toffee":11ixc1kz said:
He could enjoy better stat under our system, if he and our safeties could develop some sort of chemistry.
He played under the Seahawks' system for the 9ers last year (by way of Robert Saleh by way of Dan Quinn, but on the back end it's still the same system).
Here's the skinny on Johnson from a 9ers fan perspective:
For the first three years of his career he was that guy who exists on every team: He didn't get much run, but 9ers fans had somehow convinced themselves that he was a hidden gem who was just being held back for some unexplained reason, and as soon as he got his shot he'd prove to the world that we were right all along about how good he was.
Last year he got his shot, and we thought it was a perfect fit. He fit all the height/weight/speed requirements that made us think he would ball out in the Seahawks/Falcons/9ers Cover 3 scheme.
He was a total disaster though. He'd give up short passes and then give up deep passes, and then get DPI and holding calls before going back to giving up passes again.
The several time he got benched it was because offensive coordinators had basically abandoned their gameplans and figured out that if they just threw it to Johnson's man it was a clear walk down the field -- I can't remember the game but the final time he was benched (IIRC) the entire offensive series was five penalties and receptions against Johnson which totaled into 75 yards and touchdown.
By the end of the year he was behind guys on the depth chart who had been signed off the street in the same week.
I'd liken him to an inferior Cary Williams: he certainly looks the part, but beyond that is a total liability.
To be clear, I'd be very happy if he can turn his career around and be a useful piece, but having watched him all last year, that would ultimately surprise me.