DawgTalkers.net Forums The Archives 2013 NFL Season NFL Draft (2013) Pick 120, James Michael Johnson ILB

Anyone know much about him

Good pick.

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1620095/jamesmichael-johnson

Overview

Johnson has played both outside and inside during his four years at Nevada. He has been a productive tackler and is an obvious leader and inspiration on the defense. He is athletic and thick, and he brings power to the line of scrimmage when tackling. He has fourth-round talent and has the temperament to contribute on special teams early.

Strengths
Johnson is thick, and it shows when he tackles. He is a form tackler and sure to bring runners down. He is strong and can shed blocks with ease, and he filled the gap quickly in Nevada's defense. He is instinctive and highly active on the field, and is smooth in his pass set. He reacts well to both run and pass and should develop into a starter.

Weaknesses
Johnson is always around the play but has a tough time making plays on the ball in passing downs. He can cover in man but is better in zone and could get outrun by tight ends in the NFL. He is not very fast and is better served playing inside the box.

OVERVIEW
Johnson has played both outside and inside during his four years at Nevada. He has been a productive tackler and is an obvious leader and inspiration on the defense. He is athletic and thick, and he brings power to the line of scrimmage when tackling. He has fourth-round talent and has the temperament to contribute on special teams early.

ANALYSIS
STRENGTHS Johnson is thick, and it shows when he tackles. He is a form tackler and sure to bring runners down. He is strong and can shed blocks with ease, and he filled the gap quickly in Nevada's defense. He is instinctive and highly active on the field, and is smooth in his pass set. He reacts well to both run and pass and should develop into a starter.

WEAKNESSES Johnson is always around the play but has a tough time making plays on the ball in passing downs. He can cover in man but is better in zone and could get outrun by tight ends in the NFL. He is not very fast and is better served playing inside the box.

nfl.com

I like this pick...I think this kid can play

HACK

Never saw him play, but the draft sites seem to like him so he has to be good...lol

For whatever it's worth he had the best broadjump of any LBers at the Combine

Good player but not great

Ok.. I never watched this guy so he MUST suck. Gotta be 100 better players on the board and we took someone I never heard of ..

Some weird numbers on him.

He ran a 4.68 40, which is pretty decent speed for a ILB. It was the 4th best time. He also had a 37" vertical.

But his 3-cone time (7.34) and his 20-yard shuttle (4.37) were the worst times posted by any ILB. He would seem to have some explosion with the vertical and 40 but his short area quickness tests were pretty awful. Kind of weird?

Seems like a guy you file under "football player". His measureables aren't anything to get really excited about but he had pretty decent production. He also has a ton of experience.

Googled him and got this 9 minute tape of him on Youtube

He's got a "serial killer name" - I like that in a linebacker.

40 picks until the next selection.

Starting 4-3 linebackers can be easily found in these rounds of the draft. Hopefully this guy can come in and earn a spot.

When I was watching Dontay Moch last year, this guy was always the one showing up and making plays. I watched 5 or so games of his last year and he was always solid and making tackles. I'm happy he's on the team and think he can play MLB or SOLB, but probably won't start over Gocong (at least this year) or Jackson.

He will end up being a better pick at 120 than Travis Benjamin was at 100 on a team that really could use a legitimate wide receiver.

James Michael Johnson.

If they had gotten a real Wr, we'd be watching a pretty good draft. ( day 1 trade up aside)

Here is the CBS "Instant Analysis"

http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/blog/rob-rang/18877333/round-four-pick-by-pick-analysis

120. Cleveland Browns: ILB James-Michael Johnson, Nevada -- A punishing, explosive tackler with upside as a three-down linebacker.

Man, sounds like a great pick to me.

2012 NFL Draft: Highlights from conference call with Nevada LB James-Michael Johnson
By Nate Ulrich Published: April 28, 2012

Nevada linebacker James-Michael Johnson, whom the Browns drafted in the fourth round (No. 120), spoke to reporters this afternoon by phone from Fairfield, Calif. Here are some of the highlights from the conference call:

You’ve played both inside and outside linebacker, are you more comfortable at one of those spots?: “It doesn’t really matter to me. The last two years I played MIKE. That’s where I’m comfortable at, but I’m a linebacker. I can play any position.”

Do you know anything about Browns middle linebacker D’Qwell Jackson and how he plays?: “Yeah, I’ve been watching D’Qwell for a couple years. He’s one of the best inside linebackers in the game. I admire how he plays. I try to pick up things from watching him play.”

Do you have experience at special teams?: “I played special teams for every year I was at Nevada. It’s something I like doing, and I embrace special teams. I’m not one of those players who doesn’t like special teams. I don’t mind running down on kickoff or covering punts. I love everything about it.”

Did you have an idea where you might be taken?: “No, I really didn’t have an idea. I had a feeling what teams where looking for linebackers. I knew Cleveland was one of those teams and am really grateful they took me.”

Who are some of the NFL guys you watch and try to emulate?: “I like D’Qwell Jackson. He’s one of my favorite linebackers. Ray Lewis, Patrick Willis, and NaVorro Bowman recently, he had a really great season last year. London Fletcher, he’s a vet whose been doing it for years. Jonathan Vilma. I don’t know, I just like watching inside linebackers, basically. How they play, how they conduct themselves off the field, how they talk to their teammates to try to motivate guys. I just love everything about that.”

Did you visit the Browns?: “If so, how’d that visit go and who’d you meet with?: “I met with everybody. The head coach, the GM, the D-coordinator, player personnel – I met with everybody, man. It was a good experience and was one of my favorite experiences. Everybody was nice to me, and I had a good feeling about it. I thought it was a good situation, and I had a good feel when I went there.”

How would you describe yourself as a player? “I’m an athletic linebacker. I’m an instinctive linebacker. I come downhill. I can guard man-to-man out the backfield. I can guard a tight end man-to-man. I’m a competitor. I just love the game of football. I love playing hard. I love making a big play and sparking my defense. That’s one of the things I love most about playing linebacker.”

How did you wind up at Nevada? “I grew up in Fairfield, California, and coming out of high school, I didn’t have a lot of offers. I only had two Division I-AA [offers] and no really Division I offers. I wanted to go Division I and Nevada at the time offered me late into the recruiting process, so that was the only offer I had. My older sister went to school there, so it was kind of like no-brainer.”

Because you didn’t get many offers, did you not think of yourself as a potential NFL player coming out of high school?: “Not at all. To me, it was like wherever I go, I’m gonna make it to the NFL. That’s my goal. … I was gonna make it. I didn’t care. It didn’t matter if I went D-II, D-III, NAIA, I was gonna make it to the NFL. That was my goal the first time I stepped on campus.”

How motivated are you to compete for a starting job or at least a significant role right away?: “I’m very motivated, especially today seeing a lot of linebackers go before me that I don’t think are better than me. Stuff like that’s gonna motivate you. Stuff like that’s gonna make you want to work out and want to run harder. I’m gonna be motivated. You don’t have to worry about that. I’m not a guy you have to motivate.”
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Pick Analysis: Bucky Brooks' take: Johnson is a heavy-handed MLB with instincts and awareness. He owns the tackle-to-tackle box and could develop into a quality starter quickly in his career.