FWST Blog: Curtis Johnson won't play, but should stick

[Mr Cowboy]

Former Colts defensive end Curtis Johnson, who the Cowboys picked up Tuesday and will switch to outside linebacker, will be out another week or so with a hamstring strain, which will obviously keep him out of Friday's preseason finale, but he will make the 53-man roster. Johnson, entering his second season, was a good special-teams player for Indianapolis, which is essential help at the moment for the Cowboys, not to mention bolstering a some thin depth at linebacker.

"We took a look at him, certainly. We knew about him coming out of college, we projected him as linebacker," coach Wade Phillips said. "He weighs 254 today, so he's a pretty good-sized guy, he knows how to play what I call full-speed. He's played in games and he knows how to play all-out, which is impressive. There's some good things on tape about him. Like I said, we liked him coming out, but small school (Clark Atlanta University), projection, those kind of things. But, he seems to have developed. We thought it was an opportunity to get a guy that's a pretty good athlete that can maybe play."

"That's a decision we'll have to make. But, there was a reason for picking him up."

Jeff Caplan

Posted at 04:31 PM in Dallas Cowboys | Permalink | Comments (0) | TrackBack (0)

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Count Curtis Johnson as one of the 53
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Curtis Johnson, the edge pass rusher the Cowboys picked up on waivers yesterday, won't play in the preseason finale. He's nursing a hamstring injury suffered before he was cut by the Colts.

The Cowboys knew his medical situation when they brought him to Valley Ranch, a pretty clear sign that they see him on the 53-man roster.

"That's a decision we have to make," Wade Phillips said, "but there was a reason for picking him up."

Johnson was an undersized defensive end for the Colts as an undrafted rookie last season, recording one sack and contributing on special teams in seven games. He's bulked up to 6-3, 254 and will play outside linebacker here.

"He knows how to play what I call full speed," Phillips said. "He's played in game and he knows how to play all-out, which is impressive. There's some good things on tape about him."

 

[TheRat]

6'3", 242 lbs; 4.60 40-Yard Dash; 4.46 20-Yard Shuttle; 6.78 3-Cone Drill; 26" Vertical Jump; 25 Bench Reps at 225 pounds.

He made 112 tackles, 69 solo as a senior he started eleven games and was named College-division All-America. He finished first in nation in Division II with 2.5 tackles for loss average per game and was voted SIAC Player-of-the-Week four times.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Johnson_(defensive_end)

 

[Woods]

This guy is definitely intriguing.

Plus, he has played in the NFL. That said, given his size, I'd imagine it difficult playing on the DL. Like Wade said, he's probably a better potential fit at OLB in a 34.

At least he's a solid STs player, and given all the injuries regarding our STs guys (esp the rookies), we could definitely use some help there.

 

[BAT]

Butler may be "smarter" but Johnson plays like his mama's life is on the line. IMO he will be the better pass rusher when it is all said and done. He's just more catalytic.

Man, I love this pickup, especially w/Hodge looking like he will go on IR. Johnson will be Blue Fin's Silver Bullet on ST this season, not Hodge (altho Octavien might have something to say about that).

Next season we will have several of these Bullets on ST. Loving it.

 

[newlander]

Intriguing pick up. Hopefully that hammy heals up for Tampa: need him really for ST's. I just read another thread that compared him to Octavien: that would be OK at this point IMO............

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Keeping this guy may mean the end of the road for Octavien.

 

[Hostile]

Keeping this guy may mean the end of the road for Octavien.

I think so, and I am fine with that. I am so geeked about this kid I can't sit still.

Pet cat kind of thing.

 

[KingintheNorth]

I think so, and I am fine with that. I am so geeked about this kid I can't sit still.

Pet cat kind of thing.

You guys and your pet cats......


Hey, that Taylor Mays sure is good!

 

[Hostile]

You guys and your pet cats......


Hey, that Taylor Mays sure is good!

Like him tons personally. Wish he was going to be there when we pick.

 

[Jay]

Like him tons personally. Wish he was going to be there when we pick.

Agreed, he'll never get to us.

 

[Mr Cowboy]

Agreed, he'll never get to us.

Maybe he'll have an injury filled season and everyone will forget about him......hey I can wish can't I?

 

[dbair1967]

Like him tons personally. Wish he was going to be there when we pick.

why? dont we already have some safeties who never make plays on the ball?

 

[Stash]

I think so, and I am fine with that. I am so geeked about this kid I can't sit still.

Pet cat kind of thing.

Very cool.

Always nice to get a 'pet cat' on the roster.

I figured whne they signed him injured, they were sure to keep him on the 53-man roster, no point otherwise.

I'm thinking they may go 5 at OLB.

 

[Bluefin]

Johnson will be Blue Fin's Silver Bullet on ST this season, not Hodge (altho Octavien might have something to say about that).

Next season we will have several of these Bullets on ST. Loving it.

:laugh2:

The more Silver Bullets we get, the better!

Curtis Johnson is very intriguing, I can remember talking about him as a sleeper before the draft last year.

We're getting young at OLB with some nice prospects.

This is one of the things I've always liked about the 3-4, you can find potential rush 'backers all over the place.

 

[RS12]

6'3", 242 lbs; 4.60 40-Yard Dash; 4.46 20-Yard Shuttle; 6.78 3-Cone Drill; 26" Vertical Jump; 25 Bench Reps at 225 pounds.

He made 112 tackles, 69 solo as a senior he started eleven games and was named College-division All-America. He finished first in nation in Division II with 2.5 tackles for loss average per game and was voted SIAC Player-of-the-Week four times.

http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Curtis_Johnson_(defensive_end)

2.5 tackles for loss per game is good even in a no name conference. He would need to be to dominate to make it to the NFL and sounds like he was. My questions are how many sack did he have, and why did the Colts give up on him? Is this a guy who had it from the neck down to play major college ball but not the neck up?

 

[BAT]

:laugh2:

The more Silver Bullets we get, the better!

Curtis Johnson is very intriguing, I can remember talking about him as a sleeper before the draft last year.

We're getting young at OLB with some nice prospects.

This is one of the things I've always liked about the 3-4, you can find potential rush 'backers all over the place.

:shades:


:shoot1:



:starspin

 

[casmith07]

I liked Trai Battle and further back, Willie Pile. Those guys plus Butler plus this kid = lethal ST coverage.

 

[BAT]

I liked Trai Battle and further back, Willie Pile. Those guys plus Butler plus this kid = lethal ST coverage.

I liked Battle too. And Carlos Polk. They were better STers than Carp and Rogers, by miles.

 

[SLATEmosphere]

Like him tons personally. Wish he was going to be there when we pick.

Taylor Mays is going #1 overall to the Oakland Raiders.