Matt Johnson video

[lostinomiya]

[youtube]5TeznwsgtCY[/youtube]

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=5TeznwsgtCY

 

[big dog cowboy]

I can't wait to see this kid in preseason. Once he gets the speed of the game down I think he has a legit shot to be very good.

 

[a_minimalist]

love this kid and can't wait to see what he brings.

not to diminish what i just saw or what he can bring to the table but we will still need a FS--not that that was in question or mentioned in this post. just thought i'd throw it out there.

 

[brickman]

This kid sure doesn't shy away from contact. I hope he can bring that same style of play to the NFL!!!!

 

[Frozen700]

ah man....i love this guy!

 

[cowboy_ron]

This kid sure doesn't shy away from contact. I hope he can bring that same style of play to the NFL!!!!

Ditto

 

[SilverStarCowboy]

He had the knack in College. We'll see if the game is too big for him but the kid looks like a football player.

 

[AMERICAS_FAN]

love this kid and can't wait to see what he brings.

not to diminish what i just saw or what he can bring to the table but we will still need a FS--not that that was in question or mentioned in this post. just thought i'd throw it out there.

Agreed. If you re-watch that film you'll see he's much more effective, against run and pass, when he's closer to the box.

When he plays the deep middle the receiver almost always is sure to catch the ball in front of him. But even then he manages to keep the play in front of him and deliver the big hit.

So I would have him focus on SS as a main position and only backup FS on an emergency basis.

We still need a FS though. I don't see Brodney Pool as that guy. If Johnson though can step up and emerge as the starting FS, then Sensabeuagh can play the starting FS position. That would work for me.

 

[Wezsh0T]

There's only so much you can tell from a highlight video, but

A) He diagnoses plays quickly
B) He takes great angles
C) Doesn't shy away from tackles. Several times, there were guys that should have had the tackle, but he wanted it more
D) Breaks down really well to tackle a person running right at him
E) Doesn't take many false steps

Hopefully he will be able to keep up with the speed in the NFL.

 

[bayeslife]

I absolutely loved this pick almost as much as Claiborne.

Really pulling for him to do well, he has great speed and loves to hit people. That being said, he was drafting where he was for a reason, but he's got some pretty awesome talent.

 

[jchap2k]

I took away the same positives from the video as most here, but I do not like that he goes for the blow up hit. Too many of the shots on that video end with him standing there after the tackle. I'd get really excited if he wrapped them up and went down with them.

Too many NFL WR can just bounce off and keep going from tackles like that.

 

[CowboyMort]

There's only so much you can tell from a highlight video, but

A) He diagnoses plays quickly
B) He takes great angles
C) Doesn't shy away from tackles. Several times, there were guys that should have had the tackle, but he wanted it more
D) Breaks down really well to tackle a person running right at him
E) Doesn't take many false steps

Hopefully he will be able to keep up with the speed in the NFL.

I couldn't agree more. I was just going to post almost exactly the same thing. The only other thing I was thinking and it kinda lines up with your #1 point, he seems to have good football instincts. Hopefully coming from a small school to the NFL, the game won't be too fast for him. I was impressed by he angles he took and he is more of a hitter than the other highlight film I saw on him. Of course I will try not to get too excited until we see him against higher caliber in pre-season, but I am looking forward to watching the guy play.

 

[5Stars]

What I like about him is that, he does not seem to wait for the ball carrier to come to him, he attacks the ball carrier.

To many times I've watched some of the past Cowboy players stand their ground and wait for the ball carrier to come to him rather than going after the ball carrier

Sean Lee is another player that goes after the ball rather than waiting for him to come to him. That kind of play can gain you minus yards on defense which is what you want on defense.

It's a game of inches.

 

[dfan32]

I took away the same positives from the video as most here, but I do not like that he goes for the blow up hit. Too many of the shots on that video end with him standing there after the tackle. I'd get really excited if he wrapped them up and went down with them.

Too many NFL WR can just bounce off and keep going from tackles like that.

Yeah I saw some of that too. I'm amazed at how that has become a sort of accepted technique. Every Sunday you see it fail to bring down a ball carrier over and over.

I don't understand how coaches allowed that to become so much more common than the old school "textbook" tackle.

 

[CoCo]

I took away the same positives from the video as most here, but I do not like that he goes for the blow up hit. Too many of the shots on that video end with him standing there after the tackle. I'd get really excited if he wrapped them up and went down with them.

Too many NFL WR can just bounce off and keep going from tackles like that.

Re-watched it again after reading your comments and you're right. Lots of going for the big hit. There were also several very nice open field wrap-up tackles.

I'm not real worried. But it is something to be mindful of.

 

[5Stars]

Re-watched it again after reading your comments and you're right. Lots of going for the big hit. There were also several very nice open field wrap-up tackles.

I'm not real worried. But it is something to be mindful of.

Hopefully, he will be coached up on how to tackle the big boys in the NFL.

But, that can be taught. Now, his instincts for attacking the ball carrier seems to be a natural trait, IMO.

I like this guy...

 

[w8lifter]

Some of those hits he put on other players reminded me of how Bill Bates used to 'lay the wood' to opposing players.

If MJ is even half as tough as BB, we may have a good FS for years to come.

:cunning:

 

[CCBoy]

Some of those hits he put on other players reminded me of how Bill Bates used to 'lay the wood' to opposing players.

If MJ is even half as tough as BB, we may have a good FS for years to come.

:cunning:

W8, it's good seeing you come to life again...lol. :starspin

 

[w8lifter]

Thanks, CC. Keep up the good posting.

:clap2:

 

[CowboyMcCoy]

The more I look at this guy, the more I think he's the next Darren Woodson. WOW.