Derrick Johnson (1 Viewer)

[J Giles Band]

Per Rotoworld:

The Chiefs are reportedly considering moving Derrick Johnson to middle linebacker later this season.

The MIKE has been a trouble spot for KC since it let Kawika Mitchell walk in free agency two years ago. The Chiefs view Johnson as a potential long-term answer there, which is excellent news for his value in dynasty IDP leagues.

Source: Kansas City Star

Will believe this when it happens, but in the meantime... thoughts on the potential effect on his value?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Kansas City Star

Johnson may move to middle linebacker later this season. The Chiefs hope such a move would accomplish two things: help them shore up a critical position and help them get more from Johnson, potentially one of their best defensive players.

Coach Herm Edwards won’t talk about the possibility, but Johnson said he would willingly move if asked.

“I’ve played there some second-string in practice, but never in a game,” Johnson said. “If I was put in a situation to do it, I’d be ready. I don’t know if I’d be fired up about it because I like where I am right now, but I’d do it, no questions asked, and I’d be pretty good at it.”

Hard to say if this was a writer pushing the question on the players or not, but it's definitely something to monitor. Johnson has been struggling to defeat blockers and play within the defense this season, which wouldn't bode well for a move to the middle, but it would definitely increase his tackle potential. He hasn't produced nearly as well on the weak side of a primarily Cover-2 defense as was hoped for him given the amount of opportunity he's had.

 

[Jene Bramel]

Johnson moved to MLB.

It's that time of the year. Bad teams start throwing poo against the wall to see what smells and what doesn't.

Will have to wait until the injury report is formally released, but the only sure thing is that Pat Thomas (who was apparently a healthy scratch last week) is no longer a primary option for the Chiefs.

Expect a significant overhaul in Kansas City next season.

 

[Jack Johnson]

Johnson moved to MLB.

It's that time of the year. Bad teams start throwing poo against the wall to see what smells and what doesn't.

Will have to wait until the injury report is formally released, but the only sure thing is that Pat Thomas (who was apparently a healthy scratch last week) is no longer a primary option for the Chiefs.

Expect a significant overhaul in Kansas City next season.

Is this expected to a be a permanent move or an end of the year 'let's see how it works out' deal?

 

[Jene Bramel]

Johnson moved to MLB.

It's that time of the year. Bad teams start throwing poo against the wall to see what smells and what doesn't.

Will have to wait until the injury report is formally released, but the only sure thing is that Pat Thomas (who was apparently a healthy scratch last week) is no longer a primary option for the Chiefs.

Expect a significant overhaul in Kansas City next season.

Is this expected to a be a permanent move or an end of the year 'let's see how it works out' deal?

Rent with an option to buy.Johnson has never been a dynamic player. His best fit looks to have been at SLB, where he could hang with most TEs and use his pass rush ability when asked. The knock on him on the weak side has been poor run fits, inability to shed backside blocks and overall lack of inspiring play. He may be the worst per play producer of any recent LB who gets a lot of Tampa-2 like snaps.

2009 is a contract season for Johnson, though, so it's possible the light goes on finally and this becomes a permanent move. I wouldn't count on it at this point. We're just as likely to see a complete defensive overhaul from top to bottom next season as anything else at this point.

 

[Rozelle]

Mike Peterson could be an option there next year. With Herm being from the Dungy tree, Peterson's time in Indy would be a plus. A guy they could bring in why they develop a MLB. I agree with Jene, don't see Johnson being the answer.

 

[ninerfanatic492000]

sounds very DJ Williams-ish of recent memory

 

[Jene Bramel]

Local media reporting Rocky Boiman to switch positions with Johnson, making him a likely every-down ROLB. Demorrio Williams played LOLB last week and looks likely to stay there with Donnie Edwards still struggling to practice.

Also, Herm confirms he's flinging poo against the wall for next season.

...

Boiman will move into Johnson’s place on the outside.

“He’s got a lot of talent,” coach Herm Edwards said of Johnson. “He just needs to learn how to be consistent with his talent. We’ll let him run to the ball and be able to make some plays. Now, he’ll be in the middle of the field where he can go both ways, especially perimeter plays. When you play on the outside, you can’t make them on the other side of the field.”

The decision is also aimed at next season. The Chiefs will have to rebuild at linebacker, where they will seek two new starters to join Johnson.

For now, none of their other five linebackers appear to be starting candidates next season. The Chiefs seem to be more comfortable with Boiman, Thomas and Demorrio Williams as backups.

They have been frustrated that 35-year-old Donnie Edwards has been unable to stay healthy this season. Curtis Gatewood, recently signed off Washington’s practice squad, is a developmental player.

The Chiefs are determined in these last four games to learn whether they should seek two outside linebackers or one outside and one for the middle.

“We need to look at that because next year we’re going to have to make some decisions,” Edwards said. “The more we can find out about him, that helps us down the road with all of the linebacker positions.”

Johnson’s contract also expires after the 2009 season. The Chiefs will soon have to decide whether to try to re-sign Johnson, and whether or not he succeeds at his new position could swing their opinion.

The Chiefs believe Johnson tends to lose concentration at times, which could explain lapses in his play. Playing in the middle could help Johnson. The middle linebacker is responsible for making many of the defensive calls.

“He might be more comfortable in there because he played in college there,” Edwards said.

...

 

[Rozelle]

PFW - WWHI

Chiefs hoping a shift to the middle ignites LB Johnson

With injuries decimating their linebacking corps, the Chiefs opted to shift LB Derrick Johnson from the outside to the middle prior to the Week 14 game at Denver. But while the team suggests the move was made to insert life into the defense, we hear that it was more like a sign of desperation. It’s true that Johnson has shown flashes of brilliance since coming to K.C. as a first-round pick in '05, but he has failed to sustain the high level of play that many expected from him coming out of college. From what we hear, the Chiefs hope that by giving Johnson added responsibility in the middle, it will trigger a positive response in the fourth-year veteran that will make him a better overall player. Also, since MLB Pat Thomas wasn’t exactly shining as a starter, it injects a heavy dose of talent at an integral defensive spot. How Johnson performs in the remaining weeks likely will determine whether or not he remains in the middle in 2009.

We'll see how this plays out, but look for the Chiefs to pursue a MLB in free agency and/or draft one.