Johnson: Just how much weight did he gain?

[Yakuza Rich]

True, I know I rarely do, but that doesn't stop me from spouting off.:laugh1: But BP certainly does and he had some concerns about Johnson, enough to get AG on the field against bigger guys quite a bit. The Scouts, Inc rating of 70 which is about average along with this Joyner guys high rating seems to confirm my thought that Johnson is a technically solid player with good mobility. BP seems to like him but he was not fully satisfied. The main plus Gurode had over Johnson in BP's eyes appeared to be weight/strength. If AJ is indeed 307 now he's only 7 pounds lighter than Gurode's listed weight of 314. That's a heck of a lot closer than 30+.

According to my notes, Johnson had struggles with stronger or bigger nose guards early in the year. But around week 8 or so that problem had been curbed quite a bit. He was blocking very well in the last 6 games of the season. He still would occasionally get overpowered, but he'd only be knocked back maybe a step or a step and a half backwards. The good thing is that Julius is good at making cutbacks and many times Julius didn't seem to have a problem avoiding Johnson.

Still, I think it comes down to Parcells wanting the same thing from Owens that he wants from Johnson.....he doesn't want his expectations to exceed theirs. So while Johnson's problems with bigger and stronger nose guards is overstated by most fans, it's still something that Parcells really wants Johnson to work on eliminating.

Rich.........

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I think the fact Victor Riley is even ranked shows how little this analysis means. I don't see how you can possibly look at film and determine the relative success or failure, much less attach a statistic to it. This shows what a statistics nut and a calculator can do.

This is based upon run blocking ability. Generally scouts and coaches have always loved Riley's run blocking skills. It's his pass blocking, penalties, and attitude that drives them insane. That's why he continues to find a job in the NFL and continues to frustrate teams.

Not only that, stats are only part of the analysis here. Much of what Joyner is doing here is coming from a scouting perspective.

Rich.............

 

[DLCassidy]

According to my notes, Johnson had struggles with stronger or bigger nose guards early in the year. But around week 8 or so that problem had been curbed quite a bit. He was blocking very well in the last 6 games of the season. He still would occasionally get overpowered, but he'd only be knocked back maybe a step or a step and a half backwards. The good thing is that Julius is good at making cutbacks and many times Julius didn't seem to have a problem avoiding Johnson.

Still, I think it comes down to Parcells wanting the same thing from Owens that he wants from Johnson.....he doesn't want his expectations to exceed theirs. So while Johnson's problems with bigger and stronger nose guards is overstated by most fans, it's still something that Parcells really wants Johnson to work on eliminating.

Rich.........

I'll take your word he improved but he seemed to be owned in the 2nd Philly game, benched to start the 2nd half in the 2nd Giants game and stymied in the 2nd Washington game.

 

[Alexander]

Not only that, stats are only part of the analysis here. Much of what Joyner is doing here is coming from a scouting perspective.

Rich.............

He still is ascribing a voodoo mathematical analysis to what isn't an exact science. You cannot convince me you can look at a running play and determine that one offensive lineman was the sole key for the run and it was that blocking success or failure that impacted it.

Just like his statistical view of the dropped passes. There is so much that goes into a play's success or failure and rarely do raw statistics tell much of anything in the empircal sense, unless you want them to. The variables are too great and his criteria might be different from others. They are fine as an FYI, but only a fool would take these numbers and draw any sort of concrete conclusion from them.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

I'll take your word he improved but he seemed to be owned in the 2nd Philly game, benched to start the 2nd half in the 2nd Giants game and stymied in the 2nd Washington game.

According to my notes, I don't have anything wrong with him in the Philly game and he made a big block on the big run that Barber had on a draw play that set up the Bledsoe TD pass to Glenn on the very next play.

IIRC, he got hurt in the second Giants game.

Everybody sans Pepper Johnson and Bradie James was stymied in the 2nd Washington game.

The problem with centers is that they are often only as good as the guards that surround them. Allen was outright woeful in open space and containing backside defenders when we ran to the right. And I mean downright awful at times to the point where say a safety would make a very pedestrian move and Allen wouldn't even come close to getting in the defender's way. Rivera was getting pushed back more and more as the season progressed.

So while I'm not claiming Al Johnson to be LeCharles Bentley, I think he's a decent talent at center that could be much better if he had some help at guard. Whether Kosier and Rivera will provide that next season is the question.

Rich............

 

[Yakuza Rich]

They are fine as an FYI, but only a fool would take these numbers and draw any sort of concrete conclusion from them.

Only fools take stats as a concrete conclusion. They are something to ballpark or give an indicator. On the flip side, only a fool would completely eschew correct statistical information as meaningless.

Do I think Al Johnson is the 6th best run blocking O-Lineman in the league? Of course not. But, he's probably a lot better than most people think.


Rich.........

 

[RealCowboyfan]

Even with that weight he gain, he's still going to lose his starting spot to Andre Gurode.

Andre Gurode should be starting.

 

[Doomsday101]

Even with that weight he gain, he's still going to lose his starting spot to Andre Gurode.

Andre Gurode should be starting.

Then he needs to start making the proper line calls. Which evidently he has not been doing. I think Gurode has talent but as the center it is his job to make the right call on blocking adjustments when they get up to the line.

 

[DLCassidy]

According to my notes, I don't have anything wrong with him in the Philly game and he made a big block on the big run that Barber had on a draw play that set up the Bledsoe TD pass to Glenn on the very next play.

I loved that play but it appeared Johnson got away with a hold which is ok by me. But Trotter seemed to have Johnson's number most of the game and the middle was totally clogged. Not all on Johnson I know.

IIRC, he got hurt in the second Giants game.

I didn't know that. I just assumed he was benched because we were getting stuffed on the run.

Everybody sans Pepper Johnson and Bradie James was stymied in the 2nd Washington game.

True but I'm just pointing out games he struggled against bigger NT's in the 2nd half.

The problem with centers is that they are often only as good as the guards that surround them. Allen was outright woeful in open space and containing backside defenders when we ran to the right. And I mean downright awful at times to the point where say a safety would make a very pedestrian move and Allen wouldn't even come close to getting in the defender's way. Rivera was getting pushed back more and more as the season progressed.

So while I'm not claiming Al Johnson to be LeCharles Bentley, I think he's a decent talent at center that could be much better if he had some help at guard. Whether Kosier and Rivera will provide that next season is the question.

Rich............

I agree. I like Johnson ok. My only gripe is he seemed to get pushed back quite a bit. But again he's only in his 3rd year as a starter and if he's bulked up, he could be much better this year.

 

[Hostile]

Even with that weight he gain, he's still going to lose his starting spot to Andre Gurode.

Andre Gurode should be starting.

Ladies and Gentlemen, the new O-Line coach of the Dallas Cowboys...

 

[DLCassidy]

Even with that weight he gain, he's still going to lose his starting spot to Andre Gurode.

Andre Gurode should be starting.

I think that's a longshot. Not only are their concerns about AG's ability to make the line calls, the man cannot snap in the shotgun which IMO is a disgrace. It's Johnson's job to lose.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

I think that's a longshot. Not only are their concerns about AG's ability to make the line calls, the man cannot snap in the shotgun which IMO is a disgrace. It's Johnson's job to lose.

I believe Andre Gurode would be a upgrade over Marco Rivera. Rivera is old. Gurode has more ability to help the run than Rivera. All Rivera is, a pass-blocker. Julius Jones ran much better behind Andre Gurode than Rivera.

 

[DLCassidy]

I believe Andre Gurode would be a upgrade over Marco Rivera. Rivera is old. Gurode has more ability to help the run than Rivera. All Rivera is, a pass-blocker. Julius Jones ran much better behind Andre Gurode than Rivera.

Man, you move quick don't you? 30 seconds ago you had AG as the starting center, now he's the starting RG?:laugh1:

 

[Alexander]

I believe Andre Gurode would be a upgrade over Marco Rivera. Rivera is old. Gurode has more ability to help the run than Rivera. All Rivera is, a pass-blocker. Julius Jones ran much better behind Andre Gurode than Rivera.

For one game. I didn't see Gurode blowing any of the Rams off the ball.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

For one game. I didn't see Gurode blowing any of the Rams off the ball.

Compare Julius Jones stats with Andre Gurode as the starter to Marco Rivera starting.

 

[Alexander]

Compare Julius Jones stats with Andre Gurode as the starter to Marco Rivera starting.

A healthy Marco Rivera? That'd be tough to do now wouldn't it?

Not a peep has come from our staff about replacing Rivera with Gurode. How on earth could we be so ignorant to miss out on such an easy fix?

 

[RealCowboyfan]

A healthy Marco Rivera? That'd be tough to do now wouldn't it?

Not a peep has come from our staff about replacing Rivera with Gurode. How on earth could we be so ignorant to miss out on such an easy fix?

Cowboys came better off signing Mike Whale. The offensive lineman Panthers signed.

 

[Alexander]

Cowboys came better off signing Mike Whale. The offensive lineman Panthers signed.

True. I won't argue that. Assuming you meant Wahle.

 

[Chief]

Cowboys came better off signing Mike Whale.

That guy's got too much blubber.

 

[RealCowboyfan]

True. I won't argue that. Assuming you meant Wahle.

yeah. Didn't he go to the pro bowl this season that just past?