Babb: Chiefs linebacker Johnson makes a couple of big plays
 

Chiefs linebacker Johnson makes a couple of big plays
By KENT BABB
The Kansas City Star

DENVER | Derrick Johnson has been trying to tell the Chiefs all season that he’s a playmaker. On Sunday, he showed them.

Johnson, a veteran linebacker who’s a former first-round pick, has been one of Kansas City’s favorite mysteries this season after being benched during the preseason. He lost his starting job and never regained it. He said often that he disagreed with the move and wanted to become a starter. Said he was capable of better. In the Chiefs’ final game, he finally made his point.

“It’s big,” Johnson said. “I’ve been frustrated.”

Johnson intercepted two Kyle "Pro Bowl" Orton passes, returning both for touchdowns, during Sunday’s 44-24 win against Denver at Invesco Field. Johnson is one of 25 players in NFL history to achieve such a feat. It was an odd achievement for a player who isn’t even a starter.

Coach Todd Haley, who made the decision to demote Johnson, said Sunday night he was relieved that Johnson kept fighting. That he didn’t cash out after beginning 16 games on the bench and being part of no more than 20 or so plays per game.

Haley might have seen Sunday what he wanted to see from Johnson all along. Johnson, a fifth-year player, has been an annual underachiever, but the win against Denver showed that he is as dominant as anyone when his mind, body and work ethic are in harmony.

“I know what he believes of himself as a player,” Haley said. “Anytime what you believe is not what’s happening, it’s frustrating and can lead to destructive action or results. That guy has continued to come out every day.

“We just want consistent plays of the defense, do your job, and make some plays in the process. If you can do that, then you’ll have a chance to play, compete and start.”

Johnson said he wants assurances that he’ll be a starter next year. It’s debatable that he’ll get that kind of guarantee, particularly from a coaching staff that isn’t into making promises.

And there’s a chance Johnson could ask out of Kansas City if his disappointment continues. He told The Star last week that he’ll request a meeting with Chiefs officials to discuss his future. He said Thursday that if that meeting disappoints him, he might begin considering his options.

“I don’t want to jump to conclusions,” Johnson said Thursday, “but that wouldn’t go good.”

Johnson is scheduled, for now, to be an unrestricted free agent this offseason. But if the league and players’ union can’t agree on a new labor contract, then Johnson would be among 212 NFL players who would become restricted free agents. That would limit Johnson’s options and, short of asking for a trade or his release, he’d be more likely to return to Kansas City.

But Sunday left a valuable impression, if doubt remained. Johnson improvised on the second interception, twisted his body to make a tough catch, and outran Denver’s offense. He said he’s glad that’s the image the Chiefs will remember for the next few months.

“Whenever you have your chance to get out there and play, you’ve got to just seize the moment,” he said. “Do I wish I could play more? Yeah. Sometimes you don’t have to always agree. All the coaches have great intentions. It wasn’t nothing about trying to do anything bad to Derrick Johnson.

“We talked before the game. (Haley) told me, ‘Hey, get me a pick or something.’ I was like, ‘All right.’ It was talking, but it happened. … He told me when I get my chance, I need to play. That’s what I did today.”

Good for DJ, I still think sitting him has been a mistake. Mays and Williams were FAIL for us this year. We need play makers on the field and DJ is a play maker.

Oh .... and didn't Pollard have an int AND a fumble recovery for a TD this week....yeah he did !

Good for Derrick. I wish he could show up consistently from week to week. I never root for players to fail like some "fans" here. I just call what I see. If Derrick can get his shit together I would mind keeping him, but I fear he is what he is after 4 seasons.

DJ could have had a shit ton of games like this. That is the thing people miss with him. He has done everything a big play linebacker does except catch the ball on numerous occasions.

Its just that he is now finishing those plays.

I hope the rumor of him not returning under any circumstances isnt true, because if he can start finishing his plays with more consistency he can be a gamechanger for us and that is what we drafted.

I tell ya, I've heard Pollard's name on more highlights this season...letting him go was a mistake. Not a Jared Allen mistake, but a mistake nonetheless. Oh well...

it has to be coaching with him, he flat out sucked for us and at the time his release made sense

DJ is good in the passing game and crappy against the run.


can he play strong safety?

DJ looked completely lost in the 3-4 at the start of the season. I get why he wasn't out on the field much. That being said, I probably would have rather faced his growing pains in an attempt to se ewhat he could do, rather than play a stopgap like Vrabel all year.

umm ... DJ was making the same mistakes in the running game yesterday against the Donks that he always has.

not sure what that has to do with my post

well ... i took your post to mean that DJ had improved over the year in the 3-4.

I think he has, but that's not what I was saying.

As for his run D, the guy has been poor at shedding blocks since college and everyone laughed it up on draft day that "you don't need to shed blockers when you have the speed to run around them".

That being said, I would have still rather worked on developing him than play a stopgap like Vrabel.

I'm sure DJ's agent sent him flowers this AM. ChaChing.

imo they would have worked on developing if DJ was open to being developed. i think that's the issue.

The unwillingness or inability to play within any scheme as been DJ's problem under several coaching staffs.

It's not like the guy is a bust. A few years ago he led the league in TFL. He just hasn't lived up to the expectations of Chiefs fans. The guy is a solid LB, has been the best LB on the team for his entire career, minus this year.

He's not going to be the cornerstone of the defense, but he is a starting NFL LB in a 4-3. He's a hell of a lot more likely to be a piece of someone's puzzle than Vrabel. If you look at his skill set in college, yesterday is precisely what what he has always been.

As for willingness, that sounds like guessing. I just think he needs to be used a particular way to be productive. If someone wants to stick a square peg in a round hole, I don't really blame the peg for not wanting to go in.