Exclusive Interview With Matt Johnson

[Nightman]

The only problem I see with keeping Johnson is if they pencil him in somewhere in their rankings. Don't let him being on the roster influence any draft picks or FAs and lets see if he can stay on the field and contribute. His ceiling doesn't appear to be very high, but he looks like he can possibly be a starter.

 

[dboyz]

I don't know of anyone outside of the Cowboys organization, a team that is woefully mismanaged without true talent evaluators at the top, that has anything positive to say about Matt Johnson. Most didn't even have him as a priority free agent after the draft.

This kid has Jerry stank all over him. That pick was so bad that I would immediately fire whoever was the driving force behind it. By a raise of hands, who thought Matt Johnson was a 4th round value? Okay, you're all fired.

How is a team that is "woefully mismanaged" able to be .500 over the past three years, and about .500 over the past 10 years. Before you retort "so you're happy with .500." Of course not, that is not the point. Back up woefully mismanaged. The Cowboys are an average team. Whether you are a doomsayer or an optimist, the Cowboys are still a .500 team. THey've been averagely managed, not woefully mismanaged.

 

[TheDude]

You were dead wrong, on both players.

Free took a 50% pay cut last year.
http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/9282852/doug-free-takes-pay-cut-stay-dallas-cowboys-source

Sure he played better in 2013, though did tail off in the second half. Conversely, Bern did seem to be a little better later in the season.

Either way, by the end of the year, the Oline was not the primary weakness on the team. The running game showed flashes (when we used it). Frederick's addition was immeasurable. I think we need one more above average player from the 2 gaurds or RT, but it wont matter if the whole defense under performs. The Garrett/Romo offense today is set not to "press" like NE, Denver, Philly, etc.

There will likely not be more than 1-2 games a year we win > 10 points and scoring >30. In a conservative offense, you rely on a defense. The whole operation is not set up to gel. See Seatlle, SF and Denver, NE and NO on the other spectrum.

 

[jobberone]

Fair. The odds are with people who think he will fall into the law of large numbers and flame out..

So would you say the odds and probability of afans to project him as a starter, have B+ level talent, fluid and agile in his 2 preseason tackles, is the Sean Lee of DB in instincts, etc. Might be betting on 0 or 00 to come up 3x on the roulette wheel?

The safety position is atrocious. I can only think that Washington maybe fielded 2 worse combined safeties last year.

The best hope for the safety position is Wilcox. Church can't cover OK in run support good tackler. Wilcox is promising and taken at good value. Johnson was a reach.

It is my only opinion he will be out of the NFL in a year, johnson may turn out to be a vacarro, chancellor, etc. - unlikely though

Safties are very important. Fielding at best average at worst garbage since 2005, the safety posiotion needs to be taken seriously.

I heard the same praise from coaches on Watkins, butt-shot davis, Lynn Scott, etc.

Johnson will get his turn again this year. The odds are he won't pan out...not as much of a stretch that he will even be Reid doughty.

totally fair response and one I'd make myself. As I said earlier in this thread, he has the odds against him but then so does every single player that ever aspired to be a NFL player. Some just have much less shorter odds and a few are truly can't miss although that's after the fact.

The bust number here is using a scale where 5 is a player who equates to a marginal roster player not a complete bust out of the league. Matt was the 135th player taken overall in the 2012 NFL draft with Dallas using its second 4th round pick to take a prototypical safety. Here are the average numbers for a NFL safety:

Drill Significance Safeties Johnson
40-yard dash Speed over distance 4.60 4.54
225-pound bench press reps Upper body strength 18 18
Vertical jump Explosiveness, leg strength 36 38.5
Broad jump (in inches) Explosiveness, leg strength 120 121
20-yard shuttle Flexibility, burst, balance 4.05 4.07
3-cone drill Agility, change of direction 7.10 6.84

So the player compares favorably with the average NFL safety numbers wise. In fact his numbers are a tad superior. His bust rate is in the 50th%. So he doesn't have huge odds to overcome. He fits in with all the other 4th round picks along that standard distribution curve.

I don't really care what the coaches say. The only salient point in his favor is they have paid him to do nothing but be on the team just to get to the point of his having the possibility of earning a roster spot starter or depth and/or STs. Now that is a fact not supposition of what others may think. Even given that we still know squat about this player. He has a chance and will get a shot if he can stay healthy which carries its own odds.

 

[big dog cowboy]

I was really rooting for Johnson before this thread. Now I'm praying for him to have major success.

 

[jobberone]

I was wrong on Free? I said when he signed that abortion of a contract that it was grossly overspending on a mediocre at best player. At a time when the geniuses of the fan base we're anointing him a top talent.

You were wrong on Free, would be more accurate. He is what he is. A run of the mill player.

Bernadeau? When he proves himself a quality starting player I'll be wrong on him. Not when he fills in for a stretch of games in absence of his replacement. A guy the team felt the need to bring out of retirement on account of how talented Bernadeau is.

First of all his contract has nothing to do with his play on the field. You've got to be kidding about me being wrong about Free. 95% of this board gave me hell about saying the guy played 2012 in the 40th percentile of play for a tackle in the league. Most said he sucked. 40th percentile is not bragging rights but better than....well 40% of players at his position.

In 2013 Free played roughly the first quarter of the season as the number one tackle in the game tailing off to rank 18th in the entire league. So explain to me in factual terms how I was wrong about Free. In fact NO ONE has even come close to admitting they were wrong about Free esp those the loudest in the thread about his play in 2012 and since then.

Waters beating out Mack or any other guard on this team (or most teams) means nothing about the level of play of Mack other than he does not play at an All Pro level. We got Waters because he's from here and wanted to play here as well as the small fact he's considered one of the better guards in the game. Of course he was an upgrade over anyone on the OL period.

I got ridiculed for saying Mack made plays at a high level at times even dominant even though I said he was much too inconsistent to count on at the time. I also gave a reason for it being his feet. I didn't think it highly unusual for a player with his potential to learn the offense esp the ZBS and how to move properly in 2013. In fact he finished as the number 22 guard in the league which ain't bad esp playing by a rookie and that awful tackle Doug Free. He's got the potential to be a dominant G at the point of attack although I don't like the way he moves in space although that's not too bad.

Spin it baby. Spin it.

 

[Idgit]

Free took a 50% pay cut last year.
http://espn.go.com/dallas/nfl/story/_/id/9282852/doug-free-takes-pay-cut-stay-dallas-cowboys-source

Sure he played better in 2013, though did tail off in the second half. Conversely, Bern did seem to be a little better later in the season.

Either way, by the end of the year, the Oline was not the primary weakness on the team. The running game showed flashes (when we used it). Frederick's addition was immeasurable. I think we need one more above average player from the 2 gaurds or RT, but it wont matter if the whole defense under performs. The Garrett/Romo offense today is set not to "press" like NE, Denver, Philly, etc.

There will likely not be more than 1-2 games a year we win > 10 points and scoring >30. In a conservative offense, you rely on a defense. The whole operation is not set up to gel. See Seatlle, SF and Denver, NE and NO on the other spectrum.

I know that Free took a pay cut last year, obviously. The Free debate goes back a lot farther than just that season, and no matter how you cut it--and he was overpaid at one point--the team did a nice job drafting, developing, and retaining Doug Free. I'm happy to admit that I thought they made a huge mistake rolling the dice on him last season, too. RT is too important a position to gamble with, and it's not like the OG positions where it's been proven over and over again you can get by drafting and developing from within.

 

[Hoofbite]

Sounds like another Jerry gaffe.

Someone posted it a while back and I checked it out after that post.

SI article from 2000.

Guess smith had a severe case of appendicitis, was in the hospital for a long stretch and even carried a colostomy bag for 3 months.

Afterwards Jerry designated him with non-football injury to try and avoid paying his base salary. This was in 1993, a year before the introduction of the cap.

Smith filed an arbitration hearing and won after it was ruled that the appendicitis was football related.

1994 Jerry told him to take a pay cut or be cut. Pretty much the writing on the wall that the relationship wasn't gonna work and he refused.

 

[Rockport]

Someone posted it a while back and I checked it out after that post.

SI article from 2000.

Guess smith had a severe case of appendicitis, was in the hospital for a long stretch and even carried a colostomy bag for 3 months.

Afterwards Jerry designated him with non-football injury to try and avoid paying his base salary. This was in 1993, a year before the introduction of the cap.

Smith filed an arbitration hearing and won after it was ruled that the appendicitis was football related.

1994 Jerry told him to take a pay cut or be cut. Pretty much the writing on the wall that the relationship wasn't gonna work and he refused.

I remember that well. Jerry definitely screwed up on Jimmy Smith. But we're not surprised.

 

[AsthmaField]

Man, nobody knows what the guy is. We haven't seen enough of him to know anything.

We know he has good numbers and measurables. We know he has decent football smarts and seems to have plenty of aptitude.

We also know in two years he hasn't been able to stay healthy enough to play and that his hamstrings seem to be made of tissue.

How does he play when he's healthy and has had time to practice on defense. No idea.

How aggressive against the run is he? No idea.

How does he play the ball in the air? No idea.

Anyone saying they know what he will do or how good/bad he will be... well it's just bluster.

What I do know is that it would be silly to count on Johnson at this point.

 

[TheDude]

totally fair response and one I'd make myself. As I said earlier in this thread, he has the odds against him but then so does every single player that ever aspired to be a NFL player. Some just have much less shorter odds and a few are truly can't miss although that's after the fact.

The bust number here is using a scale where 5 is a player who equates to a marginal roster player not a complete bust out of the league. Matt was the 135th player taken overall in the 2012 NFL draft with Dallas using its second 4th round pick to take a prototypical safety. Here are the average numbers for a NFL safety:

Drill Significance Safeties Johnson
40-yard dash Speed over distance 4.60 4.54
225-pound bench press reps Upper body strength 18 18
Vertical jump Explosiveness, leg strength 36 38.5
Broad jump (in inches) Explosiveness, leg strength 120 121
20-yard shuttle Flexibility, burst, balance 4.05 4.07
3-cone drill Agility, change of direction 7.10 6.84

So the player compares favorably with the average NFL safety numbers wise. In fact his numbers are a tad superior. His bust rate is in the 50th%. So he doesn't have huge odds to overcome. He fits in with all the other 4th round picks along that standard distribution curve.

I don't really care what the coaches say. The only salient point in his favor is they have paid him to do nothing but be on the team just to get to the point of his having the possibility of earning a roster spot starter or depth and/or STs. Now that is a fact not supposition of what others may think. Even given that we still know squat about this player. He has a chance and will get a shot if he can stay healthy which carries its own odds.

Again, the issue isn't Johnson. It was the reach in the fourth round. THe fact he was drafted in the fourth round made some fans automatically assume he had 4th round NFL football talent. It was backed up by a youtube video and pro day numbers (wasn't at combine I dont think). The safety position was a turd, so he was talked up as the "answer" next to Sensabugh, again this past year and he still is getting overvalued by some (B+ talent, et al)

After the 3rd MAYBE 4th round, in general you project a player to be a ST guy for the first few years and contribution expectations diminish as you go through rd 7 and UDFA.. AT best you hope for decent role player starter after a couple of years. It takes a real homerun to get a top 20% position player after Rd 3. And I think we need a top 10% talent next to Church. The Church Johnson combo will not shock me if the pass defense again blows

If Johnson was drafted in rd 7 or an UDFA, he would be a basic after thought. But due to his draft position and the horrid historical safety play, people are quick to anoint. Then, god forbid, he makes one play and the Dallas Cowboy hype machine starts to steamroll all in its path. Then at the end of the year, we think Dallas is just snake bit, one player away, injuries derailed us, etc. when in actuality the talent on the whole isn't there.

It was the reach most people who aren't on the Johnson bandwagon are tapping the brakes on. Wasn't his fault, but buying the hype from the FO and desperate hope only exacerbates the bigger issues.

That whole post probably wasn't completely directed to you....just soapbox

 

[visionary]

I was really rooting for Johnson before this thread. Now I'm praying for him to have major success.

every cowboy fan is hoping that johnson has major success

one can also hope that a top 5 talent can drop to #16

it is just that some of us can separate our hopes from the reality of the situation

 

[Risen Star]

How is a team that is "woefully mismanaged" able to be .500 over the past three years, and about .500 over the past 10 years.

Because Jerry was able to hire Bill to get his stadium built. Without those years we're the same 5-11 team we were before he arrived.

 

[Risen Star]

First of all his contract has nothing to do with his play on the field. You've got to be kidding about me being wrong about Free. 95% of this board gave me hell about saying the guy played 2012 in the 40th percentile of play for a tackle in the league. Most said he sucked. 40th percentile is not bragging rights but better than....well 40% of players at his position.

In 2013 Free played roughly the first quarter of the season as the number one tackle in the game tailing off to rank 18th in the entire league. So explain to me in factual terms how I was wrong about Free. In fact NO ONE has even come close to admitting they were wrong about Free esp those the loudest in the thread about his play in 2012 and since then.

Waters beating out Free or any other guard on this team (or most teams) means nothing about the level of play of Mack other than he does not play at an All Pro level. We got Waters because he's from here and wanted to play here as well as the small fact he's considered one of the better guards in the game. Of course he was an upgrade over anyone on the OL period.

I got ridiculed for saying Mack made plays at a high level at times even dominant even though I said he was much too inconsistent to count on at the time. I also gave a reason for it being his feet. I didn't think it highly unusual for a player with his potential to learn the offense esp the ZBS and how to move properly in 2013. In fact he finished as the number 22 guard in the league which ain't bad esp playing by a rookie and that awful tackle Doug Free. He's got the potential to be a dominant G at the point of attack although I don't like the way he moves in space although that's not too bad.

Spin it baby. Spin it.

I don't have to spin it. I'm stating facts. While most of the fan base was busy anointing Doug Free some top talent and welcomed that God awful contract extension that the team had to eventually re-do I said he was a mediocre player. Which is exactly what he is. It was like the Miles Austin situation. OMG this guy is great, pay him like he's Andre Johnson. Except he wasn't. Far from it. This is why I'm right more than most of the others. I don't let their Cowboy connection cloud my vision.

Doug Free is exactly what I said he was.

I have you marked down as Bernadeau being potentially dominant. I can't wait to see it. I have a feeling I'll find Hoffa's body before this happens. But as of right now, all I've ever said about Bernadeau is he is not a quality starting player in this league. No rational fan would say that has been disproven. Now as a C/G backup, yes...I like him on the roster and have said so many times.

We got Waters because the team lacked any confidence in Bernadeau after his craptacular 2012 season. It wasn't about bringing a home town kid home. That's nonsense. We tried to get Brandon Moore and he backed off the agreement. This move was made as a direct result of Bernadeau's play.

I say he's a backup player in the league. He can fill in on the short term but you never want him playing too much. It'd be a position you'd constantly be looking to upgrade with a better talent.

 

[jnday]

I was wrong on Free? I said when he signed that abortion of a contract that it was grossly overspending on a mediocre at best player. At a time when the geniuses of the fan base we're anointing him a top talent.

You were wrong on Free, would be more accurate. He is what he is. A run of the mill player.

Bernadeau? When he proves himself a quality starting player I'll be wrong on him. Not when he fills in for a stretch of games in absence of his replacement. A guy the team felt the need to bring out of retirement on account of how talented Bernadeau is.

You just knocked it out if the park. It is crazy to think of Free and Bern as some kind of big over-achievers.

 

[jobberone]

OK, OK, he has no talent, was way over-drafted, should have been cut, and would not be on a true NFL roster

BUT he is a good guy

Gosh darn it, that should count for something

Signed

Stuart Smiley (SNL)

This is your usual dribble. Strawmen. No one here saying he's a good player. We are saying we don't know how good or how bad he is. But you keep on amusing yourself then patting yourself on the back along with your posse.

 

[big dog cowboy]

every cowboy fan is hoping that johnson has major success

one can also hope that a top 5 talent can drop to #16

it is just that some of us can separate our hopes from the reality of the situation

You mean like Dez was a top 5 talent and yet still became a Cowboy?

 

[Idgit]

You just knocked it out if the park. It is crazy to think of Free and Bern as some kind of big over-achievers.

They don't have to be some kind of big overachievers for Risen to have been dead wrong about them, jnday. That interpretation requires moving the goalposts all the way to midfield on both of these players.

 

[dogberry]

Who was THE PROPHET's sidekick? Been awhile, I forgot.

 

[visionary]

You mean like Dez was a top 5 talent and yet still became a Cowboy?

and that seems to be working out for us and if it happens you thank your lucky stars BUT to count on such long-shots as a way to fill glaring holes on the team...... that is a losing strategy

that is the difference you are blinding yourself to
hope for the best but prepare with realistic expectations

hope is not a strategy