Duke Johnson - 3rd Round Option

[USMarineVet]

Jerry mentioned today they are looking for an every down back, not a scat back or 3rd down option.

I like Duke but he is simply too small and not an every down back.

And Jerry would never give misinformation about who the Cowboys are going to pick right before the draft, would he? LOL

 

[USMarineVet]

Jerry mentioned today they are looking for an every down back, not a scat back or 3rd down option.

I like Duke but he is simply too small and not an every down back.

Also, Duke too small? Emmitt is 5'9.. Duke is 5'9. As far was weight.. I don't remember Emmitt's playing weight but Duke is at 207 at 21 years old. That's pretty husky for a guy his height.

 

[Pessimist_cowboy]

Legs are too skinny , no thanks Joseph Randle X's 2

 

[ColeBeasley11]

He wasn't among 5 backs inv too the ranch unfortunately.

 

[jday]

I'm officially declaring my pet cat for this year's draft. The more I watch this guy, the more I'm enamored by his play and ultimate potential. Officially listed as 5'9, 207 lbs. (as of today) he's Miami's all-time leading rusher; surpassing the likes of Clinton Portis, Frank Gore and Edgerrin James. He's rewritten their history book in only "3" years with the Hurricanes. He also has a 6.6 yd/carry average in his 3 year career with the Canes.

Declaring early for the draft, he's 21 years old and is projected to be drafted somewhere between the 2nd and 3rd rounds. He protects the ball well, has outstanding hands and adds a receiving threat we desperately need from our backfield.

He has tremendous burst and excellent vision. No more running into your own player and falling down.

Assuming that the Gordon/Gurley duo is gone at 27, I'm seeing him as a steal if we could grab him in the 3rd round. That would allow us to address the defense with the first 2 picks and still acquire a home run threat back to parlay with McFadden and/or Williams/Randle/Dunbar. Even if the AP to Dallas wishes come true, this would still be a great pick up.

DJ is also explosive as a kick returner where he assembled 892 yards on 27 returns for an average of 33 yards per return and 2 TDs. (As a freshman)

Here are his stats and video highlights:

Stats: http://espn.go.com/college-football/player/_/id/530398/duke-johnson

2013 Video Highlights:

2014 Video Highlights:

With no character flaws, and after watching tape on some of these 2nd tier backs, I'm amazed that Nuke "The Duke" Johnson hasn't gotten more praise and recognition. IMHO he would clearly be a relevant back for us.

Tell me what you think.

He might be available in the 3rd, I just doubt he falls to where the Cowboys are picking in the 3rd.

 

[Rogerthat12]

Also, Duke too small? Emmitt is 5'9.. Duke is 5'9. As far was weight.. I don't remember Emmitt's playing weight but Duke is at 207 at 21 years old. That's pretty husky for a guy his height.

Sorry but Duke is no Emmit Smith and I know Dallas will not select him based on what they are looking for at RB.

 

[Rogerthat12]

And Jerry would never give misinformation about who the Cowboys are going to pick right before the draft, would he? LOL

I will remind you of this after the draft, no way are they drafting a part time back, they will draft a 3 down back to be sure.

 

[VACowboy]

Legs are too skinny , no thanks Joseph Randle X's 2

Everyone knows my opinion on Duke Johnson, so I won't go on for too long, but...

Skinny legs, like Jamaal Charles, LeSean McCoy, Robert Smith, Curtis Martin or how about Marcus Allen? How many RB's ARE built like Emmitt?

You (rhetorical) can argue durability if you want. DJ did have a couple of injuries in college. But the size deal is laughable. Duke Johnson has a thicker build than any of the "workhorses" I mentioned above, not to mention guys like Tevin Coleman and Ameer Abdullah, who a lot of people are enamored of around here. Duke Johnson is bigger than Walter Payton, for crapsake. I know, all football players are bigger these days, but Sweetness toted the rock for 13 years at 5-8 and 200.

I'd never advocate Duke Johnson carry the ball 22 times a game, but I'd darn sure hand it to him 15 and throw him another 5-8 out in space or down the field, then split about that many more of each between Williams and Randall. You can draft a bigger guy and let him carry the load if you want, but unless his name is Todd Gurley, you will lose the every touch home run possibility that you get with DJ and never had with Murray. And I, for one, would like to see that kind of explosive potential behind the Dallas OL.

I still say it again: I think Ryan Williams is going to open a lot of eyes if he gets a real chance.

 

[VACowboy]

Sorry but Duke is no Emmit Smith.

I don't believe anyone is equating Duke Johnson to Emmitt Smith, but a lot of folks are of the opinion that Duke Johnson is too small, and the facts are, he's the same height as Emmitt and weighs all of three pounds less.

 

[DFWJC]

I see what you're saying, Out of the backs you've mentioned, I've watched tape on all of them. I would rank them as such:

1) Gordon
2) Gurley
3) Coleman
4) Allen
5) Johnson
6) Yeldon
7) Ajayi

I just see Johnson as being the most realistic to be sitting there at 91, according to my hierarchy. We struck gold with Murray in the 4th. Maybe one of these 3rd round guys would fit your 8 - 12 touch/game guys with the workhorse yet to be determined. Whatever happens I think our run game will still be effective this year.

Fwiw,
If you have Allen that high, may as well get him in the 4th or later. He's going to be there, is my guess.

 

[USMarineVet]

Sorry but Duke is no Emmit Smith and I know Dallas will not select him based on what they are looking for at RB.

Oh I'm not saying he's an Emmitt Smith Bro... I'm just responding on your quote saying that he doesn't have a build like Emmitt.

 

[USMarineVet]

I will remind you of this after the draft, no way are they drafting a part time back, they will draft a 3 down back to be sure.

I'm giving the guy some props because he was outstanding at Miami and gives the board something to consider. It's unlikely the Cowboys will draft him. About a 32/1 chance. But if it makes you feel better reminding me if we don't select him, go ahead. LOL.. I can take it.

But who's to say at this point that he's not a 3 down back? No one. None of us know what kind of back he will develop into. Not at this point. That's pure speculation.

 

[Rogerthat12]

I'm giving the guy some props because he was outstanding at Miami and gives the board something to consider. It's unlikely the Cowboys will draft him. About a 32/1 chance. But if it makes you feel better reminding me if we don't select him, go ahead. LOL.. I can take it.

But who's to say at this point that he's not a 3 down back? No one. None of us know what kind of back he will develop into. Not at this point. That's pure speculation.

It is not speculation, it is actual projection for an undersized draft prospect by the majority of evaluators, he is simply not a projected 3 down player on the NFL level.

I like some of his attributes but he certainly is not what we are looking for our offense.

You could just as easily have said initially that you like Duke but he is not a fit for Dallas.

 

[Rogerthat12]

Oh I'm not saying he's an Emmitt Smith Bro... I'm just responding on your quote saying that he doesn't have a build like Emmitt.

Emmitt was rare and Duke simply does not have the lower body frame and ability of Smith.

 

[Rogerthat12]

I don't believe anyone is equating Duke Johnson to Emmitt Smith, but a lot of folks are of the opinion that Duke Johnson is too small, and the facts are, he's the same height as Emmitt and weighs all of three pounds less.

Again, this is immaterial, if he is not like Emmitt without his lower body and ability, then the comparison lacks any punch.

 

[CATCH17]

I like Joseph Randle better then this guy and a lot of these other 3rd tier backs.

 

[dwreck27]

Big Miami Hurricane fan and a bigger Duke Johnson fan.... he was the heart and soul of that team the last few years and without him on that team they probably lose a few more games...

kids Clinton portis 2.0 and would be great here...

What also helps is that no one is expecting our next RB to have to take on 400 carry seasons

 

[dwreck27]

 

[VACowboy]

Again, this is immaterial, if he is not like Emmitt without his lower body and ability, then the comparison lacks any punch.

That's crap. There are Hall of Fame RBs without tree trunk thighs, a couple of whom I listed. And I'm not saying that DJ will be one of them, or even Pro Bowl quality or anything else, but nobody knew Emmitt would be the record holder one day and no one knows what kind of careers any of these college players will have in the NFL, including Duke Johnson. You have no clue what kind of ability he has as an NFL back. What we can say is that he's as big as lots of guys who have carried the load for a decade. That he demonstrated good vision in college. That he's got speed and wiggle and catches the ball extremely well.. So who the hell knows? Blair Thomas had perfect size, tremendous speed, college production, passed the eye test with flying colors and everything else. Everybody knew about him too.

 

[USMarineVet]

It is not speculation, it is actual projection for an undersized draft prospect by the majority of evaluators, he is simply not a projected 3 down player on the NFL level.

I like some of his attributes but he certainly is not what we are looking for our offense.

You could just as easily have said initially that you like Duke but he is not a fit for Dallas.

Not trying to get into an argument, but speculation and projection are pretty close to being the same thing. You can project how a player will be used, but that doesn't necessarily mean it's going to transpire. Not until he actually gets to camp and they see where he fits best. That makes it speculation until he has an actual role.

With regards to your last sentence, that's your opinion on DJ.. So why would I say it? I absolutely feel that he's a fit for Dallas.

You keep saying he's undersized but yet he's an exact match (stature-wise) to the All-Time leading rusher in NFL history. I'm not saying he's Emmitt. I'm just saying his measurables are the same. He's listed at 207 lbs. That's a bulldog, with quickness and elusiveness and he's far from filling out at his age.

We can agree to disagree but you seem to be trying to impose your predication of what kind of back he is and how he fits in Dallas on me. If you disagree with my evaluation, again, that's fine. I'll respect your opinion just as much as I'll ask you to respect mine. But please don't put words in my mouth.

Time will inevitably tell the story on him if he runs behind a decent line.