Can Johnson get any stronger?

[Hollywood Henderson]

I don't think he has been "abused" but he hasn't gotten as much push as I would like...

The running game in general has often failed to get any push...
Hopefully its a area that can improve, although I have been pretty pleased with the pass blocking...

How did he do on that very effective screen? Anyone?
I haven't seen the play again after live...

I do like Gurodes power game...

Some play(s) that could really spark our offense is getting JJ more involved in the passing game to create big plays...
To date, not much thought process has been put in getting JJ the ball where he can be most effective...

Just simple flairs that are hard to time or get yards...

What we need to do is more of what Indy does with James...Creating mismatchs & misdirection with him in a position to get upfield...Fast!

Alot of teams will be blitzing us, to take advantage while being safe & quick would be to get JJ past the line & cutting off of what the D is giving...Drew reads and quick completion to beat the blitz...

I like what Tyson Thompson brought to the KO return team, I could see him breaking one yet before too long...
He has size and seems to have a better feel for instinctive running, at least based on KO returns...
Lets hope he develops on offense as well, he could be another weapon!

I feel Crayton might be hurt or another fumble forced if he doesn't start running lower...

I might be ready to see what Price has in the Punt return game? Thats an area in need of an upgrade...Crayton has sure hands, but isn't well suited for that phase of the game IMHO...

 

[CrazyCowboy]

the way he has been abused this season so far, getting shoved back into Drew and JJ on several occasions, can he overcome it? Or has he gone as far as he can? If so, and BP thinks that GUrode cannot play full time without making too many mistakes, does this mean we are looking for another center?
Last year it did not seem like AJ was getting pushed around like that.

Seriods are not legal in the NFL, therefore he may not.....but I remember a guy named Stepnoski and he was not big and strong.....just great technique and leverage.

 

[Charles]

There was no such play in the San Francisco game.

I reviewed every running play to see how Johnson did. Out of 29 plays, there were only three where Johnson had a negative play. And he got pushed backward by the nose tackle on only one of those (that was a second down). On the very next play, he pushed the nose tackle out of the way, clearing the way for Polite to convert on third-and-1 right behind him. Johnson had key blocks on three other short-yardage conversions right up the middle by Julius: a 4-yard run on fourth-and-1, a 4-yard run on second-and-2 and his first touchdown run.

Johnson's other two negative plays were the one when Bledsoe stepped on Johnson's foot and fell down as he handed off and the one when Johnson slipped the nose tackle and went out to block the linebacker but missed. On the one when Bledsoe stepped on Johnson's foot, Johnson wasn't able to get in position to stay square against the nose tackle, his upper body got turned and they both went down the line as the play got strung out.

How would you possibly know how many negatives or positives that Al Johnson achieved during a game without knowing assignments within a play?

Some players have negatives on positive plays and vice versa.

I liked Gurode's chance to take playing time from Al Johnson way back in the off-season, but I'll call it like it is with the best interest for the team in mind.

AL Johnson has played well (negatives and positives) enough during the past 3 games to warrant more most of the playing time and starting position.

Gurode has made enough mistakes as mentioned by Parcells to warrant his "benching"......... (makes you wonder why does Nor think Gurode got benched when he hasn't been the starter for any game this season :laugh2: ).

Some seem to forget that Gurode is learning a new offense at the center position while Al Johnson is picking up from last season. Gurode never played center in this offense, so it should come as no surpise that he's having some mental lapses in snap counts and protection calls.

 

[burmafrd]

Be carefull about using common sense in a thread- there are those that will hate you for eternity for it.

 

[Justis]

Anyone remember that Stepnowski was a little undersized too, cool it.

 

[Mansta54]

Step was a small center but he didn't get PUSHED around. He was very strong and aggressive. Maybe Johnson can be that way one day too, but right now he gets PUSHED around way too often and it shows..

 

[Charles]

Anyone remember that Stepnowski was a little undersized too, cool it.

I don't think size is the issue, because it is well documented that smaller centers can be effective and even dominant like Mawae.

Talent to play the position in the issue. Al Johnson might be the saem size or bigger than Mawae or Stepnoski, but he hasn't shown the talent level exhibited by either player YET!!!.

 

[Mansta54]

Talent is key but you've gotta be STRONG and AGGRESSIVE too. You can't get pushed around.

 

[AdamJT13]

How would you possibly know how many negatives or positives that Al Johnson achieved during a game without knowing assignments within a play?

There was a nose tackle lined up directly over him on every play. He blocked that guy on all but a couple of running plays, when he went to block a linebacker. It's easy to see how many times he got pushed backward (a lot less than some fans think) and how many times he pushed his guy backward. And I counted only three running plays when the guy he was trying to block had any negative impact on the running game.

If you review the tape and come up with a different number, feel free to dispute what I saw.

 

[Nors]

Adam - won't happen. Some are throwing cliche's at Al Johnson. Most are vigorous Gurode fans stunned that after his MENTAL - mistakes was sat.

 

[Next_years_Champs]

I just watched the tape again and all I can say is that fans who think Al Johnson isn't playing well or that he is getting "manhandled" just aren't watching the tape while specifically zeroing in on the center position. As Adam said there were only a few plays where the noseguard wasn't lined up over Johnson, so it isn't hard to tell what his assignment was.

On all the third and short plays and on Julius's first touchdown AJ pushed the noseguard back and out of the play. I just don't understand why people won't give him his due. I personally had never even heard of Al Johnson before we drafted him so I have no preference to who plays center, but because of all the complaining about his play I've made it a priority to watch him. All I can say is the guys who think he is going to be sat down are going to have a long wait, because he is more than holding his duties on the offensive line.

 

[Nors]

Exactly - there is a huge Gurode fan base here that are in denial. Guy was benched last year and mentally again blew a chance to play Center. In fact now watching 100%

Al Johnson is an up and coming center. That will bear out as we evolve this year....

 

[junk]

I'll still take a LeCharles Bentley in FA 06. Guard or center, I don't care where he plays.

 

[BHendri5]

By the middle of the season Gurode will have the starting spot, and be playing most of the time.

I believe that will happen, he has been making mistakes, but when he does not we have a better push on running plays and he protects Drew better.

I have not seen Gurode pushed back once, but I have seen him miss his blocks, or what seemed like his man to block.
I know it is pretty hard to tell who is suppose to block who, when it comes to the OL.

 

[AdamJT13]

By the middle of the season Gurode will have the starting spot, and be playing most of the time.

Barring injury, there's very little chance that will happen. He's getting less playing time each week, not more. And he's already down to zero.

 

[MarionBarberThe4th]

We have played two 3-4, typically they have big noses. Mors so than hell see for the rest of the year

 

[DallasDomination]

Well I just looked back on all 3 games and I dont see what you guys are talking about......The first 3-4 drives against SF he was dominating his guy big time.


Maybe we're talking about another #52 because Ijust dont see it.Sure he got beat a couple times, but hey who's perfect now a days?.

 

[burmafrd]

I want a center that does not get pushed back- except if he is playing a monster like the SD guy.

 

[dmq]

Center is not the biggest issue on this team. In fact, our offense has looked pretty good.

 

[scottsp]

Johnson is having his fair share of problems. Doesn't take Vince Lombardi to catch it on film, tape, whatever. Is he at the top of the club's list of issues? Prolly not. But it's a concern. The kid is still learning the ropes and has problems with more physical interior linemen at the point of attack.

An no, Nors. I don't have an agenda. I can make such observations without that much.