Johnson: Just how much weight did he gain?

[dfense]

I thought he had arthroscopic knee surgery during the season within the last 2 years but didn't miss any time.

 

[Doomsday101]

Johnson's technique is solid for a guy with 2 years starting experience. I guess you couldn't find a link that says otherwise. He allowed only one sack for the season. All the centers you listed with far more experience than Johnson are rated 74-75 other than Jeff Saturday who is a 79. Johnson is currently a 70, which is probably at least as good as any of those guys after 2 years. If he's truly 307 and can stay there I expect him to jump up to the 75 range this year. We will see.

Honestly I did not spend any time looking for a report other than the 1 I showed and we both agree that college scouting reports are meaningless. I'm going by what I'm seeing, I don't claim to be a guru of centers but I played the game long enough to know when I see a lineman coming up high out of his stance and understand what a big advantage that is to the D-Lineman when they can get inside to an O-Linemans body. I don't doubt your stat about sacks but again having the pocket pushed into the lap of the QB prevents the QB from stepping up in an area where there should be a pocket if the center was truely holding his ground.

 

[DLCassidy]

Honestly I did not spend any time looking for a report other than the 1 I showed and we both agree that college scouting reports are meaningless. I'm going by what I'm seeing, I don't claim to be a guru of centers but I played the game long enough to know when I see a lineman coming up high out of his stance and understand what a big advantage that is to the D-Lineman when they can get inside to an O-Linemans body. I don't doubt your stat about sacks but again having the pocket pushed into the lap of the QB prevents the QB from stepping up in an area where there should be a pocket if the center was truely holding his ground.

I guess we'll just wait and see if the added bulk makes a big difference or not. IMO lack of size and strength is why he's had trouble anchoring. If indeed he finsihed up last year around 280 and he's 307 now, 27 pounds is a huge difference. If indeed Johnson is consistently playing too high it doesn't say a lot for Soprano, does it?

 

[Bob Sacamano]

Johnson is what he is....

a average center.....he could put on another 100lbs....it wouldn't matter

ok Cleo

 

[Doomsday101]

I guess we'll just wait and see if the added bulk makes a big difference or not. IMO lack of size and strength is why he's had trouble anchoring. If indeed he finsihed up last year around 280 and he's 307 now, 27 pounds is a huge difference. If indeed Johnson is consistently playing too high it doesn't say a lot for Soprano, does it?

A coach can only teach but the student themselves have to go out and do the job, if they don't then they get replaced. I agree the coach has a responsibility and should be held accountable but you can teach proper technique but ultimately the player himself has to do the job. I have said in my other post I think adding weight and strength will help but in my view it is not just about weight. Lastly I’m pulling for Johnson and hope he can become a pro bowl type player but I try not to be such a homer that I refuse to see weakness when I see it. (No that was not a knock on you)

 

[Austin28]

This is why I was so pissed when Sparano wasn't allowed to join Payton in Nawlins. He should have caught this. An avid fan in St. Louis and his TiVo did the OL coach's job.

Can you provide any proof of this?

Until you can, I'll just assume this to be hoopla.

 

[Fla Cowpoke]

There were issues with Carter supposedly tipping the snap as well as Johnson at different times over the past few years. That will help a defense on short yardage type plays, but I think it is overstated how much of an impact it has on a normal play.

Anyhow, Stepnoski never was close to Johnson's size. In fact, I had read that there were times during the season that Step dropped into the 260's. I would bet at his highest weight he was never more than 285. He was a complete anomaly.

Johnson has enough size to do the job, he just needs to do it better. Whether it is strengthening his lower body, improving his technique or whatever, he just needs to get better.

And I agree he was not the main problem on the OL last year. In fact, I'd say he wasn't in the top 5 problems on the OL. I would have had Tucker, Rivera, Petitti and Allen all on the list ahead of him.

Johnson did struggle at times with the biggest nose tackles, but he also was the ONLY lineman that ever made any blocks down the field.

Our OL should be improved with Petitti in his second year, Fabini as depth, Rivera more healthy, a more mobile guard on the left, and a healthy Adams.

At least that is what I keep repeating to myself.

 

[Hostile]

There were issues with Carter supposedly tipping the snap as well as Johnson at different times over the past few years. That will help a defense on short yardage type plays, but I think it is overstated how much of an impact it has on a normal play.

Anyhow, Stepnoski never was close to Johnson's size. In fact, I had read that there were times during the season that Step dropped into the 260's. I would bet at his highest weight he was never more than 285. He was a complete anomaly.

Johnson has enough size to do the job, he just needs to do it better. Whether it is strengthening his lower body, improving his technique or whatever, he just needs to get better.

And I agree he was not the main problem on the OL last year. In fact, I'd say he wasn't in the top 5 problems on the OL. I would have had Tucker, Rivera, Petitti and Allen all on the list ahead of him.

Johnson did struggle at times with the biggest nose tackles, but he also was the ONLY lineman that ever made any blocks down the field.

Our OL should be improved with Petitti in his second year, Fabini as depth, Rivera more healthy, a more mobile guard on the left, and a healthy Adams.

At least that is what I keep repeating to myself.

I disagree with that statement in bold 100%. Tipping off the snap affects you every single play. It doesn't matter the situation.

If I am the defensive coordinator and you tell me you'll give me the snap count except in short yardage situations I will wet my pants being happy.

 

[Charles]

I disagree with that statement in bold 100%. Tipping off the snap affects you every single play. It doesn't matter the situation.

If I am the defensive coordinator and you tell me you'll give me the snap count except in short yardage situations I will wet my pants being happy.

I totally agree, though I am not aware of the tipping thing with Al. I must have missed that thread. I find it really easy to believe that a coach would listen to an outside source. Most would do anything to give their player an edge or reduce the opponents'.

 

[DLCassidy]

A coach can only teach but the student themselves have to go out and do the job, if they don't then they get replaced. I agree the coach has a responsibility and should be held accountable but you can teach proper technique but ultimately the player himself has to do the job. I have said in my other post I think adding weight and strength will help but in my view it is not just about weight. Lastly I’m pulling for Johnson and hope he can become a pro bowl type player but I try not to be such a homer that I refuse to see weakness when I see it. (No that was not a knock on you)

If Johnson doesn't step up this year he will not be back. This is the last year of his rookie deal so he's going to command more money. Whether he gets it from us will depend on how he does. Al's supposed to be a smart player so I think he will respond well to coaching and hopefully the extra weight will help as much as I hope it will.

 

[Doomsday101]

If Johnson doesn't step up this year he will not be back. This is the last year of his rookie deal so he's going to command more money. Whether he gets it from us will depend on how he does. Al's supposed to be a smart player so I think he will respond well to coaching and hopefully the extra weight will help as much as I hope it will.

I don't disagree with you on this. I have nothing aginst Johnson and want to see him succeed as much as anyone.

 

[tunahelper]

Good point. Step was never over 280, but he still played well against 320 pounders by using their momentum against them. He was the consumate technician, who instinctively knew how to use leverage and angles to take his guy out of the play, and that's all you have to do.

How many teams were using 3-4 defenses, when Step played?
Also, OL/DL have gotten even larger, since 90's so I dont think he was exposed as he would have been now.

 

[Hostile]

I totally agree, though I am not aware of the tipping thing with Al. I must have missed that thread. I find it really easy to believe that a coach would listen to an outside source. Most would do anything to give their player an edge or reduce the opponents'.

I'm surprised so many don't know about this. I was wrong about the guy being from St. Louis.

From Mick's Mail 12/2/05.

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.

 

[Chief]

I'm surprised so many don't know about this. I was wrong about the guy being from St. Louis.

From Mick's Mail 12/2/05.

That's pretty amazing.

It's good that Sparano was right on top of the situation.

 

[Chief]

Parcells said he was up to 307.

Let's hope it was good weight he put on.

 

[AdamJT13]

According to K.C. Joyner, whose 2006 book will include rushing metrics along with his passing metrics, Al Johnson was tied for being the sixth-most productive run-blocker in the NFL last season -- out of all offensive linemen. He didn't break the top 10 in average yards per point-of-attack/key block or successful block percentage, but his combined rating of 5.1 (YPA times success percentage) tied for sixth.

 

[MONT17]

I get it now, Mark Stepnoski would have been a first ballot HOF... all he had to do was add 10 or 15 lbs..... oh and keep it!!!

 

[burmafrd]

Step was a master at leverage and as a technician. Part of that was learned and part of that was natural to him. If he had been a couple inches taller and 20 lbs heavier he would have been all world. Johnson has the heart and the willingness - but he does not have the natural gift Step had. He will get better with more experience but he needs to stay bigger.

 

[Star Struck]

Being at over 300 lbs and keeping quickness will be the key. If he's at 307 and he's lean, thats awesome!

 

[Austin28]

There were issues with Carter supposedly tipping the snap as well as Johnson at different times over the past few years. That will help a defense on short yardage type plays, but I think it is overstated how much of an impact it has on a normal play.

.

...stands to reason; not to mention if the offense was aware that the defense was keying in on them, they could use it to their advantage. It works both ways.