Navigation: Jump to content areas:


Pro Quality. Fan Perspective.
Login-facebook
Around SBN: Dog Football! Which Breeds Are Best Suited For The Gridiron?

Better Know a Draft Prospect: LSU Guard Herman Johnson

Herman-johnson_gregmcwilliamssmi__medium


Once again we are looking at the offensive line, a common theme this year. While the Left Tackle position is getting the most attention, injuries decimated the inside of the line more than the outside. Brad Meester, Vince Manuwai, Chris Naeole all went down with injuries. There are some intriguing prospects at the Guard, including Duke Robinson of Oklahoma, Andy Levitre of Oregon State, and the subject of this report, Herman Johnson.

Gene Smith says he wants to build from the Inside out? Well how about a guy who was the largest baby born in Louisiana.  Herman Johnson is an All-SEC offensive linemen with great power and is a true road grader for a Guard. Even in this day and age where lineman are supposed to be monsterous, Johnson truly is a "Mountain of a man" at 6'7" 355 lbs.


Johnson is a good candidate for a 3rd round draft choice. He can play either guard position, as well as Right Tackle if pressed.

 

Star-divide

Video Killed The Scouting Report

 

Herman Johnson By The Numbers

At A Glance
Position 1:  Guard
Height:  6-7
Position 2:  Right Tackle
Weight:  355
Class:  Senior Age:  22
Projected Round: 2-4

 40time:  5.5

If there's one thing you take away from Johnson, it's that he is absolutely massive. The one major concern though is that he is simply one of those guys who it will always be a struggle to keep optimum weight.

According to the Experts

Positives

FF Toolbox: While Johnson's size clearly sets him apart, it's the rest of his game that really makes the LSU star a can't-miss NFL prospect. Quite simply, men that large are not supposed to move the way Johnson can move. His 40 time is under 5.5 and he has apparently gone under 5.3 at one point.

NFL Draft Countdown: Rare size and speed, great push in the run game, plays with a mean streak, finishes a defender

Mocking The Draft: Surprisingly athletic, pulls and traps well, can handle the even the strongest defensive tackles on his own

Negatives

FF Toolbox: His quickness and technique, however, must continue to improve as his size will not be as much of a factor in the NFL, where other linemen can match his size.

NFL Draft Countdown: Not a natural knee bender, doesn't always play with leverage, must improve footwork

Mocking The Draft: Probably the most disappointing player during Senior Bowl practices, Inconsistent play, especially his technique, Not a very good cut blocker.

According to the Blogosphere

I spoke with the guys over at And the valley shook, SBN's LSU blog, and this is what they had to say on Johnson.

He was actually recruited out of Texas with thoughts of making him a defensive tackle.  He was quickly moved to offensive tackle, but his career really took off when he was made into an offensive guard.  He's taller than guards usually are, but the QB never doinked one off his helmet that I can recall. 
 
At guard, his shortcomings at tackle were masked.  He is not particularly quick-footed, and it made him a liability in pass protection going against quick defensive ends.  He is plenty quick enough to take on the big defensive tackles, and his size and strength become a real asset at guard.  There's been talk about him possibly moving to tackle, but he is a guard.  He could never be a left tackle but he could maybe fill in at right tackle.  He could really be a good player at guard. 
 
The big downside to Herman is his weight.  He's one of those guys who will probably forever struggle with maintaining optimum weight.  This year he showed up to fall camp way overweight and it showed.  He probably wasn't as good this year as he was in the 2007 season.
 
I hear he's kind of a quiet guy, but really friendly and intelligent when you get talking to him.  I wouldn't know because I've never met him, but that's the word.  His best friend on the team was reportedly scat-back Trindon Holliday.  If you look on the internet, you can find pictures of Herman and Trindon standing together.  Trindon's tiny, and is about a foot shorter or more, and weighs less than half of what Herman weighs.

Why Should Herman Johnson be a Jacksonville Jaguar

Johnson would be a great fit for the Jaguars at guard. A big road clearing guard in the run game is just what the doctor ordered for the team after the patchwork play of the line last season. The big concern is his weight, and his showing at the Senior Bowl will scare some NFL teams off. However, if he is available in Round 3 or 4, I believe the gains far outweigh the possible risks.

 

Up Next Week

West Virginia QB Pat White, Pitt RB (And new Vic man crush) LeSean McCoy, and Baylor OT Jason Smith

Poll
Who are you most excited to see next week
Pat White, QB, West Virginia
13 votes
LeSean McCoy, RB, Pitt
20 votes
Jason Smith, OT, Baylor
35 votes

68 votes | Poll has closed

Comment 18 comments  |  0 recs  | 

Do you like this story?

Comments

Display:

Good, Good, Good stuff!

Big Cat Country!:: The Official Home of the Unofficial Blog of the Jacksonville Jaguars!

by River City Rage on Feb 20, 2009 11:05 AM EST reply actions  

my wish list.

rd 1 Jason Smith
rd 2 Michael Johnson
rd 3 Herman Johnson.

by Joeyy89 on Feb 20, 2009 11:20 AM EST reply actions  

wish list cont...

BAW.
Best available Williams, we’re going to lose Reggie & we must be getting low on the number of williams’ in the side!

by Joeyy89 on Feb 20, 2009 11:21 AM EST reply actions  

Wow

There’s not much to not like about him. What round is he expected to go because after that report it seems surprising that he wouldn’t be a top 10 guy. If the only problem with him is that he struggles to stay at the right weight, that’s a very fixable problem that an NFL training staff could definitely take care of.

by Adam Stites on Feb 20, 2009 1:00 PM EST reply actions  

Depending on who you talk to

He’s the #2 Guard in the draft after Duke Robinson or he could go all the way to the 4th-5th round. His big weakness, besides weight, is his footwork. Even putting him in at Right Tackle could be an iffy proposition.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by Jonathan Loesche on Feb 20, 2009 1:33 PM EST up reply actions  

Bleh hit enter too soon

Anyways, even in college an athletic DL off the edge would make him look silly at tackle, that’s why he isn’t a 1st round prospect.

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by Jonathan Loesche on Feb 20, 2009 1:35 PM EST up reply actions  

Guards have to pull and cut block too. Look at Indy's smallish quick guards.

It’s two different styles, but an O-linemen has to have good feet regardless of position.

-Collin

The End Is Nigh...

by silencecs on Feb 20, 2009 2:07 PM EST up reply actions  

If he keeps his weight up

He can pull and trap well enough

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by Jonathan Loesche on Feb 20, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions  

And Plus

The Jags don’t really pull all that much anyway. I’m sure he could get the job done if called upon.

by Bestjagfan on Feb 21, 2009 8:10 PM EST up reply actions  

Thats true

The good news is that in the NFL he doesnt have to worry about going to class. Now he can focus solely on football and what he has to do to get into the right kind of shape.

by JagSoldier on Feb 20, 2009 3:13 PM EST reply actions  

height problems

i don’t like the idea of having a 6’7" guard with a QB who is just over 6’. Talk about passing lanes!

by abeaugh on Feb 20, 2009 3:24 PM EST reply actions  

Hmm True

Though really, what would you rather have? Trouble seeing over your guard while he’s taking care of a DT or running for your life from that DT

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by Jonathan Loesche on Feb 20, 2009 3:43 PM EST up reply actions  

Why not have both?

When you have a short QB passing lanes are an issue… Chris Simms was another short QB and he always struggled with passing lanes. Bigger isn’t always better. But I like the kid in the third or fourth definitely.

-Collin

The End Is Nigh...

by silencecs on Feb 20, 2009 5:25 PM EST up reply actions  

I thought I liked him

a lot early on, but the more I watch him the more I question his ability to play for well for us. Granted in the 3rd round or later he has value, but like FSBlue said, Garrard already has had problems finding passing lanes and his cut block isn’t great and he struggles getting to the second level. I also don’t like his foot work nor his inability to play anywhere but guard, there’s no way way he can be a RT. He also has a weak initial punch and now looking at his bench press numbers its no wonder why I questioned his strength at 21 bench presses. I know part of that has to do with his long arms but he’s gonna play OG so there’s no excuse for being “weak.”

by Ewdtrey on Feb 20, 2009 7:37 PM EST reply actions  

What exactly is the poll asking?

Is it asking who are we most excited to see in the combine or who do we want a scouting report on? I wrote one on Jason Smith a while back, although I gotta say it wasn’t as good as yours.

by Adam Stites on Feb 20, 2009 8:41 PM EST reply actions  

Those are the 3 guys who will have scouting reports up next week

"I smoke. If this bothers anyone, I suggest you look around at the world in which we live and shut your mouth."-Bill Hicks

by Jonathan Loesche on Feb 20, 2009 9:42 PM EST up reply actions  

Does anyone know

where to find ALL the combine numbers? I’m looking through NFL.com, but all I find is the top performer numbers.

by Ewdtrey on Feb 20, 2009 8:52 PM EST reply actions  

Comments For This Post Are Closed


User Tools

Big Cat Country:: Jacksonville Jaguars news, commentary, speculation and fun, all from a fan's perspective

Manager

77312417837578290_small River City Rage

180103_10150110239888826_529758825_6295646_8155374_n_small Adam Stites

Screen_shot_2011-10-06_at_11 Alfie Crow

Editor-in-Chief

Img_6121_small silencecs

Contributor

316188_10100604014127692_5111476_59179124_1366496501_n_small T.Holmes

Shane_clemons_small Shane Clemons

Small Michael Appelbaum

P9260123_small Jagfan89

Tvh5hc55tg_154738946_small arawls

Cole_small theeCodyTaylor