Matt Miller on Tyler Johnson: Rd 6-7; He’s not fast. He’s not big. He’s not getting good character reports

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Walter Football...


Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
Height: 6-2. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.54.
Projected Round (2020): 2-3.
11/30/19: This season, Johnson has recorded 66 receptions for 1,025 yards with 10 touchdowns.

8/17/19: Johnson made NFL teams' preseason watch list after a strong 2018 season in which he recorded 78 receptions for 1,169 yards with 12 touchdowns. Johnson has nice size to him and preseason projections by some advance scouts have Johnson as having the potential to be a prospect for the first half of the 2020 NFL Draft.
 

USA Today...2nd round pick

draftwire.usatoday.com

2020 NFL draft: Tyler Johnson scouting report

Tyler Johnson | WR | Minnesota Height | 6-2 Weight | 205 College Bio Page Career Stats Strengths If you’re looking for a polished and intelligent route runner, you won’t find too many i…
draftwire.usatoday.com draftwire.usatoday.com
 



cncmin said:
SPoofin, have you stopped crying yet that PJ is our coach and not Ol’ Jer?
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PJ is a better coach than Ol’ Jer. Not liking PJ and not wanting him as our coach are two different things. Sorry you can’t comprehend that.
 


FWIW, he seemed to be pulling away a little from Smoke Monday on the long TD. At the very least, he’s as fast as Monday, who was a mid 4-star recruit with offers from most of the blue bloods.

uz97rok.png
 

skauma said:
Walter Football...


Tyler Johnson, WR, Minnesota
Height: 6-2. Weight: 200.
Projected 40 Time: 4.54.
Projected Round (2020): 2-3.
11/30/19: This season, Johnson has recorded 66 receptions for 1,025 yards with 10 touchdowns.

8/17/19: Johnson made NFL teams' preseason watch list after a strong 2018 season in which he recorded 78 receptions for 1,169 yards with 12 touchdowns. Johnson has nice size to him and preseason projections by some advance scouts have Johnson as having the potential to be a prospect for the first half of the 2020 NFL Draft.
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This. If I have the Vikings' pick in the second half of the second round, there'd have to be someone else who'd fallen far and in a position of need for me not to grab Johnson. 3rd round would be a no-brainer.

Not sure about speed comparison coming out of college, but he's got a skill set like that of Cris Carter.
 





cncmin said:
PJ sucks! Man, I love him as our coach!

OK, Two-Face

?
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Right - cuz I can’t think someone is a good coach w/o liking him too. Every Alabama fan likes Saban? I have never ever said PJ sucks or is a bad coach. Grow Up.

We have been over this a million times. Step your game up. I’m in too good of a mood to argue with your nonsense.
 

Spoofin said:
Right - cuz I can’t think someone is a good coach w/o liking him too. Every Alabama fan likes Saban? I have never ever said PJ sucks or is a bad coach. Grow Up.

We have been over this a million times. Step your game up. I’m in too good of a mood to argue with your nonsense.
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I clearly pushed the right button! Chill, Spoof, I’m just ribbing you. Happy 2020!
 

For some reason, Johnson reminds me of Cris Carter in a lot of ways. About the same size and both had intermittent issues with drops, but were/are always capable of the highlight-reel grab. Carter was a 4th round pick in a supplemental draft (he left tOSU a year early after getting bamboozled by a crooked would-be agent). The game has changed a lot at the pro level since Carter played and I don't know where that puts Johnson in the modern draft pecking order. I've been thinking second day (likely 3rd round), but like so much else these days, it will boil down to drafting teams' needs/possible fit in how the draft actually falls pick-by-pick.
 

Seriously though, is this Matt Miller legit or just some guy with a Twitter account and blogs for a second rate sports website who thinks he knows cfb.
 



50PoundHead said:
For some reason, Johnson reminds me of Cris Carter in a lot of ways. About the same size and both had intermittent issues with drops, but were/are always capable of the highlight-reel grab. Carter was a 4th round pick in a supplemental draft (he left tOSU a year early after getting bamboozled by a crooked would-be agent). The game has changed a lot at the pro level since Carter played and I don't know where that puts Johnson in the modern draft pecking order. I've been thinking second day (likely 3rd round), but like so much else these days, it will boil down to drafting teams' needs/possible fit in how the draft actually falls pick-by-pick.
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Never thought about it, but that's a really good comp. Guy whose measurables won't jump off the page in isolation, but who plays a lot faster in pads for some reason. Elite tactician, incredible body control, physical and not afraid to go up and get it, makes difficult catches, etc. Really good comp, and it would not surprise me one bit to see him have a successful NFL career.
 

This is going to be interesting to follow in the coming months leading up to the draft. I have followed Matt Miller’s work for years and can see him beginning to dig his heals in on Tyler Johnson.

After the bowl game many Gopher fans went @ Miller on twitter with Tyler Johnson highlights and opinions. I know I did! He interacts on twitter often, so he pushed back some. Then his podcast, Stick to Football had a new episode today and each guy shared their top 32 players for this years draft. A ton of receiver talk as this is a really, really great WR class. No Tyler Johnson talk and at one point Miller makes a comment when talking about WRs, “and there’s a receiver that I won’t talk about...”

I don’t see this getting better for Miller’s opinion on TJ. Emphasis on opinion. Miller is a big name for a media draft expert. He puts in the work, but is not anywhere close to Daniel Jeremiah’s level in draft expertise and professionalism. He will double down on his opinion and the more Gophertwitter goes @ him, the more Miller will push back and not give TJ a fair look or credit due. This should all get sorted out in three years.
 

TJ looked pretty fast v Auburn. Their corners couldn't close on him.
 

I’ve been critical of Tyler for the concentration drops, but he really made a statement in that bowl game. That was by far his best game as a Gopher, and it couldn’t have come at a better time. He showed everything in one game...leaping ability, body control, route running, hands, and enough speed to outrun an SEC secondary. It should be enough to get him back into 2nd and 3rd round discussions. Not getting a Senior Bowl invite was hurting him the most, IMO.
 

I hope he works out with Cashman's guy leading up to the combine. I think he'll run faster than people expect. My call now is 4.45
 

Matt Miller is a 49ers fan, as am I, and he reported this past offseason that John Lynch (49ers GM) and Kyle Shanahan (49ers Coach) were feuding and on bad terms. 49ers beat writers were miffed because they had not heard that from their own reporting. One of the beat writers, long-time SF guy Matt Maiocco, had Miller on his podcast to discuss his reporting on the subject. Maiocco pushed back very heavily, but fell short of accusing Miller of fabricating the story.

This might not be really relevant to the topic at hand, but when the guy claims that Tyler Johnson isn't Acing his character evaluations, I would take it with a grain of salt
 

Lakers612 said:
Matt Miller is a 49ers fan, as am I, and he reported this past offseason that John Lynch (49ers GM) and Kyle Shanahan (49ers Coach) were feuding and on bad terms. 49ers beat writers were miffed because they had not heard that from their own reporting. One of the beat writers, long-time SF guy Matt Maiocco, had Miller on his podcast to discuss his reporting on the subject. Maiocco pushed back very heavily, but fell short of accusing Miller of fabricating the story.

This might not be really relevant to the topic at hand, but when the guy claims that Tyler Johnson isn't Acing his character evaluations, I would take it with a grain of salt
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I see this as the main issue. He can push back on any of his on field concerns by referring to stats and film, but the character issues seem to be out of nowhere. For all of us that have seen nothing but class from Tyler Johnson, we should feel like calling Miller out for this.
 

50PoundHead said:
For some reason, Johnson reminds me of Cris Carter in a lot of ways. About the same size and both had intermittent issues with drops, but were/are always capable of the highlight-reel grab. Carter was a 4th round pick in a supplemental draft (he left tOSU a year early after getting bamboozled by a crooked would-be agent). The game has changed a lot at the pro level since Carter played and I don't know where that puts Johnson in the modern draft pecking order. I've been thinking second day (likely 3rd round), but like so much else these days, it will boil down to drafting teams' needs/possible fit in how the draft actually falls pick-by-pick.
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Cris Carter was one of the most sure-handed receivers ever in the NFL. Unless he had drop issues in college or before the vikings that I'm not aware of. His hands with the vikings were like glue.
 

TJ sounds a lot like Thielen, 6-2 200 lbs, not a burner, but a great route runner, great on contested balls. TJ will probably go in the 3rd, part of that is this may be the deepest WR draft in a decade.
 

Word said:
Cris Carter was one of the most sure-handed receivers ever in the NFL. Unless he had drop issues in college or before the vikings that I'm not aware of. His hands with the vikings were like glue.
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Cris had similar concentration drop issues early in his career and they cropped up rarely during his time with the Vikings. There's no question that he would rack up unbelievable catches consistently.

Another guy I think about when digging up comps for Tyler Johnson is former Packer James Jones who was a 3rd round pick by the Packers in 2007. About the same size as Johnson and ran just below a 4.6. He played at San Jose State so he didn't face the level of competition that Johnson has faced in the B1G and was largely viewed as a reach when Ted Thompson drafted him. Jones had issues with drops, but he carved out a decent career in Green Bay and Oakland catching 433 balls in 9 seasons.
 

everybody knows my name said:
Also, I followed that Twitter link and read a lot of the Gopher fan responses. I'm embarrassed for those guys. Do they really think there's something positive about arguing vehemently and insultingly with a stranger about the character of someone they don't even know?
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That's pretty much twitter.

If you make a nuanced / informed response, it gets buried.

Being an asshole gets attention and that's what twitter incentivizes.
 

Regardless of where he gets drafted I think other college football players can learn from Johnson here. He could have easily sat out the game but he decided to play and had a hell of a game. Hell of a game not just statistically as he showcased some serious athleticism not only with that TD grab but with another leaping grab across mid field.

His performance may not be a huge draft day difference, but it certainly won't hurt.
 

This year's crop of WR's for the draft is supposed to be the best in years. So, I wouldn't be surprised if TJ goes in the 2nd or 3rd round. Best of luck to him. It will be fun to watch what he does in the NFL.
 

march madness said:
TJ sounds a lot like Thielen, 6-2 200 lbs, not a burner, but a great route runner, great on contested balls. TJ will probably go in the 3rd, part of that is this may be the deepest WR draft in a decade.
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This is a great comp.

Tyler Johnson is a dynamic route runner, athletic and fast enough. I think he is a bit more athletic (the ability to make a play on contested balls) than Diggs but not quite as fast.
 

As the NFL is seemingly obsessed with measurables, his 40 time at the combine is going to be crucial. With that said, he is a great red zone target with great jumping ability, good hands and body control. I think this will allow him to have a good NFL career.
 

march madness said:
TJ sounds a lot like Thielen, 6-2 200 lbs, not a burner, but a great route runner, great on contested balls. TJ will probably go in the 3rd, part of that is this may be the deepest WR draft in a decade.
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Isn't Thielen actually pretty fast? I'm sure somebody will contradict me with a measured 40 time, but I thought I remembered what got him his original tryout with the Vikes was his speed, and he further impressed with his route running and hands.

Regardless, there's plenty of room in the NFL for a good route runner that can get more than his fair share of 50/50 balls (which Tyler is great at).

Edit: I looked up 40 times of Thielen (4.54) and Diggs (4.46).
 
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forever a gopher said:
Isn't Thielen actually pretty fast? I'm sure somebody will contradict me with a measured 40 time, but I thought I remembered what got him his original tryout with the Vikes was his speed, and he further impressed with his route running and hands.

Regardless, there's plenty of room in the NFL for a good route runner that can get more than his fair share of 50/50 balls (which Tyler is great at).

Edit: I looked up 40 times of Thielen (4.54) and Diggs (4.46).
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I thought Thielen ran a 4.45, not a 4.54 (mentioned in this article https://amp.businessinsider.com/adam-thielen-paid-250-to-try-out-for-nfl-2018-10)
 

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