Chris Johnson RB East Carolina: Anyone else seen highlights of this guy?

[Lomax to Green 84]

Now there is fast and then there is blazing fast. There is track fast and there is football playing speed fast. No matter how you slice it, this guy is damn fast. Last night on NFL Network they showed some clips of Johnson in games (forget the fact that he was the real star of the 40 yard dash at the combine not Darren McFadden).

We want our "explosive" back. I think the Cards need to take a good look at this guy. NFL Network had a reporter that covers the Dallas Cowboys talking about the needs for Dallas. He dismissed the idea that the Cowboys would sell the farm to get Darren McFadden. He did say that the Cowboys were looking to get faster and the guy they really like right now is Chris Johnson. The Cowboys like him so much, this guy thinks Dallas may pull the trigger on Johnson with that 28th pick they have in round 1.

Willie Parker was an unknown kid from the state of North Carolina. How about Chris Johnson?

 

[cardsfanmd]

The kid is an absolute stud. He is super fast, is a leader, a good kid with great vision. And he can line up in the slot and stretch the field. He has very good gands.. I would be happy getting him in the second, but not the first.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

the guy is ultra-fast but i want the Cards to get a young RB that can be an everydown back.Johnson would be more of a situational guy. He would be ideal if Edge was going to be around for a longer period of time. To me, there are only about 5 potentially good guys that are true 3 down backs in this draft. In my order of preference they are:
1-Mendenhall
2-Stewart
3A-Smith
3B-Forte
3C-Charles

McFadden and Jones weren't even everydown guys in college. McFadden could develop into that type of RB. Forte is a guy who intrigues me. Charles may also have to wait a year to be a feature type back but that's OK with Edge around for another year.

 

[Crash]

You mean this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhUhLtAC_Ok

 

[SuperSpck]

How'd he work as a stretch the field wideout, I wonder?

 

[40yearfan]

You mean this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhUhLtAC_Ok

Holey Moley---can you say a very fast Walter Payton. Not only does he have a second gear that kicks in when he breaks into the open, but he's not afraid to take a tackler head on. He breaks a lot of tackles and has some great juke moves.

I wouldn't be adverse to taking this guy at #16.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Very nice. He compares to Bryant Westbrook. I disagree that he can't be an every-down back. He can't really pass block, but there aren't a lot of RBs coming out of college who can.

Very intriguing prospect.

 

[Shogun]

The highlights are impressive - especially since he's been playing against nobodies for the longest time.

 

[Cbus cardsfan]

The only thing that worries me about Johnson is what worried me when JJ came out. There's rarely congestion at the LOS which allows him to get to full speed before he ever has to deal with defenders. Arrington never saw a defender until he was 6 yards into the defensive backfield. It's kind of easy to run like that. It won't be that way in the NFL. Of course,if he gets a seam, he's gone.

 

[football karma]

I think like Westbrook, he would be situational for the first couple years of his career

He spent time at WR, so on passing downs, you could line him up in the slot if you want

The one fly in the ointment: against top competition in college, he was pretty pedestrian. Huge games against bad teams, pretty invisible against the good ones. Doesnt mean he is a bust, just means that everyone should take a deep breath before we call him Walter Payton.

 

[cardsfanmd]

The highlights are impressive - especially since he's been playing against nobodies for the longest time.

The one fly in the ointment: against top competition in college, he was pretty pedestrian. Huge games against bad teams, pretty invisible against the good ones.

Looked pretty decent against Boise State.
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273570151

 

[DaisyCutter]

Looked pretty decent against Boise State.
http://scores.espn.go.com/ncf/recap?gameId=273570151

10 rushes for 69 yards and no TDs? Boise State isn't exactly LSU.

 

[cardsfanmd]

10 rushes for 69 yards and no TDs? Boise State isn't exactly LSU.

What link did you follow??

Johnson against Boise St

28 carries for 223yds 1TD
3 catches for 32 yds 1TD
6 KO returns for 153yds
408 all purpose yrds.

Sounds like Charles from Texas, except he is faster and only fumbled once all year.

Who cares if Boise isn't LSU? Most teams aren't, and LSU doesn't play LSU-like teams all year either.

 

[DaisyCutter]

I was looking at Avery's stats. My bad.

 

[DaisyCutter]

Level of competition isn't a little bit of a concern with this guy?

@ Va. Tech: 2.9 YPC
North Carolina: 2.3 YPC
Southern Miss: 3.5 YPC
NC State: 3.3 YPC

I don't think this guy is a scrub, but I'm with EF in thinking that I'd be higher on him if he'd shown up against some teams that occasionally play defense.

 

[ajcardfan]

I'm not very excited about him. If we took him at #16, I'd put my face through a wall.

 

[ActingWild]

Funny that he's being compared to Walter Payton here because after watching that video I thought I was watching Walter Payton play in Tecmo Bowl. I was hoping to go RB then CB in the draft but if he's going to be there in the second, change me over to CB in the first.

 

[Doc Cardinal]

If the big 3 RB's are gone then maybe he'll be there in round 2.....wouldn't use the 16th for him.

 

[cardsfanmd]

Level of competition isn't a little bit of a concern with this guy?

@ Va. Tech: 2.9 YPC
North Carolina: 2.3 YPC
Southern Miss: 3.5 YPC
NC State: 3.3 YPC

I don't think this guy is a scrub, but I'm with EF in thinking that I'd be higher on him if he'd shown up against some teams that occasionally play defense.

I'm not very excited about him. If we took him at #16, I'd put my face through a wall.

The kid is an absolute stud. He is super fast, is a leader, a good kid with great vision. And he can line up in the slot and stretch the field. He has very good gands.. I would be happy getting him in the second, but not the first.

Again, I doubt there is a chance we spend a 1st rounder on him, but he will be a second round pick for someone. I wouldn't be pissed if we were that someone.

 

[az jam]

I also like him in the 2nd round especially if both Stewart and Mendenhall are taken before we pick at #16. Then we should go CB in round 1 and RB in round 2.

 

[asuhoopnut]

You mean this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhUhLtAC_Ok

Oh my!!!!!!! It looks like he was shot out of a cannon while everyone else is in slow motion.

His cutback ability is amazing!

 

[cardsfanmd]

You mean this guy?

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XhUhLtAC_Ok

This kid has crazy wheels. He looks faster than a few of the cars I have owned.

 

[dreamcastrocks]

If the big 3 RB's are gone then maybe he'll be there in round 2.....wouldn't use the 16th for him.

 

[LVCARDFREAK]

Eh, watched him play a few times last year. Got most of his yards against not-so-good competition. (Memphis, Houston, Tulane, Boise St). Aganst the better competition he didnt show up as well and was very hesitent behind the ECU line.

Furthermore, he is kinda of a one-hit wonder. ECU had running back by committe in 2006 and he was only the 3rd leading carrier on the team.

Eh, pass

 

[Shane]

Level of competition isn't a little bit of a concern with this guy?

@ Va. Tech: 2.9 YPC
North Carolina: 2.3 YPC
Southern Miss: 3.5 YPC
NC State: 3.3 YPC

I don't think this guy is a scrub, but I'm with EF in thinking that I'd be higher on him if he'd shown up against some teams that occasionally play defense.

I see your point. But you also need to remember he had ECU caliber Offensive Linekman going up against the likes of those squads.