John Johnson faces an uphill climb for respectability in the 2017 NFL draft. Does his scouting report reflect the needed potential?
Position: S
School: Boston College
Year: Senior
Height: 6’1″
Weight: 202 lbs
History:
A football and basketball star in high school who not only made plays but emerged as a leader of men. Landed at Boston College due to their strong defensive background and academics. Saw action almost immediately as a freshman. Had a chance to go pro as a junior but chose to finish school instead.
STRENGTHS:
- Has the size and build of an NFL safety. Doesn’t look like his body will succumb to injury after just a couple hard shots during a season.
- Read-and-react time is solid. Gets to the football with urgency once he figures out where it’s going. Not prone to bad mental mistakes.
- Has that safety body but corner athleticism. He frequently showed he could match up with a tight end or big wide receiver in coverage and hold his own.
- Tackling prowess is above-average. Ball carriers tend to go down once he gets his hands on them. Shows up most when he plugs running lanes in the box.
🔥🔥RT @JaredStanger: Back to some John Johnson CB tape. This play is billiant. pic.twitter.com/D8E4f9R9Ls
— DAVIS HSU (@DavisHsuSeattle) January 27, 2017
This play showcased so many of the good things about Johnson. It starts with the range and how he’s able to run down a wide receiver from one side of the field to the other. Then it’s the tackler. He doesn’t just dive to trip the guy up. He executes a textbook form-fit tackles to eliminate any hope of breaking. Then it’s the simple feel in space and navigating around obstacles to find the football.
- Good ball skills. Does the right thing by finding the football in the air rather than playing the receiver, which would invite penalties.
- Not afraid to lay the lumber on opponents, but also does it within the rules. Never leads with the helmet or aim high towards the head.
WEAKNESSES:
- Prone to hesitation at times when trying to find the football. Can really hamper his reaction time. Needs to work on his decisiveness.
- Most of his issue center around his unwillingness to be the “alpha.” In other words he must learn to be the aggressor at all times.
- Has a tendency to drift a little too far from his landmarks, leading to widened gaps for ball carriers to slip through. Must learn to maintain his position.
Pro Comparison: Micah Hyde
Hyde took some time to figure out his role in the Green Bay Packers defense but he has found it and has really grown into well. He made a lot of big plays for them in 2016. A sort of cornerback/safety hybrid who can play near the line of scrimmage but has coverage skills. A “tweener” in the good way. Hyde may not have star power but he’s got plenty of value.
Projection: 2nd-3rd Round
Johnson has all the tools of a potential stud at the safety position. Maybe not a head hunter but a reliable tackler with above-average ball skills in coverage. In the modern NFL he is what teams seek. Unfortunately playing at a less advertised program and being lost in a loaded class makes him a likely Day 2 selection. Which means one team out there could get a steal.