Johnson clinching fist before snap?

[CrazyCowboy]

I could not believe this.....can one of our coaches TELL Johnson to stop this action immediately? Small things like this can give Bledsoe just enough time to read his 2nd WR and make a play.

Great job by Mr. Curtis (below) to figure this out.......another great Cowboy fan with TIVO....

Kenneth Curtis, Dallas: I don't know if you can speak to the offensive line coach, but the key the defensive linemen have been using against the Cowboys the past three weeks is center Al Johnson, about a half a second before he snaps the ball, he is flinching his off hand (left), making it into a fist and releasing. If a D-Lineman takes off at the instant of fist release he will be in Bledsoe's pocket very quick. Hope it helps. TIVO works great, that's how I caught this. It is like clockwork.

Mickey:Now before everyone starts groaning out, there, this guy might be on to something. I've actually heard around here that after carefully watching all the snaps over the past three weeks, that this fist-clenching by Johnson is actually something that's been detected. I knew it had to be something, because the past three teams have been jumping the count, and they can't guess right that many times. Let's keep an eye on that fist this Sunday.

 

[ghettogandhi]

that is ridiculous

maybe we can use that against the Giants this week- by having Johnson do it at all the wrong times

Johnson has been a total disapointment along with Peterman and Jacob Rogers-

WE NEED OLINE AND LB ers really bad- next offseason hopefully

 

[Qwickdraw]

What a moron.

I'm talking about Johnson.

Subconcious or not, you're an NFL Pro. You need to be fully aware of things like this and correct them BEFORE they happen.

I just watched a special on referee Ed Hochuli (Hercules) where they followed him throughout his routine week. (pretty interesting stuff)
Anyhow, he had just officiated the Dallas/Detroit game and was reviewing some of the film from it afterwards. He commented on how quickly the Lions defense was coming off the line and was trying to see if they actually were offsides. He ended up concluding that something must have been tipping them off on the snap to give them such a jump on the ball.

Thanks Al.

 

[JohnsKey19]

I agree with both of you. It's just flat out ridiculous. Not only has his blocking been below average but he's also apparently tipping the snap count to the opposition. Just great...

 

[JDSmith]

If that's the case we should be in good shape tomorrow. Johnson doesn't necessarily have to stop the fist clenching, he can go the other direction. A few well placed fist clenches tomorrow could get us quite a few offsides penalties called on the Giants. If he clenches and then doesn't snap the ball and they jump - 5 free yards. If he does that once or twice they'll back off of that tell.

 

[aznhalf]

Maybe it was all a plan to set up the Giants today.

Or...maybe he's just not smart.

Probably the later.

 

[Hostile]

Years ago I remember that when it was a passing play Robert Newhouse would not put his mouthpiece in, but on running plays he did. I don't remember which Analyst it was who caught it but I want to say it was Irv Cross.

After he pointed it out Newhouse never did it again.

Something has definitely been a tip off. This sounds quite plausible.

 

[percyhoward]

If he clenches and then doesn't snap the ball and they jump - 5 free yards.

And that's happened quite a few times already. In fact, (whether intentionally or not) we induced the Lions into two consecutive offsides. Teams have been getting the jump on our snaps for a lot longer than 3 weeks too. I used to think the problem was Bledsoe not changing up his snap count, but I guess now we know.

 

[dmq]

That would explain why Denver was in our backfield all game. It was like they knew the count every play. Without that, we probably would have beat them.

 

[lkelly]

The Lions jumped offsides (by a rough estimate) at least 7 times. I'm sure Dallas would gladly take that each week.

Of course the Lions did the same thing on Thanksgiving.

 

[Alexander]

What a moron.

I'm talking about Johnson.

Subconcious or not, you're an NFL Pro. You need to be fully aware of things like this and correct them BEFORE they happen.

It could simply be a subconscious habit and more often than not, professional or not, you do these things you aren't aware. He does hold some accountability, but that is the true definition of subconscious, you aren't aware you are doing it until it is pointed out to you.

This is where the coaches who break down the game footage should be catching this. It is a problem and has been since the Detroit game. It should not have carried forward until Denver.

If they pointed it out to Johnson and he continued to do it, then your statement above would be appropriate.

He commented on how quickly the Lions defense was coming off the line and was trying to see if they actually were offsides. He ended up concluding that something must have been tipping them off on the snap to give them such a jump on the ball.

Thanks Al.

And thanks Tony Sparano also if it was not noticed and mentioned to the player.

 

[Alexander]

I want to say it was Irv Cross.

It was.

I miss the old CBS NFL Today. Brent, Irv, Phyllis and Jimmy The Greek (I never cared for Jayne Kennedy). And Jimmy punching Musberger was the best. Those were the good old days.

 

[Hostile]

It was.

I miss the old CBS NFL Today. Brent, Irv, Phyllis and Jimmy The Greek (I never cared for Jayne Kennedy). And Jimmy punching Musberger was the best. Those were the good old days.

I'm glad someone else remembers this.

I still think Brent Musberger should be back in the NFL.


I agree, that show was great. Jayne Kennedy was easy on the eyes, but Phyllis George was the better reporter.

I think Irv Cross was underated as an analyst. I really couldn't understand why he was hired immediately.

 

[thewivil]

I want to know why it takes a regular fan watching using his Tivo to catch what the problem has been. Why the hell haven't the coaches caught this and corrected it weeks ago?

I hope Spagnola passed the info on and the coaches brought it to Johnson's attention. It's sad when us fans have to help the coaches do their jobs.

 

[Alexander]

I want to know why it takes a regular fan watching using his Tivo to catch what the problem has been? Why the hell haven't the coaches caught this and corrected it weeks ago?

I hope Spagnola passed the info on and the coaches brought it to Johnson's attention.

It's said when us fans have to help the coaches do their jobs.

If our coaches are depending on fans and Mickey Spagnola to point out critical errors our players are making, then all of them should be summarily dismissed.

 

[big dog cowboy]

That would explain why Denver was in our backfield all game. It was like they knew the count every play. Without that, we probably would have beat them.

We kick a short FG and we win.

 

[Hiero]

ya I knew good ol Al had to be tipping them off somehow, the other teams have been way too quick. Hopefully Al doesnt do it against the Giants and get Drew killed.
I agree we need a big upgrade on the OLine, and especially at Center.

 

[31smackdown]

I suppose you could just play Gurode, especially if the plan is to run the ball and Al is still banged up

 

[Doomsday]

Im kind of releived to hear he has been tipping the Dline off. That is easier to fix than getting physically beat every play.

 

[Tripod]

Sorry I'm not buying this. You are suggesting that Johnson knows the exact CADENCE of Drew's huts. We're talking milliseconds here. Bledsoe delays or accelerates the time between huts based his own decision at the time (unless he calls for a quick snap and that would be on the first hut). If some lineman thinks he can go on a visual signal it would have to be something Drew does, HE determines when the ball is snapped.

I prefer to go with the conventional wisdom Bledsoe and Johnson are trying stay a millisecond longer to make sure the exchange is made cleanly. This should improve each week.

Tivo's great, but the smoke from the grassy knoll was a cigarette puff.