LSU Football 2014 NFL Draft Profiles: Anthony Johnson

Anthony Johnson

Position: Defensive Tackle
Combine Height/Weight: 6-2, 308 pounds
LSU Listed Height/Weight: 6-3, 294
Hand Size: 10 3/8 inches
Arm Length: 33 inches
40-Yard Dash Time: 5.24
Bench-Press Reps (of 225 pounds): 20
Vertical Jump: 24.5 inches
Short/Long Shuttle: 4.83
3-Cone Drill: 7.93
Broad Jump: 102 inches

Strengths

Powerful, athletic three-technique tackle...stocky, well-built and proportioned, with a powerful upper-body to shed blockers and quick feet to get off the ball at the snap...elite-level first-step for a guy his size...good coordination -- reacts well to plays in front of him...closes to the ball well, be it in the backfield or down the line...somewhat raw as a talent, but with a lot of upside...if motivated, his best football may still be ahead of him.

Weaknesses

Was much more sizzle than steak his final year at LSU...spent too much time focusing on the big plays like sacks and disappeared for long stretches...prone to lazy technique...will play with poor pad level, both in terms of playing too high, or opening his shoulders too quickly and reached by offensive linemen...hands don't always move as quickly as his feet -- will explode out of his stance but still allow opposing linemen to get their hands on him first and contain him...takes himself out of plays by getting upfield too quickly...also doesn't use his hands to control double teams, and lets down-blocks get to the next level...limited repertoire of pass-rush moves, mostly a pure bull-rusher...consistent effort is a concern.

Verdict

Johnson's nickname, "the Freak" applies in that there just aren't a lot of 300-pound men that can move like him. That makes him a valuable commodity in football, and it means he's almost certainly going to get drafted. But NFL teams are going to have a lot of questions. He didn't test quite as well as many would have guessed, and doesn't have the production to back up his reputation, particularly in his money year. Three-technique defensive tackles that get drafted high are typically either workout warriors that test off the charts, or insanely productive players. Johnson doesn't really fit either category right now. He's not coming off the board before the fourth round at the highest.