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Originally Posted by kcrockaholic4life
I agree with most of this except the bold part. Johnston was just an overhyped guy because he was a white defensive end and we all wished that he could become the next Jared Allen. Johnston really didnt even do anything special in college like putting up big numbers or anything for a division II player. Barwin is a pure athlete. Not really a DE/LB/TE but hes a guy that can help out in a number of ways whether its defense or offense. Johnston cant offer that. Taking Barwin would be a very high risk. A reach? depends on where we get him. If we trade back up into the 2nd round and get him there...that would be a good deal. He wont be a waste of a pick because he offers so much. Yes he may be one of the most raw players in this draft, but I think the reward would be worth the risk.
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Johnston was a pure athlete. His measurables were off the chart for a guy of his size and he also was second in the country in stops behind the line of scrimmage. Dude was a beast in the I-AA. To wit:
"Johnston played very well in the 2008 Hula Bowl, one of the nation’s better College Football All-Star games. He didn't get an invitation to the 2008 NFL Scouting Combine, but on 8 March 2008 he dazzled scouts at his Pro Day workout. Measuring in at 6-foot-5, 274 pounds, Johnston ran his first 40-yard dash in an eye-popping 4.66 seconds. His slowest time of the day was 4.70, which is still faster than Johnston’s best time a year ago. Johnston’s 40-yard dash time during his pro day, would have been the fourth best at the recent NFL Scouting Combine for defensive ends, and the best for any lineman weighing more than 260 pounds.
His most impressive stat from the 40-yard dash came with a very strong 1.51-second time through the first 10 yards, an important time with regards to a players quickness. By comparison, Johnston's 10-yard split was the same as Arkansas running back Darren McFadden turned in at the Combine earlier this year.
He recorded an impressive 35-inch vertical leap as well, which would have ranked second among defensive linemen at the NFL Scouting Combine – and best for a player of his size.
The most impressive result overall, however, may have been Johnston’s time in the 20-yard shuttle. He turned in a 4.18-second time, which is better than any lineman at the NFL’s Scouting Combine. In fact, the 4.18-second time was faster than any running back at the event – with Illinois’ Rashard Mendenhall the only back to match that time.
A 6.96-second time in the 3-cone, was also impressive, and would rank him third if he would have went to the combine."
Tell me what a guy like Barwin gives you over that? Especially considering that he's only played the DE for one single season in a mid-major conference. Nope. Nothing more than Johnston, and at this point, maybe a lot less based on his lack of experience and smaller size.