Bills work out DT Johnson, five other linemen
by Brian Galliford on Oct 21, 2009 11:15 AM EDT
in Buffalo Bills News
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PrintPer Mike Florio at ProFootballTalk.com (with a tip of the hat to Kurupt), the Buffalo Bills on Monday worked out six defensive linemen, including former Indianapolis Colts defensive tackle Ed Johnson.
Normally, routine Monday player workouts don't interest me. Johnson is an interesting case, however. Buffalo currently has the NFL's worst run defense, and even though the predominant opinion is that the Bills' run-stopping woes have much more to do with linebacker play than line play, Johnson is something of a proven commodity as an NFL run-stuffer. Add in the shoulder injury that could sideline Kyle Williams and the fact that 2006 first-round pick John McCargo has yet to make a significant impact, and Johnson's intrigue increases.
An undrafted free agent out of Penn State in 2007, Johnson started all 16 games for the then-defending champion Colts in place of the injured Anthony McFarland. Johnson racked up 41 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble for an Indianapolis defense that finished the 2007 season ranked third in the league (though they were fifteenth against the run).
Set to become a household name in 2008, Johnson was cut by the Colts on September 11, 2008 after police found marijuana in his possession during a routine speeding stop. Without him, Indy's defense dropped to No. 11 in the league, and a lowly No. 24 against the run. Johnson filed a grievance upon his release, and as Florio notes, even after the Colts gave him a second chance by re-signing him on May 5 of this year, Johnson refused to drop the grievance.
After just five games this season, Johnson was released again by the Colts. Jim Caldwell, Indy's head coach, cited a lack of performance as the reason behind the release. (Stampede Blue interpreted this as Johnson being cut because "he stinks.") However, Colts GM Bill Polian added, roughly a week later, that the release was "directly related to his weight" (Johnson is listed at 296 pounds, but is currently much closer to 320). Florio points out that, though the Colts clearly would never say this publicly, the lingering grievance might have played a role as well.
Johnson clearly has talent, but there are concerns about his attitude. According to Florio, Buffalo also worked out the following defensive linemen on Monday: Marlon Favorite, Antwan Lake, Joshua Leonard, Langston Moore and Rodrique Wright. Would you give Johnson (or any of the lesser-known names) a chance in Buffalo?
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Sign me up for Big Ed!
It’s not like you’d have to invest anything in him. Plus he’s familiar with our system. Make McCargo inactive and put the big man at the NT spot with Stroud at the 3 technique. Stroud has said he prefers playing there. This is as long as we’re without Kyle Williams.
If the Colts were willing to trade for McCargo....but cut this guy????????
Ready – Fire – AIm. Maybe we will hit the mark this time.
Poor ball security leads to very painful outcomes
Joe P., my thoughts exactly. You beat me to it.
I remain convinced that somehow Drew Rosenhaus negotiated a playing time deal for Roscoe into the contract for TO.
by thefourwinds on Oct 21, 2009 12:40 PM EDT up reply actions
Sign me up.
320 lbs should be able to stop the run fairly well. He might even have enough weight to push the pocket a bit better.
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by TheAfghanTwilight on Oct 21, 2009 11:44 AM EDT reply actions
Really.....why not just go out on the street and sign the first 350 lb guy you find?
I would love it if Johnson comes here motivated and ready to work, but if he is just a fatter version of the former Ricky Williams??? A fat lazy DT is not going to help us out at all, and could hurt this team. Do we really need to give Bong Mode a toking partner?
Poor ball security leads to very painful outcomes
He’s not just any other guy off the street.
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by TheAfghanTwilight on Oct 21, 2009 12:04 PM EDT up reply actions
duhhhhh.....not my point...read the rest of that post.
Poor ball security leads to very painful outcomes
I did read it. I just find the Ricky Williams comparison a bit extreme. Changes of scenery can do wonders for many players.
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by TheAfghanTwilight on Oct 21, 2009 12:58 PM EDT up reply actions
I guarantee Bong Mode has a dozen or so teammates that can toke with him.
by twoeightnine on Oct 21, 2009 12:14 PM EDT up reply actions
another man's trash...
It’s the same old same old… Rumaging through the discard pile. Polian knows when to cut and run. What would lead somone to believe our “braintrust” knows better? With the restaurants in Buffalo, this guy could be 350 next week!
But, as Live 6453 said, “It’s not like you’d have to INVEST anything in him”…a mantra shared, I’m sure, by more than one genius at OBD.
Can you name some kind of impact guy who’s just sitting there mid-season waiting for a phone call? If your team has spots to fill this time of year, you have to pick up the trash and hope you can make it shine.
by syrbillsfan on Oct 21, 2009 12:25 PM EDT up reply actions
You're right
I don’t like our overall philosphy. Rather than INVEST in quality depth, we gamble that tthe front line doesn’t get injured (look at the linebackers). We always seem to be scrambling for a band aid and a band aid will not stop the bleeding of 200-300 yds. rushing each week.
This is an interesting point
I trust Polian’s analysis of talent more than our own front office. That alone makes me think we shouldn’t sign him.
on the other hand: what’s the downside?
Jonathan Stupar won the Heisman…while playing in the NFL!
Might as well give the guy a look, we made noises about Meredith, and he had a non noticeable performance on Sunday right?
Sure Bill got rid of him, but I think its because he still has the grievance filed against them. Also, he might not want to give up the bud, but if that was the case, I think the NFL would have already announced his suspension since it would be his second violation.
But as it stands, we need bodies up there, especially if Kyle Williams will be out for more than a week, and McCargo has not shown the same flashes he was showing during TC of being a guy on the rebound. If we lose Kyle we need another body and at least Big Ed has does it consistently, more than I can say for McCargo.
As my mother once said, common sense isn't as common as it should be, I'm looking at you Fewell, common sense says to play UP on the line against the slant.
I’m not sure. Because of this Id be cautiously optimisitic if we did sign him and not think about ever again if we don’t.
Ed Johnson is a good player. That much is known. Hes talented and helped the Colts defense. He was part of a stout d line a few years back. He would help this defense without Williams and if things worked out, he could be a great rotational piece when Williams returned.
The reason I’m not sure? I think Spencer Johnson is already a pretty good rotational guy and when Williams returns it will be crowded at the position. Plus, his attitude is a problem. He smokes dope during the season most likely and clearly has an authority problem.
That said, Jauron is a good authority guy relationship wise with players so he could have a better attitude here.
I’ll be happy if he signs and not really care if he doesn’t.
The no huddle is gone, please sign tackles Runyan, Jones or Walker
Is it really “crowded at the position”? At the moment we have Stroud, Williams (once he is healthy again) and Spencer Johnson. McCargo seems to be a nonentity. You really need 4 DT’s to have a proper rotation through an entire game, and right now we have 3. I would say that there is definitely room for Ed Johnson if Bob Sanders thinks he will help.
I'd happily sign him
Give him a low risk 2 year deal and see how he works out. Worst case scenario is we cut him. Best case is he becomes a solid part of our rotation, something McCargo isn’t and would be cheap.
What do we have to lose here? Johnson has been a solid DT for the Colts and although he might end up being a headache/case, he’s a low risk, high reward type pickup. And you never know, he may come in extremely motivated to prove the Colts were wrong .
~K
"As the governor of Louisiana once said, the only way Chris Kelsay can lose his job is if he got caught in bed with a dead girl or a live boy."
by Kurupt on Oct 21, 2009 12:27 PM EDT via mobile reply actions
What do we have to lose here?
I guess McCargo, but is that a bad thing? I think not. I agree with K, sign him.
No weekend spent pantsless is a wasted weekend.
K and sireric,
But as Joe P. mentioned above, this is the guy they cut, then tried to replace with McCargo. Where’s the upside?
I remain convinced that somehow Drew Rosenhaus negotiated a playing time deal for Roscoe into the contract for TO.
by thefourwinds on Oct 21, 2009 12:43 PM EDT up reply actions
I’d argue it’s partly because big Ed is big. Little John is, well little for a NT. Indy plays a more true Tampa-2 and would have wanted what they thought was a more moblie guy. I think B-lo needs the big men up front. They have the small guys behind the front line.
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by TheAfghanTwilight on Oct 21, 2009 1:02 PM EDT up reply actions
They cut him because of pot not because of his play.
by twoeightnine on Oct 21, 2009 1:03 PM EDT up reply actions
DT Rotation
Has McCargo been on the field much this year? If not then it’s time to move on and pick up a guy who can be part of the DT rotation. While a good chunk of the rush defense woes stem from the LB injuries part of the problem has to be the lack of fresh legs at DT. If McCargo isn’t going to play (and maybe I’ve just not noticed him) then why not look at Johnson?
Of course we could make things more challenging, Lisa, but then the stupider students would be in here complaining, furrowing their brows in a vain attempt to understand the situation--Seymour Skinner
by Ron From NM on Oct 21, 2009 10:56 PM EDT up reply actions
He’s played here and there. Been inactive for one game due to injury.
Playing Realistic Optimist at Buffalo Rumblings since 2008. Ignoring the grumblings on Rumblings.
by MattRichWarren on Oct 22, 2009 10:59 AM EDT up reply actions
Seems worth a shot to me. What do we have to lose. It’s obvious that McCargo is a big fat bust. The new d-line coach was supposed to be able to motivate him, but he hasn’t so much as seen the field this year. Bring this guy in. Players always shine in second chance situations. Danny Amendola was on Philly’s practice squad and is now the starting returner for the Rams (not saying much) but he is doing well (although he does get to return a lot of kicks since the Rams get scored on at will). Point being: just give him a chance. He could do something special. He certainly couldn’t make our run defense any worse right?
"Potential just means you haven’t done sh## yet"
we need
Johnson…we have ZERO size with all the injuries to Mitchell, Williams, and whitner constantly being out at S. We need an extra-able body to help stuff up the run. I would have this guy signed and ready for this week at Carolina.
On a side note….CB reports Edwards, Whitner, Williams, McGee, Nelson area all not practicing and Edwards isn’t even at practice
MARVelous - "I went from America's team to North America's Team" Terrell Owens
Fitzpatrick
will get the start most likely on Sunday and I have zero qualms about that. Unfortunately whether it’s Edwards or Fitzpatrick the rest of the way….it doesn’t really matter as both are noodle-arm QB’s who can’t do what we need.
MARVelous - "I went from America's team to North America's Team" Terrell Owens
They ought to rename 1BD “The Infirmary.”
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by TheAfghanTwilight on Oct 21, 2009 1:10 PM EDT up reply actions
More like the "Morgue" or maybe "Hospice"
As my mother once said, common sense isn't as common as it should be, I'm looking at you Fewell, common sense says to play UP on the line against the slant.
What’s there to lose making such a move? I mean, we’re absolutely horrible against the run and something drastically needs to change for that to change, and getting a big NT-clogger like Ed Johnson to the rotation might be a good thing.
by BillsfanfromDenmark on Oct 21, 2009 1:00 PM EDT reply actions
Why is no one mentioning
the benefit of him playing a very very similar defensive system. He can come in right away and make an impact. He knows our system.
The no huddle is gone, please sign tackles Runyan, Jones or Walker
Even more reason to give it a go, although the last lineman we signed from Indy was Larry Tripplet …and we all know how that turned out.
It seems that aside from the DB’s, the Bills brain trust doesn’t have any solid back-up plans that do not include sifting through another teams trash. One of these days they’ll find some half-eaten sandwich that isn’t moldy. Who knows, Ed Johnson may be that gourmet pannini we’ve been looking for.
"They're Killin' Me Whitey. They're Killin' Me" -- Lou Saban
Defensive problems
I think if you can add someone who will help, even if it’s at a position of strength and depth, you have to do it.
Hopefully Ed can give our run D a boost if signed
Sign him now
and offer him a “bud bonus” depending on how well he plays. He can collect when he comes to Toronto. Come to think of it, I think some of Ricky’s stash of leaf might still be around one of those lockerrooms. He can have that, too.
sign him. low risk.
Delightfully Ignoring The Truth since 1995.
by NeverendingOptimism on Oct 21, 2009 5:10 PM EDT reply actions
Please...
I’d sign Johnson’s momma if it’ll help stop the run. What do we have to lose, McCargo’s release is way overdue
I’d sign Johnson’s momma if it’ll help stop the run
Agreed.
Why not give him a whirl. Is McCargo healthy now? If Williams is limited going into the Carolina game, and McCargo is what he is, it makes sense to pick up this guy, bad attitutde or not. We’re killing our DTs by only playing three of them.
To be fair to McCargo...
I think he’s just buried on the depth chart. Stroud isn’t going anywhere when he’s healthy, Williams is a stud, and Johnson is more of a proven commodity and veteran presence. The three of them have been very active this year in the TFL department from what I’ve seen. McCargo’s been hurt a couple games and therefore has started off behind the 8-ball. Also, the numbers crunch with injury problems in other areas would seem to have contributed to his being inactive in some games. I’m not trying to seem like a McCargo apologist, but the guy did make some plays when actually on the field in 2007. Cut the guy a break.
I would put Big Ed at the Nose on 1st and 2nd down...
With Stroud at the 3-technique. It would at least be worth a try. Again, Stroud has said before he prefers that to the NT position. That would most likely make it a more stout run front.
A fat man at NT is the best help we can give our LBers in staying clean to pursue the ball
As my mother once said, common sense isn't as common as it should be, I'm looking at you Fewell, common sense says to play UP on the line against the slant.
Bring DT Johnson to the Bills
Buffalo Bills need a big 320lb. run stuffer, Ed Johnson could be that man. If anyone looks at New England , Baltimore or Pittsburgh. Each team playoff team mentioned, has a mammoth DT or NT in the middle or on the defensive front to stop the run. The last DT or NT weighing 320lbs. making the Pro Bowl was Ted Washington, Sam Adams and Pat Williams. Give Johnson an opportunity; this is without looking at his past or looking at the Bills past for taking defensive tackles from Indianapolis (Larry Tripplett). The problem is here in the middle for stopping the run. Johnson is still young, played for Penn State and went to a Super Bowl ( Posluzny, Maybin, & Scott). His personal life, Johnson will have to straighten that out for himself. Johnson brings an upside to this defense, which the Bills need for this year. If this acquisition is made, the Bills met their Draft need for next year and saved a lot of money.
The teams you mention all run a diiferent scheme though. Philly, Tennesee, the Giants and the Bears all do just fine stopping the run without anybody bigger than Marcus Stroud on their teams. Buffalo’s DTs aren’t undersized and the Stroud Williams combo is actually one of the bigger starting duo’s of all the 4-3 teams in the league.
I’m not against signing Johnson (and actually think it would be a pretty savvy move), but the Bills’ run D problems have nothing to do with lacking a big fat guy like Johnson is.
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