Chris Johnson - East Carolina (1 Viewer)

[Seymour Corn]

If you were watching the Hawaii Bowl last night, you saw the sick speed of RB Chris Johnson.

He's a senior going 5'11', 200 lbs.

The guy can just fly. Has anyone heard any NFL scouting stuff about him?

ETA: STATS PAGE

 

[simey]

He is like roadrunner when he is running. He is good at catching the ball too, and he has accumulated a lot of receiving yards this year, due to ECU's young offensive line having problems opening holes for him to run through. He is also an excellent kickoff returner. He is very versatile. I haven't heard any NFL scouting stuff about him, but he will be entering the NFL draft.

 

[Seymour Corn]

He is like roadrunner when he is running. He is good at catching the ball too, and he has accumulated a lot of receiving yards this year, due to ECU's young offensive line having problems opening holes for him to run through. He is also an excellent kickoff returner. He is very versatile. I haven't heard any NFL scouting stuff about him, but he will be entering the NFL draft.

Will he be a first day pick?

 

[simey]

Will he be a first day pick?

I don't know, but he certainly helped his chances by breaking the NCAA bowl record yesterday, by having 408 all-purpose yards. I wouldn't be surprised to see him go in the 2nd or even 3rd round, but if he does, someone will possibly be getting themselves a steal. I read that he is considered one of "the nation's best under-the-radar tailbacks". His speed is mind blowing.

 

[2and2is5]

in too remember the name for dynasty rookie draft...thx 4 the headsup, consider him on the radar

 

[toastedgnome]

I didn't know much about him, but he was featured in the 5 minute drills bowl preview, so I decided to watch this game. Boy am I glad I did! I thought Ian Johnson might be a better pro prospect last year, but unfortunately he was banged up for this game. Looks like he may just be a role player in the NFL.

Chris Johnson OTOH looks to be a great back who is pro ready. He has the one thing that coaches can't teach - speed.

 

[kawaihae]

Man, he looked good. I know it doesn't make a difference in his game, but did anyone notice that he had a pretty severe twitch with his head? No joke, I thought he had Tourettes or something. I looked it up on google and couldn't find anything.

 

[money.never.sleeps]

I've seen him play a few times and yes, his speed is terrific but when you look at the "decent" defensive teams he's played against I see red flags.

I didn't watch him vs. VT, UNC, or UCF but he didn't fair well. The UCF game he did ok but I see his numbers inflated against sub-par competition. He's also not very big but I could def. see him contributing on special teams as well as 10-12 carries a game. Not sure if he's a first day pick though even if RB is weak next year.

 

[floridamike]

He was one of the fastest in Fla. in high school and was being heavily looked at by Fla. St. and Florida but broke his leg his senior year. John Thompson, who was Florida's DC at the time recruited him to ECU instead when he became head coach (if you want to call it that...he was the worst in the school's history). Johnson finally recovered full by his sophomore year but the team was horrible. He made some good runs as a junior and was a return nightmare for other teams (including two long td's against Southern Miss and Wake Forest) but ran two much sideways and was tentative to the hole. His senior offseason he busted his ### in the weight room and on the fields and with the help of Junior Smith (ECU's all-time leading rusher and new RB coach) he really learned to hit the hole and then burst and he has been on a tear ever sense. Also important is the power he has to go with the speed. Watch the fiml from last night and you'll see him drag people left and right. He has great hands and the fumble last night was his FIRST all year.

Dude's a badass and will be very good pro....Would do great in a Westbrook-type offense.

 

[omally]

I didn't watch him vs. VT, UNC, or UCF but he didn't fair well.

I saw the UNC game, and he caught 5 passes for 136 yards and 2 TD's. He also had a rushing TD in that game. He also had a long kickoff return. How is that not fairing well?

 

[coolnerd]

I am reposting my in game thoughts from another thread. Last night was my first complete ECU game of the year (partials and highlights otherwise). Johnson has plenty of speed, but straightline speed for an every down back is highly overrated.

Watching Chris Johnson of East Carolina. He is legitimately fast, but does not even look as big as his listed 5'11 200 lbs. Does not run with the power needed for a pro feature back, but has experience as a WR and made a couple of nice catches. Not seen much wiggle, but has been able to run by Boise State and ECU ol is manhandling the DL. Returning KOs. My guess is that he projects as a 3rd down back/returner unless he gains 10-15 lbs.

 

[omally]

Would do great in a Westbrook-type offense.

I agree.

 

[money.never.sleeps]

I didn't watch him vs. VT, UNC, or UCF but he didn't fair well.

I saw the UNC game, and he caught 5 passes for 136 yards and 2 TD's. He also had a rushing TD in that game. He also had a long kickoff return. How is that not fairing well?

my bad. I just looked at the rushing stats which were not good.

 

[floridamike]

Offensive line lost key starters early on and were a patchwork all year as well. QB play wasn't great either as the starter was suspended the week before the VT game, the penciled-in second teamer was bad and the third teamer wound up starting all year (and split time in a split QB offense). Plus. the defense was atrocious and they had to pass quite a but all year.

In the right offense he could be deadly. Give him a one-cut and gone like Denver or Washington (or the afformentioned Eagles pass happy RB style) and he could wind up pretty good.

Ran a hand-timed 4.25 for scouts in Greenville and is very fast laterally as well.

 

[Balco]

Bad d, or not, this guys explosiveness was evident.

Drafted just on kick return ability alone. Throw in the fact he can catch passes, and he is a pretty solid prospect.

 

[Seymour Corn]

Well, the results are in.