Most Chiefs fans have gotten their wish; Derrick Johnson will be starting on Monday night when the Chiefs play the Chargers to open the 2010 season. Lots of fans will rejoice at such a statement but I am not so sure.
Ever since Derrick Johnson was drafted in 2005 and was supposed to be the next defensive star for the Chiefs, fans have been calling for him to get more recognition. Whether it’s that he should have been in the pro bowl when he only had an OK season or should be a started when Todd Haley had him on the third team, Chiefs fans can’t let anything go when it comes to DJ. I liked the draft pick, but have never been as big of a fan as everyone else ever since.
DJ has talent; there is no doubt about it. For his size he has a freakish athletic ability. However, as someone like Tedy Bruschi can prove, athleticism is not a necessary requirement to be a good linebacker, especially in a 3-4 defense. For an inside linebacker in the 3-4 scheme the ability to be a playmaker is welcome, but not necessary like it is to be a middle linebacker in a 4-3. Yet, KC fans keep raving about DJ’s “playmaking” ability. What makes a great 3-4 inside linebacker is good instincts, smarts, and the ability to power through blocks.
With DJ, all the knocks on him coming out of college could not be truer. Scouts were afraid that he would turn into exactly what he is because he was too instinctual, ran to the ball too much instead of making reads, and the biggest knock he can’t fight through blocks. If you pay attention to the games you will notice that DJ straight up disappears for long period’s game in and game out. He made two HUGE plays against the Denver Broncos in a meaningless game last season and all of the sudden all of his shortcomings go away and he should be on the field because he “makes plays.”
This is where I don’t understand. By this logic Wallace Gillberry should be on the field all the time and Glen Dorsey should be on the sideline. But that’s not taking into account the fact that Dorsey does everything he is SUPPOSED to do and does it well. If you make plays, but only do what you’re supposed to do half the time, you are of very little value to the team as a whole. This is why DJ has had less playing time. I don’t think Demarrio Williams is the answer but I do know that his level of play is more consistent than DJ’s.
The casual fan misses this and only sees the interceptions and the big plays. Defenses, especially 3-4 defenses are built on doing your job. That is more valuable than the occasional big play. So while I don’t think it’s a huge deal to start DJ over Williams, I think placing the value of DJ on his “playmaking” ability is a miscalculation. Doing the job you’re supposed to do is more valuable and will help the Chiefs D more in the long run (especially when Williams has shown an as yet unforeseen ability to make plays in the preseason with 3 sacks).
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