Matt Johnson Video

[Tejano15]

I was going through some highlights, this boy can flat out hit, if he can stay healthy and play like this, I can see why the coach's loved him.


[youtube]5TeznwsgtCY[/youtube]

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

 

[Galian Beast]

People are a bit unfair to Johnson. He had some injuries issues, that doesn't mean he can't get healthy, nor does it mean he can't play...

A lot of people were excited about drafting him last year, but everyone is interested in the newest thing on the market.

We drafted quite a few defensive players last year, and they're going to get a chance to contribute this year.

 

[Tejano15]

People are a bit unfair to Johnson. He had some injuries issues, that doesn't mean he can't get healthy, nor does it mean he can't play...

A lot of people were excited about drafting him last year, but everyone is interested in the newest thing on the market.

We drafted quite a few defensive players last year, and they're going to get a chance to contribute this year.

I agree, that is why I am predicting Johnson and Wilcox will be the starters. I know a lot of people like Church (myself included) but both these guys have some ball skills. Safeties in Tampa 2 have to be able to cover ground and be able to make plays on the ball. I think this will be one of the most interesting battles in camp.

 

[Galian Beast]

I agree, that is why I am predicting Johnson and Wilcox will be the starters. I know a lot of people like Church (myself included) but both these guys have some ball skills. Safeties in Tampa 2 have to be able to cover ground and be able to make plays on the ball. I think this will be one of the most interesting battles in camp.

Almost no chance Wilcox starts this year. Church will definitely be the guy. Kiffin has already stated he isn't as worried about range. Safeties have a lot of ground to cover, but it's actually less ground than they have to cover in traditional 2 deep coverages.

 

[Future]

Almost no chance Wilcox starts this year. Church will definitely be the guy. Kiffin has already stated he isn't as worried about range. Safeties have a lot of ground to cover, but it's actually less ground than they have to cover in traditional 2 deep coverages.

Well Wilcox probably won't be the opening day starter, but I don't think its unrealistic to think that a safety gets hurt and he starts.

 

[tm1119]

There's a whole lot of penalty yards and fine $ in the 1st couple minutes of that video.

And hitting is nice, but can he cover? I lost interest and turned the video off at around 5 minutes, but I only saw him make 2 plays on the ball in the air and 1 was a bad overthrow. Maybe he can be a player, but I don't see how he and Church can possibly coexist in the starting lineup. They are both downhill SS's.

 

[sureletsrace]

I think it will be Church and Johnson. They are really only playing deep thirds between the hashes and the sidelines, don't need a lot of range. Need instincts, tackling ability, and ball skills.

They both fit the bill, as does JJ Wilcox.

 

[Hawkeye19]

Almost no chance Wilcox starts this year. Church will definitely be the guy. Kiffin has already stated he isn't as worried about range. Safeties have a lot of ground to cover, but it's actually less ground than they have to cover in traditional 2 deep coverages.

I don't care who starts...let the best man win the job.

They're all young. Allen and McCray are ideal vet depth and ST aces. If Church and either Johnson or Wilcox steps up in camp and takes the other starting S gig-- we'll be looking pretty good.

I'm rooting for the UDFA we signed (Jakar Hamilton I think is his name) to beat out either McCray or Allen and stick so we can save some $$$ on the cap.

 

[Deep_Freeze]

Kinda sad when we have to look at small school college highlights to hope we have a starter at safety, meanwhile we are going nuts over the much more experienced and seasoned guys we have on the OL.

We don't even have guys that we can argue about replacing at safety, cause we just have noone there at all. I don't see how this isn't talked about more here, and all is talked about is OL all day. Allen hasn't had an interception since 2005, and Church hasn't had one in his career.

I really hope Matt can be the guy.....but I'm not sitting here hoping Arkin is the guy, so why should I think any differently of Matt, why, cause we have noone else??......thats not a good enough excuse.

 

[JIMMYBUFFETT]

I'm probably not as excited about Wilcox as some are, but he does look like he could play either safety position. That does excite me. Matt Johnson certainly didn't excite me, but that video makes me giddy. I'm thrilled with what Dallas has put together in the secondary, the linebacker crew, and at defensive end. I just hope their tackles work out now.

 

[Tabascocat]

I would be more excited for Wilcox if this team already had one great safety on the roster. He may turn out to be a player, but he won't help too much this season IMO. We are relying on Johnson to suit up and Church staying healthy. It's not a good situation when Church is the best safety. Matt needs to step it up and prove some of us wrong about him.

 

[CF74]

There's a whole lot of penalty yards and fine $ in the 1st couple minutes of that video.

And hitting is nice, but can he cover? I lost interest and turned the video off at around 5 minutes, but I only saw him make 2 plays on the ball in the air and 1 was a bad overthrow. Maybe he can be a player, but I don't see how he and Church can possibly coexist in the starting lineup. They are both downhill SS's.

A bunch of defenseless receiver hits and one late hit on the sideline...:laugh2:

The rules have changed, maybe we can use him in the box for run support...

 

[sureletsrace]

I don't see how anyone couldn't get excited watching that.

Good speed, great tackling ability/technique, good ball skills, great instincts, good play recognition, hard hitter.

The guy is a playmaker.

This highlight tape is more impressive than any of the highlight clips I watched of all the safeties coming out this year. Granted, it's against lesser competiton, but that's how you find playmakers.

Some guys just ball, no matter the competition level. Just need him to stay healthy.

 

[ValleyBoyz]

4:53 is very impressive. Basically drives the receiver from the LOS back into the guy catching the ball in the flat.

 

[Yakuza Rich]

There's a whole lot of penalty yards and fine $ in the 1st couple minutes of that video.

And hitting is nice, but can he cover? I lost interest and turned the video off at around 5 minutes, but I only saw him make 2 plays on the ball in the air and 1 was a bad overthrow. Maybe he can be a player, but I don't see how he and Church can possibly coexist in the starting lineup. They are both downhill SS's.

The rules have changed, so I can see some of the defenseless receivers penalties. Although I think there was nothing too egregious. I get the feeling the refs would throw a flag on one hit when the receiver took 2-3 steps and got drilled.

I really like his closing speed. And while the hits are fun, he's a real form tackler. He makes sure to bring the ball carrier down first and if can get a hard shot in there, he does. Really textbook form and something the league should try to encourage as textbook, reasonably safe, violence of the game.

I thought his cover skills were excellent in zone. Again...closing speed. There was one where the corner got beat badly in the slot and he covers up for the corner. I do question his ability in man-to-man, but I don't think we'll see a lot of that in Kiffin's scheme.

The big questions is if he can stay healthy and how well this will translate to the pro game. I love what I have seen so far, but those are two giant 'ifs'.





YR

 

[morasp]

He had 17 interceptions, 6 forced fumbles, and 13 pass break ups in college.

 

[xwalker]

Almost no chance Wilcox starts this year. Church will definitely be the guy. Kiffin has already stated he isn't as worried about range. Safeties have a lot of ground to cover, but it's actually less ground than they have to cover in traditional 2 deep coverages.

I have a good feeling about Wilcox. He looked better in the 1-on-1 DB vs WR drills at the Senior Bowl practices than CB Webb. In the small amount of game footage that is available, he appears to have excellent awareness/instincts.

I think Kiffin's defense is good for rookies compared to RR's defense.

 

[Chocolate Lab]

Unless I heard it wrong, Henderson said in the immediate postdraft interview on 105.3 that he hopes Wilcox can start in a couple of seasons.

 

[Yoshimitsu]

Maybe Johnson now but in the future, Wilcox will be the FS. I like the kids attitude to be a grinder but have athletic ability. He's smart seeing that he played three positions. He has insight on both sides of the ball.

 

[dart]

can't help to be excited about him an the big hits