Top 10 Kansas City Chiefs Stories Of The Year: Derrick Johnson

by Joel Thorman on Jan 25, 2011 12:03 PM CST in 2010 Kansas City Chiefs Season

We continue on with the top 10 Kansas City Chiefs stories of the year and the voters have spoken at No. 8 -- Derrick Johnson. The Chiefs linebacker is a curious case because we really had no idea what to think of him entering the 2010 season.

We knew DJ had natural talent and we knew he was fast and athletic....but we didn't know if Todd Haley liked him. The Chiefs head coach kept DJ on the bench in 2009 more than he ever had been lending to some pessimistic feelings about DJ entering 2010. But with new defensive coordinator Romeo Crennel coming in, I think there was some optimism he'd improve.

But I'm not sure that we thought he would make the improvements so quickly. He still has room for improvement but in 2010 we finally started to see some of the potential we'd been talking about since he was a 2005 first round pick.

He's sort of the opposite of Tamba Hali. In 2009, we saw Hali making improvements so his breakout 2010 season wasn't a total shock. In 2009, we saw DJ take a step backwards so his 2010 season was more of a surprise.

Also a minor story line with DJ this year was dropped interceptions -- it seemed like he had a million of them. That's OK, though, because it probably means you've got a pretty good linebacker if the biggest complaint is dropped interceptions.

His play was enough for the Chiefs to five him a five-year contract extension during the season.

Previous stories of the year

10. Monday Night Football

9. Tamba Hali

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Awful middle linebacker!!!!

HE CANNOT FILL A HOLE! HE CANNOT SHED A BLOCK! HE DOESN’T BREAK HIS HIPS DOWN IN PURSUIT WHEN TRYING TO MAKE A TACKLE (hence they cut back on him, and he falls down). Derrick Johnson’s ONLY attribute as a LB is that he can drop into zone, and bait QB’s into an INT… at least early in the season he could. You’ll notice once the opposition got some film on him, that play quit working.
Just looking at the stat sheet, he looks good. But when you watch the man play, you’ll see that he falls into the tackle area more often than he CREATES the tackle area.
Overrated.

by Shamrock2k on Jan 25, 2011 12:46 PM CST reply actions

I'll agree with one thing amidst all this babble...

He seemed much more aggressive filling the gaps in the first half of the season than he did in the second half (or fourth quarter, maybe?). What he improved on a lot this season is his spacing in coverage and being in better position for pursuit. He shot quite a few gaps as well.

R-E-S-T-E-C-P! Find out what ya mean to me.. R-E-S-C-E-T-P! ... 10-6 motha@$#%!! You know how'ta spell it!
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hK6J_zw29RY (mild cursing. ahem.)

by ArrowSpread on Jan 25, 2011 12:56 PM CST up reply actions

While awful is a bit of hyperbole

I do agree with the assessment that he needs to learn to get his body under control when moving toward a tackle. He whiffed a LOT on tackles that should have been made. He also appears to get lazy at times, especially evident in QB scramble situations, like he’s not sure what to do (Flacco running right past him for a 3rd down conversion, Rice too). All-in-all, I like the fact that he’s shown the ability to change his game and do what the coaches want him to do. I will say that his play dropped off noticeably after his contract re-up. Perfect? No. Awful? No.

Can he improve? You better believe it. Has he improved? Tons. Is he as good as he can be? Not by any stretch of the imagination.

Wow…that was a lot of self-answered questions. Sorry.

by SCKSChief on Jan 25, 2011 2:53 PM CST up reply actions

but maybe maybe maybe

if we had a GOOD ILB next to him, he’d be better. But as it stands, his skill set does not enable him to be a highly productive ILB.

by Shamrock2k on Jan 25, 2011 12:48 PM CST reply actions

well it actually does. I think DJ is incredibly inconsistent....but if he had held onto a few of those INT's he would have had a DPOY type season

with 100 tackles, he could have had a good 4-5 picks with a 3 tds or so

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jan 25, 2011 1:15 PM CST up reply actions

DJ was a stud this year plan and simple

It’s funny how people can sit and pick DJ apart but continue 2 believe Casshole is an elite or above average QB in this league……..(just blows my mind)

by clockinoncloud09 on Jan 25, 2011 1:22 PM CST reply actions

blows my mind that anyone would be calling matt cassel a "casshole"....

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jan 25, 2011 1:32 PM CST up reply actions

Exactly.

I much prefer Casserole.

A limp noodle Casserole that misses the plate far too often but did taste pretty good this year because the other entrees that we played were inedible.

Trapped in the past, Craig finds himself leaping from blog to blog, putting things right that once went wrong, and hoping each time that his next leap will be the leap home.

by craig in calgary on Jan 25, 2011 1:50 PM CST up reply actions

hey thats fine. I just think "casshole" is a bit of an attack of his character which has never been in question.

dislike his throws…but ive yet to see anything that deserves the label like that

Team Pioli/Haley. Decade of the Chiefs.
Team Colquitt

by SDChief on Jan 25, 2011 6:47 PM CST up reply actions

enjoy wat your team has done this year and get off there ass, thats from d bowe to dj the guys played there ass's off for this city and i coulnt be proudier

the people bitchin are the fair weather fans i get so sic of em all go crawl back under your rock

by woody555 on Jan 25, 2011 1:35 PM CST reply actions

fair weather?

I’ve sat in the sweltering heat, and bitter cold for 5 years! I love what this team has accomplished. Especially given where they’ve been. Bowe played fantastic the latter 2/3 of the season. Cassel was efficient, and not prone to error. The O-line did very well, even with a weak right tackle. The D-line was stellar. But they didn’t have the support of a good line backing corps. Hali was awesome. The rest were less than stellar.

My happiness for this year’s success doesn’t mean that I have to be content with where the team is at.

So why don’t you crawl back under YOUR rock, play with your etch-a-sketch, and screw off.

by Shamrock2k on Jan 25, 2011 1:42 PM CST up reply actions

and the DB’s were among the best in the league.

by Shamrock2k on Jan 25, 2011 1:43 PM CST up reply actions

Here we go again

defining “fans” and “non-fans.” Oy vey…

by SCKSChief on Jan 25, 2011 2:55 PM CST up reply actions

If you were a fan, you'd understand.

YAAAAAY! Now you go, lady!

by Tarkus on Jan 25, 2011 3:42 PM CST up reply actions

Damn

must be it.

Carry on.

by SCKSChief on Jan 25, 2011 3:45 PM CST up reply actions

DJ will make the pro bowl next season

Next season I see DJ making even more plays in Romeos system, he’s an underrated pass rusher who should be allowed to blitz more. I think with a legit DT who can take up 2 blockers and stuff the middle of the line, will do wonders for our defense as a whole. It would allow DJ to do what he does best, run around the field and make plays. Belcher and him would be able to run up and fill the rushing lanes better. Ever since we first drafted him, he’s been moved around the LB positions. He started at OLB in a 4-3, then moved to MLB in a 4-3, and then had to learn how to play ILB in a 3-4. I think with Romeo as DC, he’ll know how to truely utilize DJ in his system. Hopefully big things will start to come next season.

by ChiefDailyBaked on Jan 25, 2011 2:19 PM CST reply actions

I totally agree.....

if DJ had the DT’s that Ray Lewis has he would be able to make more plays in the backfield!

by clockinoncloud09 on Jan 25, 2011 2:25 PM CST up reply actions

Lewis has had a ton of picks in his career too.

DJ needs to learn how to catch the ball.

YAAAAAY! Now you go, lady!

by Tarkus on Jan 25, 2011 2:36 PM CST up reply actions

Amen

by SCKSChief on Jan 25, 2011 2:56 PM CST up reply actions

Cassels' stats were very misleading

most of his touchdowns were in the red zone due 2 Wies running JC and TJ to get down there! Cassel showed no ability to audible and get the team into a play that helped the offense….all im saying is the guy looked more like a back-up out there than a franchise qb. Yeah we can sit here and pull up stats and all but I tend to trust my eyes and alot of his success can be attributed to the easy schedule we had. When he faced a solid defense in the playoffs Cassel “was who some of us thought he was…and the ravens didnt let him off the hook”…..

by clockinoncloud09 on Jan 25, 2011 2:20 PM CST reply actions

Got to agree with the Johnson criticism

We’ve been waiting for johnson for so long that any production will be exaggerated. he made alot of tackles because the 3/4 allows him to do so. Hes slow to react, takes poor angles and really didnt show up in the biggest game of his career. (the playoffs) Johnson was really drafted for a 4/3. We could definitely use someone who better fits our system in the future, but until we fill other holes it could be alot worse at this position. These LBs would also improve with a true NT.

by jboskie on Jan 25, 2011 2:44 PM CST via mobile reply actions

trade bait?

by Shamrock2k on Jan 25, 2011 5:06 PM CST up reply actions

DJ was good

but he kind of went off the radar towards the end of the season I thought anyway. He needs to learn to catch too, could be huge.

by danmang on Jan 25, 2011 2:52 PM CST reply actions

If he had hands

He would be on the other side of the ball. Yes those interceptions wouldve helped but pass deflections arent a bad thing either. I’ll take an incomplete pass over a completed pass anyday when it comes to defense. He had a hell of a season and hopefully he continues to get better.

by Lee Gardner III on Jan 25, 2011 3:13 PM CST reply actions

Ray Lewis has hands.

Why isn’t he on the other side of the ball?

YAAAAAY! Now you go, lady!

by Tarkus on Jan 25, 2011 3:44 PM CST up reply actions

Note to self

Move Ed Reed and Ray Lewis. Probably ought to move Champ Bailey, as well. Hell, Vrabel has great hands. BJ Raji looked good catchin the old rock…

by SCKSChief on Jan 25, 2011 3:47 PM CST up reply actions

No kidding.

Since when were defensive players not supposed to catch balls right to them? Hell, Todd Haley screwed up his knee teaching our DBs how to catch the ball.

YAAAAAY! Now you go, lady!

by Tarkus on Jan 25, 2011 3:59 PM CST up reply actions

I never said they were not supposed to catch a pass to them

Im just saying that they dont necessarily have to catch the ball when it’s thrown right to them. An incomplete pass still benefits the defense, even though it’s not as big as getting the int. I agree he shouldve caught them balls thrown to him, but at the same time i’m not expecting him to catch every pass thrown to him because he is a defensive player. And really how often do special players like Ray Lewis, Ed Reed, and Champ Bailey come along?

by Lee Gardner III on Jan 25, 2011 4:59 PM CST up reply actions

No, you said if he had hands he'd be playing offense.

In fact, defensive players need to have hands too. That’s often the difference between a good defense and a great defense.

YAAAAAY! Now you go, lady!

by Tarkus on Jan 25, 2011 5:40 PM CST up reply actions

Not necessarily

Having hands is a plus but you don’t have to have good hands to play on defense. The reason I said that he would be playing on offense if he had hands is because that is what an offensive skill player (RB, WR, or TE) is paid to do on a passing play. Their job is to have good hands and catch passes thrown to them on passing plays. Thats not the main job of a defensive player but its a plus if they catch it. How you interpreted what I said into “when were defensive players not supposed to catch balls thrown right to them” beats me because I never said anything like that. I just said that if he had hands he would be on offense. Next time actually try to read something thoroughly before you try to put a spin on it.

by Lee Gardner III on Jan 25, 2011 6:01 PM CST reply actions