A Rumblings report on rookie defensive back Jaquan Johnson."

/>Skip to main contentclockmenumore-arrownoyesHorizontal - WhiteBuffalo Rumblingsa Buffalo Bills communityLog In or Sign UpLog InSign UpFanpostsFanshotsSectionsBillsOddsShopAboutMastheadCommunity GuidelinesStubHubMoreAll 322 blogs on Horizontal - WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections NewsNotesOpinionAnalysisDiscussionPodcastNFL DraftSalary CapFiled under:NFL DraftScouting ReportsBuffalo Bills NFL Draft CoverageScouting report: Buffalo Bills’ defensive back Jaquan JohnsonNew Darryl Johnson Buffalo Bills Jersey ,7commentsA Rumblings report on rookie defensive back Jaquan Johnson. EDTShareTweetShareShareScouting report: Buffalo Bills’ defensive back Jaquan JohnsonThe Buffalo Bills exited the 2019 NFL Draft with eight new faces. Most of the first two days were devoted to the offense, but day three flipped the switch to defense. The current Bills front office has typically found some defensive steals in later rounds and undrafted players. In round six the Bills hoped to add to this growing resume by selecting defensive back Jaquan Johnson, the former Miami Hurricane. Relegated to backup duty for his first two years in Miami, Jaquan Johnson’s numbers don’t jump off the screen. He was inserted into the starting lineup for his junior year and took off. Johnson racked up more than 90 tackles the last two years and was named team MVP in his 2017 junior year. In that same two-year span he had six interceptions and one more touchdown than his new teammate, tight end Dawson Knox. If you’re not sure how many that is, then check out our Dawson Knox coverage here, here or here. This is usually a paragraph about red flags and injuries and for Johnson it’d be nearly blank. Missing two games with a hamstring injury is about it. So let’s flip it around and discuss how Jaquan Johnson sounds like a perfect Sean McDermott culture pick. Johnson was a well-respected leader on and off the field, with repeated notes describing a person who leads by example. Johnson notably delivered a speech that was credited for inspiring a comeback victory over FSU during the 2018 season. Nothing about this chart is remotely inspiring. Jaquan Johnson profiles as undersized and not incredibly athletic. The broad jump and bench press look promising but only in comparison to his other numbers. Both are pretty representative of his position group. This is a good time to remind everyone that there’s more to a player than raw numbers. Despite the poor testing numbers, Jaquan Johnson is praised for acceleration and burst. A physical tackling style is universally recognized in his game. Johnson is said to play smart as well, wrapping up when his lack of size plays against him. Johnson does well in the open field and looks to create big plays by stripping the ball. There’s no shortage of praise for Johnson’s ability to read and react to run plays. An example of run support read and reactJohnson’s size projects to be a major factor at the NFL level. At 5’11” and with a shorter-than-average wingspan and weight, there is plenty of concern he’ll be bullied by tight ends. A common refrain is that Johnson’s anticipation and instincts are a weakness. The words “slow” or “late” are not uncommonly used in reference to Johnson’s ability to pick up receivers. Per Lance Zierlein, Jaquan Johnson has a chance to become an NFL starter (grade of 5.61). Zierlein’s player comparison is Budda Baker. Bills fans would be ecstatic if Johnson followed in Baker’s footsteps, being named All-Pro in his rookie season. The size comparison seems apt, but Baker profiled more positively in terms of athletic ability. Aggressive, smart tackling with a rip that will feel right at home under McDerott and FrazierRafael Bush might be a more apt comparison. Bush currently sits at about 13 lbs heavier than Johnson per Pro Football Reference. It’s not out of the question that Johnson will add a little weight and close that gap. Buffalo’s zone-based defense and affinity for nickel formations are likely a good fit for Jaquan Johnson. Though his limitations may need to be worked around, the 2018 Bills thrived by using specialized packages based on opponent. It wouldn’t be a surprise for them to find a use for an aggressive defensive back who knows how to tackle. If the Bills draft [PLAYER NAME] you’ll be over the moon."WhiteFanposts Fanshots Sections NewsNotesOpinionAnalysisDiscussionPodcastNFL DraftSalary CapNFL DraftDiscussionBuffalo Bills NFL Draft CoverageWho are your 2019 NFL Draft crushes?New,94commentsIf the Bills draft [PLAYER NAME] you’ll be over the moon.EDTShareTweetShareShareWho are your 2019 NFL Draft crushes?The 2019 NFL Draft is only a week away, and after three months of news about the incoming rookie class Youth Shaq Lawson Jerseys , everyone has an opinion about the players in the group. That includes the draft “crushes”, the players you think will be a star (or you don’t think the Buffalo Bills should pass up). The Buffalo Rumblings staff has shared their crushes below. Add yours in the comments!Dan LavoieHakeem Butler, WR, Iowa StateFor me, this is a no-brainer of a choice, including in the first round. Otherworldly size and catch radius. 4.48 speed and 10’8” broad jump that easily demonstrate rare athletic ability, production that completely dominated his team’s receiving this year, and no significant injury history. He was a supreme deep threat, capable of “Moss”-ing defensive backs on the regular, and impossible to tackle in space. Butler is my #1 receiver this year and a top-ten player on my board.Ed Oliver, DT, HoustonI’m a sucker for disruptive, athletic defensive tackles. Oliver is the newest model. Let’s review: at 6’2” and 281 lbs, he benched 225 lbs 32 times. He had a 36” vertical jump (same distance as Mr. Butler above). 4.73 40-yard dash with a blazing 1.63 ten-yard split. 7.15 three-cone drill (in the same neighborhood as Aaron Donald). And this guy was a three-time first-team All-American, and an Outland Trophy winner, who notched 53 TFLs in three seasons while playing out of position at nose tackle. Put him on the line and let him wreak havoc.Foster Moreau, TE, LSUAnytime a player has a “why are the coaches misusing him” article written Shaq Lawson Jerseys Stitched , I sit up and take notice that we may have a diamond in the rough. This is a leader who wore the vaunted number 18 for the Tigers. Also to wear it: our own Tre’Davious White. At the Combine, he was the most athletic tight end not named Noah Fant or T.J. Hockenson. He has plenty of experience as a run blocker, but I think there’s untapped potential in the passing game due to his (lack of) usage at LSU. If you’re working with the second- and third-tier tight ends from this draft, Moreau might be a fifth-round steal.Anthony MarinoHakeem Butler, WR, Iowa StateIt is a bit rare in this draft that a prospect at wide receiver has the college production, measurables, and testing results of Hakeem Butler. When you combine this with the comparisons to A.J. Green, and I can not figure out how so many project him as a second round pick. While I am not even close to being a draft expert - I put plenty of stock in the opinion of guys such as Greg Cosell of NFL Films and Josh Norris from Rotoworld. Both Cosell and Norris see Butler as the top wide receiver in the class, and I would love to see what he could do with Josh Allen as his quarterback.Sean MurphyHakeem Butler, WR, Iowa StateCount me in on Butler, who I think is just going to be an absolute star in the league for all of the reasons Dan and Anthony listed above. Butler’s size (6’5” and 227 lbs) combined with that otherworldly athleticism make him a must-have for me. While nine might be too high, waiting until 40 might be too long, and while I’m not much for trading up in most cases, if the Buffalo Bills can move up from 40 to secure Butler, I’d be all for it.David Montgomery, RB Youth Frank Gore Jerseys , Iowa StateWhile we’re talking about Cyclones, here’s my other crush from the great Midwest. While he may not be the athletic specimen that some of his counterparts are, he has the vision, toughness, and patience to excel as a runner at the NFL level. Some scouts worry about his workload, as he has carried the ball 515 times over the last two seasons, but at 21 years old, he has plenty of mileage left. In terms of someone who would fit the system and the “type” of a Brandon Beane-era Bills running back, you can’t find a much better fit than Montgomery, who prioritizes keeping the offense on time over making splash plays. Derrek Thomas, CB, BaylorI’m going to go way out on a limb here, because this is a guy with limited tape and experience at his position. However, he has a rare combination of size and speed for a corner, standing at 6’3” and 189 pounds with a 4.44-second forty-yard dash. Head coach Sean McDermott is a former defensive back, as is defensive coordinator Leslie Frazier, and neither coach will shy away from trying to help Thomas, a wide receiver-turned-corner after transferring to the Bears from Temple Frank Gore Jerseys Stitched , reach his greatest potential. Thomas had 21 tackles, an interception, and seven pass breakups in his 12 games at corner during the 2018 season. As a flier in the sixth or seventh round, I’d be thrilled with Buffalo taking a chance on the big, athletic corner. Andrew GriffinGreg Dortch, WR, Wake ForestIt’s hard to get noticed on the football field when you’re 5’7” and 175 lbs, but despite that handicap, Dortch was one of the most productive receivers in the ACC. He’s deadly from the slot, his routing is superb and he has decent enough speed to be a weapon in the return game. Most of all, he’s physical. Dortch is destined to be a Day 3 pick, but my bet is for him to be a useful weapon, wherever he gets drafted.Matt WarrenEd Oliver, DT, HoustonI don’t watch a lot of college football, so I don’t have a long list of crushes. I’ll keep this short and sweet. Oliver can do so much for the Bills’ pass rush. I’m a big believer in generating pass rush from the defensive tackle spot and there is a hole there for the Bills. Oliver is so talented. I’d love to see him next to Star Lotulelei.I discuss this a bit more at the start of this week’s Rumblings Q&A Podcast, which I’ve embedded below.