Could someone offer a rational, even-handed analysis... - Dallas Cowboys Forum

jem88 · 11-23-2005

on Al Johnson's performance this year? I haven't been able to see all the games and haven't been able to record the ones I have seen. So it's been hard to get a fair assessment of his play. I know a lot of people have been slamming him but can someone with a cold calculating eye (Adam? Hostile? Brainpaint? dbair? Juke? LTN?) give me the real lowdown?

Fletch · 11-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jem88

on Al Johnson's performance this year? I haven't been able to see all the games and haven't been able to record the ones I have seen. So it's been hard to get a fair assessment of his play. I know a lot of people have been slamming him but can someone with a cold calculating eye (Adam? Hostile? Brainpaint? dbair? Juke? LTN?) give me the real lowdown?

Nothing spectacular for sure. Has been prone to getting manhandled by bigger DT's and has had some problems with snap exchange with Drew Bledsoe.

But the positives are that he rarely makes mistakes and Parcells seems to still like the guy. Hopefully Al Johnson will improve as the year goes on. I believe he still has a high ceiling that has yet been reached.

dbair1967 · 11-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jem88

on Al Johnson's performance this year? I haven't been able to see all the games and haven't been able to record the ones I have seen. So it's been hard to get a fair assessment of his play. I know a lot of people have been slamming him but can someone with a cold calculating eye (Adam? Hostile? Brainpaint? dbair? Juke? LTN?) give me the real lowdown?

I guess I would say he has been up and down...there are times he does well and he has alot of mobility for a C, but there are also times he gets over-powered..I'd say he's been adequate in pass protection, but is sometimes a liability as a run blocker...its only his 2nd yr as a starter so he definitely could pan out into a more than capable starter, but in my opinion he hasnt been as good this yr as last yr

David

HDC · 11-23-2005

Parcells says his play has been good, he makes few mistakes, he uses good technique, etc. On the other hand, he says Johnson isn't as big as he would like, he isn't going to gain size, etc. When he plays ok, you don't notice him. He sometimes gets pushed back by bigger nose tackles. I notice this far more often than I notice him making a block that really makes a play go.

burmafrd · 11-23-2005

He did not seem to have the problems getting bull rushed last year- this year he has been knocked back into the backfield on several occasions. The sad fact is that he has almost certainly reached the limit of his ability to get stronger and bigger, so its not going to improve. He may be able to learn leverage and such to help out, But I question how much more he can improve. If there are going to be more 3-4 teams out there with big NT's, he will become a liability. If the trend towards more 3-4 continues, he will need to either substantially improve or be replaced.

Everlastingxxx · 11-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by jem88

on Al Johnson's performance this year? I haven't been able to see all the games and haven't been able to record the ones I have seen. So it's been hard to get a fair assessment of his play. I know a lot of people have been slamming him but can someone with a cold calculating eye (Adam? Hostile? Brainpaint? dbair? Juke? LTN?) give me the real lowdown?

Next time you watch a Cowboy game, look for the guy laying on his back - that’s Al Johnson.

AbeBeta · 11-23-2005

He could be worse

LaTunaNostra · 11-23-2005

Jem I think in the critical areas of intelligence and agility Al is ahead of the learning curve for a player essentially in his second year. He seems to recognize defensive formations and make the calls fast enough. He has to understand his assignments and that of the other linemen to make calls. There have been a spate of snap miscues but apparently they were not on him, and he is not penalty prone.

His strength is somewhat of a concern but he also has the ideal height and leverage to compensate...it's gravy if any center can handle a nose one on one, most cannot, and sliding the line to counter a nose occurs everywhere. His technique I can't comment on, but I suspect it is par for the course for a player with his experience.

My feeling about Al all year is he suffers from the overall schizophrenia of the line. Al was noted at draft time as a pulling center overall and he is physically suited to sweeps, screens...not all of the rest of the the line is. A zone blocking line might suit him better..I don't know, but I do feel his major talent is largely wasted now - and that is his agility. Alongside linemates with equal agility, he might look much more impressive.

The other issue effecting him is how teams play Bledsoe, which historically has been up the middle. Luckily Al has LA and Rivera to each side, but their help also has to slide out to help the young tackles. I suspect the actual speed with which decisions are made on that line could be better, but bottom line is Al is at the point of attack of any defensive coordinator who wants to get to Bledsoe, and I do not think he has done badly at all.

AdamJT13 · 11-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by Everlastingxxx

Next time you watch a Cowboy game, look for the guy laying on his back - that’s Al Johnson.

Thanks for that rational, even-handed analysis. Johnson has been knocked on his back what -- one time this season? And that was on a blitz when his feet got tangled up. Andre Gurode got knocked backward as many times against Detroit as Johnson did, and Gurode was on the field for only one series.

There's no question that Johnson is the best center on the team. He's above average as a pass-blocker (no sacks allowed this year, only half a sack allowed last year), but average or a little below-average as a run blocker. He's good to very good when he pulls or goes out to block a linebacker, but he often doesn't get much of a push when he blocks linemen. And he doesn't make mental mistakes.

fortdick · 11-23-2005

Great assessment LTN!

MinnesotaCowboy · 11-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamJT13

Thanks for that ration, even-handed analysis. Johnson has been knocked on his back what -- one time this season? And that was on a blitz when his feet got tangled up. Andre Gurode got knocked backward as many times against Detroit as Johnson did, and Gurode was on the field for only one series.

There's no question that Johnson is the best center on the team. He's above average as a pass-blocker (no sacks allowed this year, only half a sack allowed last year), but average or a little below-average as a run blocker. He's good to very good when he pulls or goes out to block a linebacker, but he often doesn't get much of a push when he blocks linemen. And he doesn't make mental mistakes.

Excellent read, Adam........couldn't have said that better myself!

Yakuza Rich · 11-23-2005

He seems pretty steady to me for the most part. But, when teams know that the Cowboys are going to run, he often gets manhandles. Seems to pull really well, especially to his right.

I look at centers who get picked in the second round as being guys that should be the best or one of the best at their position and thus I think Dallas is getting 4th round value out of him instead of 2nd round value.

Assuming that Pettiti continues to get better along with Tucker and Columbo gets healthier and better, I think Dallas will go after a player that played guard and center well in college in the first round of the draft as Rivera and Allen are both 33 years old and there are some deficiencies in Johnson's play that could be canceled out with a guy who excels at those deficiencies.

Rich......

Cowboys&Caps · 11-23-2005

the reason he is getting pushed back is that he has a very bad tendency to stand up a bit too much and that creates a situation where he can get wedged up and out by a low nose gaurd

Scotman · 11-23-2005

I've watched every game. But, I'm surely not as skilled at seeing individual tendencies as either LTN, Adam and some of the others. But i can reiterate that he does pretty well at pass blocking. When he keeps his arms in and on the nose, he does even better. Where he gets into trouble is when he spreads his arms out either by getting them pushed out or in an effort to stop another player blitzing. As far as run blocking, he doesn't use his leverage to his advantage yet. He doesn't get as much of a push as I think he can. I don't know if he can get stronger or not, but he can certainly use his strength and leverage better as he gains experience. Just my 2 cents.
Scot

Nors · 11-23-2005

Quote:

Originally Posted by AdamJT13

Thanks for that rational, even-handed analysis. Johnson has been knocked on his back what -- one time this season? And that was on a blitz when his feet got tangled up. Andre Gurode got knocked backward as many times against Detroit as Johnson did, and Gurode was on the field for only one series.

There's no question that Johnson is the best center on the team. He's above average as a pass-blocker (no sacks allowed this year, only half a sack allowed last year), but average or a little below-average as a run blocker. He's good to very good when he pulls or goes out to block a linebacker, but he often doesn't get much of a push when he blocks linemen. And he doesn't make mental mistakes.

AlJ is coming around fine and is obviously not the weakest link on our Oline. Our issues are on the edges at Tackles. Young and dinged.

Last game Al made a few tremendous pull blocks knocking people out downfield at the second level pulling.

There are stereotypes associated with AlJ's size that are basically unfounded as Adam pointed out yet again.

I'm more worried about edge pressure candidly.