Baltimore looking to move up.

[royr17]

Originally Posted by Gravedigger

And yes I know what morton said but I adopted him before his actions and he was the only one left available.

Umm actually gochiefs adopted him.

[Gravedigger]

If somebody else adopted him it's new news to me.

[FRCDFED]

Nice argument guys!! The bottom line is that we could learn a lesson or two from Baltimore when it comes to drafting. The reason that they are able to work wonders with the cap is that they build their team through the draft. Look at all the starters drafted by Balt. and you will know what I mean.

Balt. identifies a few players that they are interested in and pull the trigger to get them. The draft is not about finding 8 - 10 players to fill a roster, it's about getting an opportunity to draft the best players coming out of college.

What Carl hasn't figured out is that you don't get the "best" players when you continuously trade down for more picks, you just get "players." Sometimes the risk of trading up doesn't pay off but at least you are trying to use the system to your advantage. Look how deep the WR class was last season with tall rangy receivers with good speed. How many did we get.......ZERO!! We could've had a couple of decent LB's in round 2 and how many did we get........ZERO (decent ones). We are always trading down and trying to turn a turd into a decent NFL star.

Instead of taking a chance on tweaners or players that just had one decent college season we should start taking a chance on those who had SOLID college careers.

[bricks]

I think derrick johnson is amazing...the whole knock on Johnson was that plenty of scouts said he was a bit small to play in the NFL. He has added 12 pounds of muscle, and, went from 230lbs to 242lbs. I agree with Royr17, Johnson has a tendency to throw himself into blockers, his ability to shed off blockers is a problem for him, that is the only weakness in his game...Perhaps it was because he was too small, light. Although I feel adding a few extra pounds can make a difference for him in that aspect of his game.


Overall, Derrick Johnson is pretty much everything you want in WLB...I could pretty much see why he is a highly projected draft pick, and, I could also understand Tribal warfare's fascination for him. I'm also a DJ lover myself..I think he's an outstanding athlete, very athletic, posseses great speed. Definately has the ability to play sideline to sideline. Is an amazing coverage linebacker, at times, scouts say he could cover as well as a CB, S could. He is a ball hawk with great hands, can snag passes out of the air. He's the type of Linebacker that can change games, and we haven't had one of those since Derrick Thomas. He is the best linebacker out of college in a long time that can force fumbles. He has killer instincts, plays with a great motor, never gives up on plays...Is a tackling machine, and a great blitzer as well. Plays with a lot of fire, determination. Violence is the correct word I was looking for.
He may not get a lot of sacks, unless a team uses him differently. Still, overall he is something special, with very, very few weaknesses.

I would like for the Chiefs to draft Johnson, realistcally speaking, I think he'll be gone early. Unless, we trade up. If we were to do that, say goodbye to a lot of this years draft picks, Surtain, and, possibly some of next years draft picks imo....While I'd love to have him, don't get me wrong, I just think it is a REAL long shot and way too much of a sacrifice for the Chiefs too get him.

[KChiefs1]

DRAFT PREVIEW | LINEBACKERS
Taking Johnson No. 1 could be a spark to 3-4
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson could be the impact player the Browns need to power their conversion to the 3-4 defense.

Johnson, the top-rated defensive player in the draft, is one the Browns are considering with the No. 3 overall pick. Earlier this week, Browns Director of Player Personnel Bill Rees said outside linebacker is "the critical position" in the 3-4 scheme.

"[Outside linebacker] is where you want your playmakers," he said. "Derrick plays inside but can rush off the edge. He can play outside and put pressure on the quarterback."

If the Browns are looking for a big-play linebacker, Johnson is their guy. Last year as a senior, he forced an NCAA-record nine fumbles. He also set a Texas record for linebackers with nine career interceptions.

"I have a knack for the ball," said Johnson. "It's my biggest asset, other than my speed."

Thanks to a stellar pro day workout, Johnson's stock is rising. His agent, Vann McElroy, said Friday that teams are trying to trade up for him and the Browns have undoubtedly fielded calls. But if Johnson is there at No. 3, the Browns might not be willing to part with him.

"They've shown a lot of interest in me and they really seem to like me," Johnson said Friday. "They think I can spark their 3-4 defense. I'd be honored to play for the Browns and I'm as excited about them as they seem to be about me."

Johnson has heard his stock is rising.

"I think I've solidified my position as the best defensive player in the draft over the past few months," he said. "My goal is to be No. 1, but I'd like to go as high I can."

Browns General Manager Phil Savage said Johnson (6-3, 242) is "somewhat intriguing" because Texas didn't use him much as a pass rusher. But Longhorns coach Mack Brown said Friday that Johnson has what it takes.

"Derrick will be a great pass rusher in the NFL," said Brown. "In addition to his speed, he's got long arms, great reach and he can grab and pull."

Brown said Johnson rushed more last year under first-year coordinator Greg Robinson, who had been an NFL defensive coordinator for 14 years, but that the Longhorns generally blitzed their safeties.

"We wanted him to stay where he was and use his speed to make plays sideline to sideline," said Brown. "And with the safeties blitzing, Derrick covered the backs coming out of the backfield."

Brown said Johnson will be a great pro "because he's only going to get bigger, better and stronger. I can see him becoming a 250- or 260-pound linebacker who can still run a 4.5."

Brown said Johnson benefited tremendously from one season with Robinson, who has two Super Bowl rings. "He really helped Derrick get prepared for the NFL," said Brown.

When Robinson arrived, he showed Johnson 15 of his good plays and 15 of his bad ones. He pointed out that Johnson was reacting too quickly -- and turning his explosiveness into a liability.

"He slowed me down to make my percentage of getting to the ball much better," said Johnson. "I'm a lot more under control now and don't get fooled on play-action."

Robinson also stressed stripping the ball and Johnson took it to heart, forcing nine fumbles. In comparison, the Browns forced 11 fumbles last season.

"Every time I try to stop a person, I'm thinking ball!,' " said Johnson.

Robinson, now the head coach at Syracuse, said: "I can't say enough about him. He's going to be something special in the NFL." He told NFL.com's Pat Kirwan that Johnson is the best linebacker he's ever coached.

In 2004, Johnson earned the Butkus Award for the nation's best linebacker and the Bronko Nagurski Award for the nation's best defensive player.

"But the thing that really sets him apart is his character and work ethic," said Brown. "He was [a] unanimous [pick as] captain and was never in my office once for a negative. He's just a wonderful guy."

Johnson's rise to the NFL seems inevitable. His older brother, Dwight, played for the Giants and Eagles. His cousin, Bert Emanuel, played for the Falcons, Bucs and Dolphins.

"Football is in my blood," he said. "I don't think I could've gotten out of it. My mom has 21 brothers and sisters, so I have a lot of cousins playing football. You had to play just to see if you could make it."

Johnson compares himself to Derrick Brooks, the future Hall of Fame linebacker for the Bucs. And from the sound of things, he might not be too far off.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

[bricks]

Originally Posted by KChiefs1

DRAFT PREVIEW | LINEBACKERS
Taking Johnson No. 1 could be a spark to 3-4
Saturday, April 16, 2005
Mary Kay Cabot
Plain Dealer Reporter

Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson could be the impact player the Browns need to power their conversion to the 3-4 defense.

Johnson, the top-rated defensive player in the draft, is one the Browns are considering with the No. 3 overall pick. Earlier this week, Browns Director of Player Personnel Bill Rees said outside linebacker is "the critical position" in the 3-4 scheme.

"[Outside linebacker] is where you want your playmakers," he said. "Derrick plays inside but can rush off the edge. He can play outside and put pressure on the quarterback."

If the Browns are looking for a big-play linebacker, Johnson is their guy. Last year as a senior, he forced an NCAA-record nine fumbles. He also set a Texas record for linebackers with nine career interceptions.

"I have a knack for the ball," said Johnson. "It's my biggest asset, other than my speed."

Thanks to a stellar pro day workout, Johnson's stock is rising. His agent, Vann McElroy, said Friday that teams are trying to trade up for him and the Browns have undoubtedly fielded calls. But if Johnson is there at No. 3, the Browns might not be willing to part with him.

"They've shown a lot of interest in me and they really seem to like me," Johnson said Friday. "They think I can spark their 3-4 defense. I'd be honored to play for the Browns and I'm as excited about them as they seem to be about me."

Johnson has heard his stock is rising.

"I think I've solidified my position as the best defensive player in the draft over the past few months," he said. "My goal is to be No. 1, but I'd like to go as high I can."

Browns General Manager Phil Savage said Johnson (6-3, 242) is "somewhat intriguing" because Texas didn't use him much as a pass rusher. But Longhorns coach Mack Brown said Friday that Johnson has what it takes.

"Derrick will be a great pass rusher in the NFL," said Brown. "In addition to his speed, he's got long arms, great reach and he can grab and pull."

Brown said Johnson rushed more last year under first-year coordinator Greg Robinson, who had been an NFL defensive coordinator for 14 years, but that the Longhorns generally blitzed their safeties.

"We wanted him to stay where he was and use his speed to make plays sideline to sideline," said Brown. "And with the safeties blitzing, Derrick covered the backs coming out of the backfield."

Brown said Johnson will be a great pro "because he's only going to get bigger, better and stronger. I can see him becoming a 250- or 260-pound linebacker who can still run a 4.5."

Brown said Johnson benefited tremendously from one season with Robinson, who has two Super Bowl rings. "He really helped Derrick get prepared for the NFL," said Brown.

When Robinson arrived, he showed Johnson 15 of his good plays and 15 of his bad ones. He pointed out that Johnson was reacting too quickly -- and turning his explosiveness into a liability.

"He slowed me down to make my percentage of getting to the ball much better," said Johnson. "I'm a lot more under control now and don't get fooled on play-action."

Robinson also stressed stripping the ball and Johnson took it to heart, forcing nine fumbles. In comparison, the Browns forced 11 fumbles last season.

"Every time I try to stop a person, I'm thinking ball!,' " said Johnson.

Robinson, now the head coach at Syracuse, said: "I can't say enough about him. He's going to be something special in the NFL." He told NFL.com's Pat Kirwan that Johnson is the best linebacker he's ever coached.

In 2004, Johnson earned the Butkus Award for the nation's best linebacker and the Bronko Nagurski Award for the nation's best defensive player.

"But the thing that really sets him apart is his character and work ethic," said Brown. "He was [a] unanimous [pick as] captain and was never in my office once for a negative. He's just a wonderful guy."

Johnson's rise to the NFL seems inevitable. His older brother, Dwight, played for the Giants and Eagles. His cousin, Bert Emanuel, played for the Falcons, Bucs and Dolphins.

"Football is in my blood," he said. "I don't think I could've gotten out of it. My mom has 21 brothers and sisters, so I have a lot of cousins playing football. You had to play just to see if you could make it."

Johnson compares himself to Derrick Brooks, the future Hall of Fame linebacker for the Bucs. And from the sound of things, he might not be too far off.

To reach this Plain Dealer reporter:

mcabot@plaind.com, 216-999-4670

I'm telling you, if Cleveland covets this guy at #3 overall. And we are at #15 overall? It would take a miracle for us to get him. Long shot really.

[KChiefs1]

Browns leaning toward LB in draft
Friday, April 15, 2005 By STEVE DOERSCHUK Repository sports writer

BEREA — Eight days out, the Browns’ first two selections in the 2005 draft are coming into focus.

Don’t be surprised if those picks are Texas linebacker Derrick Johnson at No. 3 and Akron quarterback Charlie Frye at No. 34.

A dozen other scenarios remain plausible, but indications are the Browns like and need both enough to consider taking the plunge.

Johnson makes sense at No. 3 for several reasons.

In addition to that General Manager Phil Savage calls him “a sideline-to-sideline playmaker,” Head Coach Romeo Crennel won Super Bowls with a deep linebacking corp.

“In New England,” Crennel said after a news conference this week, “we were fortunate enough to have four or five good outside linebackers, and we wanted to use them.”

Crennel recently gained a veteran outside linebacker when Matt Stewart jumped from Atlanta in free agency, bringing with him experience in a 3-4.

Not so with the other tentative starter on the outside. Chaun Thompson was still raw in his learning of Butch Davis’ 4-3, but now must figure out a new system in his third year out of NCAA Division II West Texas A&M.

Johnson might handle Crennel’s defense as well as Thompson, given Johnson’s glorious four-year career at traditional power Texas.

Linebackers seldom get drafted as high as third, but Johnson is supposed to be the best prospect at the position since LaVar Arrington, a No. 2 pick in 2000. Nfldraftscout.com has Johnson at No. 2 on its draft board, trailing only Auburn running back Ronnie Brown.

Johnson was a pass-rushing terror for Texas and certainly would be asked to bring the heat in Cleveland.

“My history has been that outside linebackers turn into defensive ends on third downs,” Crennel said.

Pat Kirwan, a former Jets personnel executive, wrote on nfl.com that Johnson is a Derrick Brooks-type. Brooks is a Hall of Fame candidate from Tampa Bay’s defense.

“Greg Robinson, Johnson’s defensive coordinator at Texas and a former NFL defensive coordinator with two Super Bowl rings, told me Johnson is the best linebacker he has ever coached,” Kirwan wrote.

Among factors pointing to Johnson:

• The Browns are thin at the position.

• The team needs to be deep with the switch to the 3-4.

• There’s a steep drop-off between Johnson and the next-highest-rated linebacker, Troy State’s DeMarcus Ware, and another deep drop to Tennessee’s Kevin Burnett and Virginia’s Darryl Blackstock.

• The later-round linebacker crop seems thin.

• Few think Johnson will be around long after No. 3.

Drafting Johnson probably would mean the Browns passed on quarterbacks Aaron Rodgers and Alex Smith. Savage hasn’t ruled out those two, but he concedes taking one could be problematic.

That’s why Frye might be more option. Smokescreens aside — there are plenty — it is thought Savage and right-hand man Bill Rees both are high on the Akron passer.

Frye’s stock is rising on nfldraftscout.com, which pegs him as the 33rd-best player in the draft and No. 3 at QB, just ahead of Auburn’s Jason Campbell.

Crennel will get specific about Frye to a point.

“I know Charlie is very competitive,” Crennel said. “I know he can throw on the move. There’s some question about the straight drop-back passing game.”

But there’s a question about every player in this draft. Johnson, for example, gets the job done in run defense but isn’t a classic mauler.

Not everyone thinks Frye has a realistic chance to follow Chad Pennington, Byron Leftwich and Ben Roethlisberger from the Mid-American Conference to the ranks of productive NFL starting quarterback.

The War room scouts of the Sporting News don’t include Frye in their “Super 99.”

It’s clear the Browns like Frye, but unclear whether they like him as a top-of-Round-3 pick and suspect he might fall that far. If he doesn’t, and they don’t have a quarterback, keep an eye on Purdue’s Kyle Orton.

Nfldraftscout.com not only sees Frye as worthy of a No. 34 pick, but sees him as a Brett Favre type, with the Packers perhaps liking him in Round 1, at No. 24.

When Favre was drafted by the Falcons in 1991, the spot was No. 33 overall.

You can reach Repository sports writer Steve Doerschuk at (330) 580-8347 or e-mail:

steve.doerschuk@cantonrep.com