have to be super quick to play ZBS, but it helps...

You really just need to be athletic and "quick enough"....ZBS is way more technique based than other schemes so if you can pick up all the little nuances then you can be effective...You tend to want your interior o-linemen to be quicker though because they will spend a lot of time hunting down linebackers...
 
You don't have to be super quick to play ZBS, but it helps...

You really just need to be athletic and "quick enough"....ZBS is way more technique based than other schemes so if you can pick up all the little nuances then you can be effective...You tend to want your interior o-linemen to be quicker though because they will spend a lot of time hunting down linebackers...

Exactly!

At first I thought I'd see a lumbering O-lineman.
Boy, I was in for a surprise!

If they let the guy (at LG) pull to every single gap on the O-line, do you think that he's not quick enough? Not a chance!

He pulled to the outside of the LT, outside the RT, in between the RG and RT. He sprang to the next level from his LG spot.
Heck, he was the only O-lineman on the Tigers line that I saw in those 3 games who did all that!
 
And check this out:

I've never seen so many pancake/take down block form an O-line in a single game let alone from a single lineman.

In that 06 game against the Vols, I tried to count with my fingers.
I lost count! You hear that? I lost count. I don't have enough fingers to count them all!

And check this out further:
Who were on that D-line?
Check it out!
Turk McBride (drafted #54) and Justin Harrell (drafted #16) at DT
And whoever at DE that kept Robert Ayers in a back-up role as a soph.
 
NFL draft: Johnson’s size plays role in draft status

Former LSU offensive lineman Herman Johnson weighed 15 pounds and 14 ounces at birth and is often touted as the biggest baby ever born in Louisiana.

Now Johnson will be the biggest player in this weekend’s NFL draft at 6-feet, 7-inches tall and 350 pounds.

“He’s got great size,” said NFL draft analyst Mike Detillier. “That’s the first thing you notice.”

Detillier projects Johnson as a late third- or early fourth-round pick.

But size may actually be negatively affecting Johnson’s draft stock.

Johnson has been criticized for possibly being too slow for the NFL because of his size.

His 5.51-second 40-yard dash time at the NFL Scouting Combine was one of the slowest among offensive linemen, and his lateral movement is considered too slow for the tackle position in the NFL.

But Johnson has dropped 50 pounds since he first became a Tiger in 2004 to help his draft status and NFL possibilities.

“It does help that he got his weight down, because I think he plays better at a lower weight,” Detillier said. “You want to try to keep your weight down for a quickness issue but also from a conditioning issue.”

Johnson brings a big personality with his big stature — something that’s made him popular among fans and teammates.

“He was always drawing attention from the fans because of the giant-like afro that he has, and he is just a monster of a guy,” said LSU general studies senior Michael Faucheux.

“He’s a huge figure that you are easily attracted to.”

Detillier said Johnson would be best served to bring his business-like attitude at the guard position on a run-oriented team at the next level.

“If you like to run the football and you’ve got the power running game, then I think that he’s the right pick,” Detillier said. “He’s one mammoth guy that can take over a game. He’s got the skills to do that at the guard spot.”
 
Of course, he didn't do it all by himself.
It's best to envision Myers turn a DT a little, then Herman can definitely finish him off.

The main problem I can see is when the RDE line up outside of Duane Brown.
There's a big gap that would allow the RDT to use his quickness to go around Herman. You have to design a scheme to stay away from that on passing down. Which, luckily, we already have. The roll-out. Or just make sure that we have a back ready for the block.
 
Also, watching the Bama game, how Herman went up against Mount Cody.
Think Grady Jackson, Kris Jenkins, Haynesworth!
 
I'll tell you now so you won't be surprise if they decide to take him in the second round.
It looks to me like he can play better in the ZBS.
I'm studying him now.

They aren't going to take a three hundred and sixty pound guard for a ZBS lineman. this is another post which you will look at a year from now and wonder "what the heck was I thinking?". He can't move.....can't get into the second level much less execute a block there. And you can study him all you want....that isn't going to change.
 
Could Herman Johnson be a Charles Spencer esque player? A guy Kubes drafts that is a mauler but also nimble enough to play in the ZBS Gibbs is coaching? I would very much enjoy that to be the case because we need someone who can get some push up the middle in the short yardage situations, moreso than we need a big back imo. You give Slaton some push and he can get it in the endzone much easier than "insert big back here" can get the ball in the endzone with our current interior OL starters.

No. the only way we take this guy is if Gibbs dies in a car wreck Saturday morning. And the rest of them are so over come with grief.....they write the wrong name on the card before they turn it in to the commissioner.
 
I can understand your skepticism, 3TP.
When I first read somewhere that the Texans interviewed him at the combine, I said huh, now this is interesting!

I found a different link that has a bit more infos:

http://blog.nola.com/jeffduncan/2009/02/lsu_guard_herman_johnson.html
"Johnson interviewed with several teams on Wednesday night, among them the Rams, Dolphins, Texans, Jaguars and Bills. He said some teams have spoken to him about playing right tackle, but most are interested in keeping him at guard."

Originally, I had the Tenn game, wanting to check out Ayers in his Soph season, as well as Tyson Jackson (even though I think I've already know enough about this guy.) So now I thought, hmm, maybe I should check out Herman the monster as well.

Low and behold, the Tigers run a combination of drive and zone blocking scheme. And this guy looks good in the ZBS.

I believe I was right that he was more like around 350's at this time.
He looks like he had put on quite a bit around the waist line this year as I've finished checking him out in the Fla game, and the Bama game.
He isn't as fluid as the previous years, especially his soph year.
He's slumbering more than a little this year, and that is a concern.

The production numbers support this as he had the most knockdowns blocks in his soph year.
http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/518158

And I was right about the Tenn game.
"Recorded a season-high 17 knockdown blocks and four pancakes in the Tigers' win over Tennessee."

The stats didn't show sacks allowed in his soph year.
In his junior year, he allowed just one quarterback pressure and no sacks on 442 pass plays.
In his senior year, he allowed 3.5 quarterback sacks and three pressures on 391 pass plays.
 
If we took Studdard I'm not sure why Johnson is out of the question if the value is there.

Personally, I don't know if I'd take him over some other prospects out there but I don't think it'd be foolish either...
 
Can he move in space? Yes!
16 downfield blocks in the last 2 years (8 each year equally) as compared with:
Duke Robinson 10
Kraig Urbik 15
Andy Levitre 15

I even saw him take down a couple of LBs downfield.
If anything, he's a wide body that can go downfield 10 yards, and Slaton can pick his spot.

They don't pull the guy on a left stretch play if he can't move.
They don't pull the guy all the way from LG to outside RT if he can't move.

The movement actually helps him. He's not a road grader. He just needs to get started to bring him to speed.

Whether they start left or right, he's a good part of that moving train.
He's very good when he latches onto the side of a DT or DE.
 
I wouldn't be that against picking this little guy up. He hasn't really been on my rader though. This class is pretty weak at OG, in my opinion, so he's going to go earlier than normal most likely. What do you think late 2nd early 3rd kind of grade?

That tells me if he slips to our 3rd round pick we'd probably need to take him. Would he be able to start at RG for us day 1? I wonder what role he'd play early on but he wouldn't make us any worse in the RZ!
 
I wouldn't be that against picking this little guy up. He hasn't really been on my rader though. This class is pretty weak at OG, in my opinion, so he's going to go earlier than normal most likely. What do you think late 2nd early 3rd kind of grade?

That tells me if he slips to our 3rd round pick we'd probably need to take him. Would he be able to start at RG for us day 1? I wonder what role he'd play early on but he wouldn't make us any worse in the RZ!

For argument's sake, I have Johnson as an early 3rd rounder.
 
I wouldn't be that against picking this little guy up. He hasn't really been on my rader though. This class is pretty weak at OG, in my opinion, so he's going to go earlier than normal most likely. What do you think late 2nd early 3rd kind of grade?

That tells me if he slips to our 3rd round pick we'd probably need to take him. Would he be able to start at RG for us day 1? I wonder what role he'd play early on but he wouldn't make us any worse in the RZ!

I've seen 2nd and 3rd round grade.
Yeah, I agree that this class is pretty thin at G even though I would love for him to slip to us round 3.

Thing is, he's been working out at Plex here in Stafford (Southwest of Houston in case you don't know the area), I imagine that would give our guys plenty of opportunities to check him out. If that diet program works (heck if I know) the Texans probably have a good idea.

Starting day one, I don't know.
But I can envision Slaton in the endzone is what I hope for.
We'll just have to wait and see.
They might decide against him for all we know!
 
If not, maybe Trevor Canfield in the 4th? Since we have 2 picks.
I have only had glimpses on this guy.
Anybody knows more about him?
 
If not, maybe Trevor Canfield in the 4th? Since we have 2 picks.
I have only had glimpses on this guy.
Anybody knows more about him?

Talented player with a mean streak.

He was charged with felonious assault two years ago but the charges were dropped. That still may move him down on some draft boards though.
 
Can he move in space? Yes!
16 downfield blocks in the last 2 years (8 each year equally) as compared with:
Duke Robinson 10
Kraig Urbik 15
Andy Levitre 15

I even saw him take down a couple of LBs downfield.
If anything, he's a wide body that can go downfield 10 yards, and Slaton can pick his spot.

They don't pull the guy on a left stretch play if he can't move.
They don't pull the guy all the way from LG to outside RT if he can't move.

The movement actually helps him. He's not a road grader. He just needs to get started to bring him to speed.

Whether they start left or right, he's a good part of that moving train.
He's very good when he latches onto the side of a DT or DE.

Bull dung. He can't move. take the guy and we better be drafting ...and singing many free agent QBs. All of them we can get our hands on. He can not move.
 
Bull dung. He can't move. take the guy and we better be drafting ...and singing many free agent QBs. All of them we can get our hands on. He can not move.

Didn't want to comment until I looked at him a little bit, and you a wrong.

Oh my, are you wrong.

With a little coaching this guy is gonna be one of the top linemen in football. Book it.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=QTUhkbcxiHg&feature=related


Also...All of those talking about Max Unger, what do you all see because I see a guy that will not amount to much...
 
Everyone at the senior bowl killed the guy in one on one drills. Every one. Inside....outside didn't matter. He can not move.

Yeah...I used to get beat in one on one's at times too...

One on one's the advantage goes to the defensive player..As a lineman you feel very naked having to kick back basically in wide open space...

But never mind the game film...We'll judge him on drills...:rolleyes:

He's a big guy and he doesn't have a very quick first step...I can definitely see him sucking in one on ones when the defender knows what is happening and they're operating in space...He's very nimble for his size though and he just lays on defenders and they become invisible...

Dude is gonna be a beast...Book that...
 
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It wasn't "at times" . It was every tme......I got it after a while. He can not move. We can not hide him and those feat in this scheme. I'm sorry it ain't happening.
 
It wasn't "at times" . It was every tme......I got it after a while. He can not move. We can not hide him and those feat in this scheme. I'm sorry it ain't happening.

I really don't care how much he got beat by quicker players in one on one drills...Yeah that means something, but not a whole lot considering he'll be playing guard operating in traffic...

This is the same regime that chose Kasey Studdard. There is no way you can convince me that Studdard can make this roster, but Johnson can't. I think he'd really challenge Briesel for that spot..
 
You can explain that one to Big Ben & David Garrard. I'm sure they will fell ya there Polo. both guys got killed by crappy interior play in '08. and our guy behind this guy and those feet will get absolutely killed.

He can not move.
 
You can explain that one to Big Ben David Garrard. I'm sure they will fell ya there Polo. both guys got killed by crappy interior play in '08. and our guy behind this guy and those feet will get absolutely killed.

He can not move.

Well...I will remember this thread and this discussion as I always do when debating over prospects and we'll see in a year or two I guess...
 
well, I don't know anybody's drafting him or not.
but dude did move in college, 'cause I didn't see the LBs come and lay down at his feet and tell him, sit on me dude, please sit on me!

And we're talking about his soph year, and he was going against two sr DTs, both were drafted that yr like I said. One at #16, one in the mid 2nd. And he got 17 knock down blocks and four pan cakes. yeah, guys just come and ask him to sit on them for fun!

And a guy like Peria, he didn't get any tackle going one on one against the munster. Peria can't move either. They won't get drafted!
 
I would rather have Andy Levitre, G, Oregon State in the second. Im not sure we could get better value than him and he fits our style more. I see Johnson along with Loadholt as a perfect fit for Dallas or Philly or Zona. But hey if our coaches think they can use bigger stronger OL effectively in our ZB scheme I'm all for it. I hate gymicky schemes that come with silly idea that you dont have to put in the best players possible.

Yeh we have a history of building really good lines with later round picks but if we are able to make really good lines out of later picks think of how good of a line we could have if we give Gibbs some real talent. Having an dominate OL would have us in the playoffs for many years.
 
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