Matt Johnson Video

[rags747]

Could be our John Lynch. All we need is a couple of these guys to hit and we would be in damn good shape. Will say again though that I think our DL is going to have a tough time holding up...especially against the larger more physical offensive lines.

 

[JonJon]

He can play, no question about it. He has the ability to be a high impact starter. He just needs to find a way to stay healthy. Obviously, the Cowboys are putting together big-hitting safeties that can run and catch the ball. I'm looking forward to seeing Johnson and Wilcox manning the backfield at the same time.

 

[Hoofbite]

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.

Hopefully he can start in a coule of seasons.

I would hope he could start this year.

80th overall pick and raw but it's not like the competition is all that stiff. You have Church who's probably in line for a starting spot but who's the other guy?

McCray? He doesn't have the ability to cover a lot of ground. He doesn't have great speed and doesn't seem get a very good jump.

Will Allen? I haven't watched him play. Maybe I will but something about a guy getting benched in Kiffin's defense in Tampa and then basically being nothing but a backup for the following 6 years just doesn't give me confidence. Maybe he's learned some things and refined his craft and in combination with familiarity he could be serviceable but that's probably wishful thinking. Granted he hasn't played a lot but 4 pass deflections in the last 6 years and zero interceptions isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. He hasn't had one in so long that Roy Williams was actually good the last time he picked off a pass.

Matt Johnson? I'd like to see him stay healthy first.

I think this guy starts right away if only by default.

 

[JohnsKey19]

The ability to see the play develop, react and explode thru the ball is obvious.
Hopefully he can stay on the field.

 

[Hoofbite]

Not sure about Matt Johnson really. He had a ton of picks and looks good in the video. Looks decisive, doesn't need a ton of time to read what is happening and closes decently. Looks like a guy who has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, snagging a few tipped passes.

But it is a highlight reel and he played at a small school so who knows if he can step his game up to the NFL level.

I just don't know what to think about the guy. Shoulder injury kept him out of spring practice one year in college, bicep injury ended his senior year short, hamstring injury held him out all of last year.

Hill put out an article about how the Cowboys feel they didn't get caught taking guys too high (outside of Frederick) and they had this part about Matt Johnson.

“All in all, it was probably the most successful draft we’ve had in a while,” a source said. “We got a guy in the fifth round [running back Joseph Randle] we had on the board in the third. We got good value on guys instead or reaching as we did in the past. Last year, we needed a safety and might have pumped a little air in [fourth-round pick Matt Johnson]. We took him earlier than we needed to. That didn’t happen this year, other than maybe the first round. We got good value.”

Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/0...ir-draft-was.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

 

[CyberB0b]

AOA looked beastly in his highlight video.

 

[ghst187]

big hitting S's are a thing of the past with all the rule changes and fines, and i'd rather see someone catching (INT) the ball than hitting the WR

 

[jnday]

Hopefully he can start in a coule of seasons.

I would hope he could start this year.

80th overall pick and raw but it's not like the competition is all that stiff. You have Church who's probably in line for a starting spot but who's the other guy?

McCray? He doesn't have the ability to cover a lot of ground. He doesn't have great speed and doesn't seem get a very good jump.

Will Allen? I haven't watched him play. Maybe I will but something about a guy getting benched in Kiffin's defense in Tampa and then basically being nothing but a backup for the following 6 years just doesn't give me confidence. Maybe he's learned some things and refined his craft and in combination with familiarity he could be serviceable but that's probably wishful thinking. Granted he hasn't played a lot but 4 pass deflections in the last 6 years and zero interceptions isn't exactly a ringing endorsement. He hasn't had one in so long that Roy Williams was actually good the last time he picked off a pass.

Matt Johnson? I'd like to see him stay healthy first.

I think this guy starts right away if only by default.

Good post. Allen is nothing more than a jag snd every poster on this board would have sgreed until he signed with Dallas. Now he is a starting quality safety.

Johnson has much to prove. These big hits are going to be fines. I just hope he can cover. Hell, I would be happy if he could see the practice field without getting injured.

 

[Eskimo]

The video shows that he really reads plays well, is physical, flies to the ball, takes good angles and knows how to play the ball.

He really looks like a great Cover-2 Safety who can read the play quickly and close on the ball to deliver hits and make plays on the ball. For all the talk about hitting defenseless WRs the keys really are not to launch yourself, not to lead with the helmet and not to hit them in the head. Johnson is a smart kid and will learn what is allowed and not allowed.

My biggest concern about Johnson is if he can get healthy enough to play. I don't have too much doubt about ability even though he played at a lower level. Instincts are instincts and he has them. Speed is speed and he has enough of it as measured at his Pro Day. Strength is strength and he is strong enough.

I would love to look up in 2014 and see Wilcox and Johnson as the starting Safeties but I also don't mind if Church locks down one position. I think everyone here really underestimates this kid. This really is a guy who plays faster than he times because of his instincts and how aggressive he is.

 

[BHendri5]

he better learn how to wrapup, or he will be a highlight reel of broken tackles

 

[Aven8]

Not sure about Matt Johnson really. He had a ton of picks and looks good in the video. Looks decisive, doesn't need a ton of time to read what is happening and closes decently. Looks like a guy who has a knack for being in the right place at the right time, snagging a few tipped passes.

But it is a highlight reel and he played at a small school so who knows if he can step his game up to the NFL level.

I just don't know what to think about the guy. Shoulder injury kept him out of spring practice one year in college, bicep injury ended his senior year short, hamstring injury held him out all of last year.

Hill put out an article about how the Cowboys feel they didn't get caught taking guys too high (outside of Frederick) and they had this part about Matt Johnson.



Read more here: http://www.star-telegram.com/2013/0...ir-draft-was.html#storylink=cpy#storylink=cpy

He played at a small school yes, but in that highlight video, I saw Colorado, Tech, and Washington. Seeing that video for the first time, if he had LSU on the side of his helmet he would be a 1st rounder.

 

[ak47kaehu]

I heard jakar hamilton would have been a third round prospect if it hadn't been for his off the field issues! I would like to see what hes got!

 

[Frozen700]

Rooting hard for Matt J

 

[4lifecowboy]

he better learn how to wrapup, or he will be a highlight reel of broken tackles

well it's obvious you only watched the first minute of the video.

 

[4lifecowboy]

I was sold on his ability last year, I am looking forward to him getting and staying healthy. I anticipate an impact to the secondary similar to Lee's impact to the LBs.

 

[CowboysPhan]

I was sold on his ability last year, I am looking forward to him getting and staying healthy. I anticipate an impact to the secondary similar to Lee's impact to the LBs.

Interesting you mention Lee, because during this video I kept thinking the way he diagnosed plays and made a bee-line to the ball reminded me a lot of the way Lee does it, albeit at a different position.

 

[Avery]

I get the overwhelming feeling that they're not confident in Johnson's ability to stay healthy.

 

[TheCount]

The guy looks great coming down hill, that's for sure. Knows how to use leverage to amplify the force of impact too. I'm hoping that last year wasn't a complete wash and he'll be able to hit the ground running this year. We need a couple of these safeties to catch on quick, and I don't mean Will Allen.

 

[Idgit]

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.

Jerry and Stephen said as much, too. Through the third round, they're looking for players who can develop into eventual starters for them.