Chiefs Training Camp: Derrick Johnson Says He's More Of A Complete Player
by Joel Thorman on Aug 6, 2010 12:54 PM CDT
in Chiefs Training Camp
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PrintChiefs LB Derrick Johnson has been running with the first and second team throughout training camp. On Friday, the Chiefs switched things up slightly by pairing him with LB Corey Mays. Previously he's been working with Jovan Belcher on the inside.
DJ told Bob Fescoe of 610 Sports after practice Friday that he's becoming more of a complete player.
"I think I'm getting better every day and I think it's because of the scheme," DJ said. "It's teaching me new things, especially approaching blockers. I'm not saying I wasn't good at approaching blockers but in a 4-3 defense you approach it differently. It's just a different scheme. The things I know now...I think I'm more of a complete player right now."
I go back often to what Zach Thomas had to say upon arriving in Kansas City last year. He suggested that DJ's role on the Chiefs 3-4 defense would be his best scheme yet and really free him up to use his athleticism.
DJ explained, specifically, what he is doing now with the 3-4 that he wasn't before.
"Just using my hands more," he said. "I've always been pretty physical with blockers but just using my hands more. Being more consistent with my hands and shedding blockers. I'm doing a bunch of stuff this year that in a 4-3 you don't have a chance to do. It's kind of more of a run and hit thing with the 4-3 defense but right now it's take care of your responsibility, then go get the ball."
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or ride them into the QB, like Big Ben
this should be the most exciting Chiefs team in years! Most major needs filled with playmakers, and the league's best coaching staff... 10-6 a possibility?
by stagdsp on Aug 6, 2010 1:22 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
That was one of my favorite plays from '09
There aren’t many LBs who could pull off a sack like that. It’s plays like that which put the ‘love’ in my love-hate relationship with DJ.
Predictions:
This year will be better
It was almost a sack...
For some reason I thought Big Ben was down field more, but here is the video from the play.
http://www.nfl.com/videos/pittsburgh-steelers/09000d5d814663af
I also didn’t know that Studebaker was in on that play too… I so hope we see more from Studebaker.
Go Chiefs!!!!
lol dont show that video to bens defense team
“Im sorry i raped that girl D.J. knocked me more stupid than the motorcycle did”
I cant wait to see the NEW ARROWHEAD !!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!
Chiefs will be competing for a division title in 2010
by Bleedzredngold on Aug 6, 2010 2:52 PM CDT up reply actions
Big Hold by the Center against TJack....please tell me that was called. My video is crashing.
I'm Your Huckleberry.
I wouldn't have called it as holding...
TJ did end up getting plowed over after he had pushed him back 5 plus yards… better hand work and positioning and he ends up with a big time sack.
This could have been one of the plays he looked over and learned what he needed to change up. He was held on many plays but this wasnt one of them
Go Chiefs!!!!
Maybe he WASNT the best player to start at MLB last year?
If he really is developing this year, then perhaps it was better to not have him starting last year for a significant time? Obviously he had a good ending to the year, but that could have shown his growth last year continuing to this year.
I love the picture of Weigmann
Like, “Fuck! Again!?”
D.J. #56 - Pay The Man & Play The Man
by KansasCityShuffle on Aug 6, 2010 1:03 PM CDT reply actions
Best thing I've heard from DJ
It sounds like he is “getting it”. Many of his past comments have been that he thought he was already doing everything right and Haley was just being a hater. This is a real bright spot.
DJ plays at his best when he isnt thinking and is just playing.
So hopefully the longer he’s in this system and a little better coaching on his responsibilities will help get him back to that point.
"Success is never ending, failure is never final."
Hope It Translates...
Being more consistent with my hands and shedding blockers
This was a big problem for him in the past. If he can actually attain this feat, this guy is going to be a manimal…
2010 Chiefs are on the rise. This is the most excited I've been since 'Nam...
I like this...
…right now it’s take care of your responsibility, then go get the ball.
It seemed like last year there were a lot of missed responsibilities. Taking the wrong gaps, plugging the wrong holes, biting and getting swallowed on fakes and counters. If not only DJ, but the entire LB corps is starting to understand this, we might just see some improvement from our D this year after all.
If Cory Mays alone would...
…. stay in his run gap instead of biting on every play action and overpursuing every runner … and then being made to look absolutely silly by the cut-back inside….
our run defense could go from stopping the run 8 yards down the field to holding opponents to 2 or 3 yards. The ILB’s last season we AWFUL against the run. So much over pursuit all season long. They got beat to death on the cut back and it took them 4 more yards down the field to get back in position to make the tackle.
The Powers Of Astute Observation Are Often Mistaken As Cynicism By Those That Do Not Posses Them -- G.B. Shaw
100% agree
and when you add safeties that are either slow, out of position, take bad angles, or all of the above you get the 31st rated run D. I know everyone is stressed about OLB and NT, but if the ILBs do make a noticable improvement in this area and Eric Berry is half the player we are hoping he is, our run D should be a lot better.
"There is no charge for awesomeness" - Kung Fu Panda
and it will also help in the pass game, the LB's should be better in coverage, gates wont go crazy all game
Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt
Show me.
So you got the fax. So why didn't you add it to the resume? What do you mean? Of course martial arts training is relevant.
by BigRedChief on Aug 6, 2010 1:41 PM CDT reply actions 4 recs
Bang! There it is! Rec'd
President - Team Colquitt Fan Club - est. July 29, 2010
by ARROWHEADSHANE on Aug 6, 2010 2:05 PM CDT up reply actions
WHOOOOOOP THERE IT IS!!!!!!!!!!
Go Chiefs!!!!
I have criticized DJ in the past,
but only because I thought his inconsistency was a total waste of talent. Obviously the coaching staff saw something in Johnson which was worth keeping around or he would be history right now. This has to be the year for him to sh*t or get off the pot.
"The Hammer"
I think he's still around due to his 1st Round selection.
Not that he’s not talented, but if He were, say, a 3rd round pick originally, he would be gone by now I think. Teams like to hang on to 1st rounders until it’s obvious they are a bust, which he’s not. Case in point = Russell for the Raiders. Of course, it was obvious to Chiefs fans from day 1.
President - Team Colquitt Fan Club - est. July 29, 2010
by ARROWHEADSHANE on Aug 6, 2010 2:09 PM CDT up reply actions
Position
Would DJ be lining up as the SILB or the WILB?
good question
I saw TC above, if the safeties play Left and Right (rather than Strong and Free)
does that have any effect on the actual designation/assignments of the ILB’s?
Ninja Ass
WILB, always
IMHO
I think the ILB would pretty much always be strong/weak, and DJ fits the WILB only
this should be the most exciting Chiefs team in years! Most major needs filled with playmakers, and the league's best coaching staff... 10-6 a possibility?
Shedding blockers has been a problem since he was in college
If you go back and look at what was written about him around the draft, the biggest knock on him was always that he couldn’t shed blockers well. We all know he can be a madman when he’s free – if they can teach him to really shed blockers, then he will be unstoppable.
yep
He had trouble shedding blockers and the Chiefs stuck him at Sam…freakin’ idiots…
Ryan Succop will be the kicker for the AFC in the 2011 Pro Bowl
by PVChiefsfan on Aug 6, 2010 5:24 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
Good for DJ, and GREAT for the Chiefs if he can pull it all together
potential is there to be one of the better LB’s in the league EVERY down…not just occasionally. exciting…very exciting
Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt
Dear Derrick,
You say “I think I’m getting better every day and I think it’s because of the scheme” No DJ, your failure to this point has had nothing to do with the prior schemes. It has everything to do with you and your lack of consistancy. Your freelanceing and roaming, which granted at times gives you some spectacular plays but more often than not leaves your teammates to cover your blown assignments. I have seen you hit your own self destruct button too many times. I don’t want to hear about how you’re using your hands or that you know your resposibilities. Show me what you have learned and I will show you the love but you will have earn it because I will not be bamboozled again Mr. Johnson.
Hugs and Kisses, BigRedChief
So you got the fax. So why didn't you add it to the resume? What do you mean? Of course martial arts training is relevant.
by BigRedChief on Aug 6, 2010 2:25 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Yeah, it's an odd thing to say
Seeing how the major scheme switch was last year.
I hope he’s getting better, and I know that Crennel is a MUCH better DC than Pendy (who isn’t?), but to say it’s just the scheme is kind of a copout.
I love my wife, my kids, and the Chiefs. In that order. Except on game days.
It's just talk, but 2 things get my hopes up here
1 This is the first time DJ has come anywhere near saying he needs to improve. It’s always been a “I’m doing my best it’s up to the coaches to use me” kind of attitude. Hearing him say things like “getting better every day” and “being more consistent” and “the things I know now” show an awareness that he has to grow, learn, develope, etc. That is different then what we were hearing last year.
2 Hearing him say “It’s kind of more of a run and hit thing with the 4-3 defense but right now it’s take care of your responsibility, then go get the ball” makes it sound like he understands he just can’t roam around looking for the big play every down. That is also progress.
This is just my opinion, but I don’t think DJ probably got a whole lot of coaching at Texas and under Gun. I think he just used his freakish athletisism to fly around the field and make plays. I think last year was probably the first year he was asked to really have responsibilities in a scheme. I think it’s clear that Clancy didn’t get through to him. Either because of poor coaching or because of DJ’s ego. Maybe Romeo has the cred and personality to finally get through to DJ. I won’t hold my breath, but I think this at least looks promising.
"There is no charge for awesomeness" - Kung Fu Panda
by KCporkchop on Aug 6, 2010 2:30 PM CDT reply actions 1 recs
Agreed on the better coaching
You’re right. It sounds like he’s learning now. Things should be easier. The defensive playbook is about 33% lighter than it was under Gun. That came solely from deleting the expletives.
by sunny D on Aug 6, 2010 2:46 PM CDT up reply actions 1 recs
the fact that DJ might finally becoming a complete player is FANTASTIC
the fact that he waited until his contract year to do it, sucks.
Wow, anybody else see him straight up lying with oen of his comments?
“I’ve always been pretty physical with blockers
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."
Thats laughable.
But i hope he picks it up this year. He has too much talent to not be a big part of our defense. Pull your tampon out and take on a pulling guard. Tired of watching him ole’ OGs and FBs which takes him out of the play and leaves huge running lanes.
"A good plan violently executed now is better than a perfect plan executed next week."
Well in his defense
I don’t know many players that would say “You know in the past when blockers have got a hold of me they have pushed me around like a shopping cart”.
"There is no charge for awesomeness" - Kung Fu Panda
But at least that would've been honest :)
I love my wife, my kids, and the Chiefs. In that order. Except on game days.
he is physical
But he throws his body at them instead of shedding them
Ryan Succop will be the kicker for the AFC in the 2011 Pro Bowl
by PVChiefsfan on Aug 6, 2010 5:28 PM CDT via mobile up reply actions
If DJ actually busts out an fulfills that insane amount of potential
Crennel should be in the running for some kind of reward. I don’t know if it’ll happen though.
If he could even just be average I’d be happy, rather than making crazy great plays one minute than making ridiculous mistakes the next.
I love my wife, my kids, and the Chiefs. In that order. Except on game days.
I meant AWARD, not REWARD
And the fails continue…
I love my wife, my kids, and the Chiefs. In that order. Except on game days.
I’ve allways thought that LJ was one of our best LB’s and hope he shows just how good he is this year
Didnt read the comments so apologize in advance.
I love his attitude right now. From what I can see he is really trying hard to be who Haley wants him to be even though he was in the dog house early. A lot of guys with his talent wouldn’t respond how he has so far this year. He may act different if he gets benched early in the season but so far so good.
DJ
I was at the afternoon practice on Friday (aug 6). In one of the drills, they had RB (in this case Thomas Jones) trying to pickup a rushing LB (in this case DJ) while a QB (Palko). Jones is a brute, but DJ swatted him with one arm and it took him down!! Saw this with my own eyes. Amazing power from DJ!
I was beginning to have my doubts about DJ’s commitment, but after reading all the good reports and seeing that in person I"m pumped. He always had the talent, but I was questioning his drive and hunger—seems like its back in spades this season.
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