Babb: Chiefs linebacker Johnson makes a couple of big plays

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by jspchief

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.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Laz

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

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by jspchief

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.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Laz

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.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by jspchief

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.

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.

[jspchief]

Originally Posted by Laz

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.

[Mr. Laz]

Originally Posted by jspchief

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.

it is just an opinion ... but there have been rumors and it sure fits the history.

several schemes,several coaches and Derrick Johnson is up and down in all of them.

leading the league in TFL fits right into the "inconsistent freelancer" idea i get about DJ. He constantly leaves his assignment to "go get the guy" and it ends up with a boom/bust situation.

once again ... just an opinion, but history suggests it's a viable opinion.

Do you really think that the current coaching staff would of just sat DJ for yucks with as bad as our LB situation has been this year unless there was perpetual inability to follow instructions?