Trumaine Johnson, Montana, CB/S

by Crackback on Feb 10, 2012 9:39 AM EST

Griz Cornerback Trumaine Johnson- 4 Years At Montana (via andersonkayla77)

Trumaine Johnson vs Central Arkansas 2011 (via phillyjimmyphilms)

6-2, 205, 4 year starter

In today's NFL the athletic, hybrid WR/TE is all the rage. This is particularly the case in our division with the Patriots possessing two such threats, along with an All-Time QB tossing it them. The problem that they present is that they are not only too athletic for traditional safeties and linebackers to contend with, but they also pose significant height and size issues for most corners. Some have suggested using LBs with coverage skills to combat this problem. I propose using big corners; or a corner/safety hybrid if you would. Trumaine Johnson is my prototype.

Johnson is a fantastic athlete. He played QB in HS, was heavily recruited to play WR in college, and ultimately he decided to play corner at Montana. That right there proves how versatile of an athlete this kid is. He's a 4 year starter and has tremendous experience. He also has experience as a kick returner (again showing you his athleticism). Johnson is excellent in coverage (11 break-ups, 12 deflections, 1 INT). He also has fantastic ball skills: roots out deflections, high points the ball, goes after the ball with his hands rather than trapping it against his body. His prowess as WR in HS further attests to his ball skill abilities. Johnson is also physical. In the clip above, you'll see him knocking ball carriers around and fighting through double-teams. He also seems pretty adept at blitzing off the edge; he seems to exhibit some pass rushing skills in this area as well. On the Jets, I think Johnson would be a fantastic fit.

He's got the speed and range to play free safety. He's got the instincts to read the QB and make a break on the ball. He's physical and athletic enough to re-route receivers and cover (namely against athletic TEs). You can blitz him off the edge. He's exactly the kind of guy that Rex can mold to flourish in his scheme. He can be a Charles Woodson type of guy that can be moved all around and that can make plays. Paired with corners like Revis and Cro, and with the addition of a good pass rusher, having a guy like Johnson in the secondary would make the defense very dangerous.

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I like this kid...He could be avaliable in the later rounds too.

I didn’t know where to put this info but the Raiders cut Sanford Rudd would this be the kind of player we can bring in and transition him into a safety?

bleed green and white

by greenandwhite4ever on Feb 10, 2012 10:08 AM EST reply actions

Would you rather have Johnson or Iloka?

It seems like value wise they could both be gotten around the same pick. Looking purely at measurables Iloka is a bit taller and faster and already plays free safety. Johnson sounds like a real beast however and being that he is a CB gis coverage skills might make him a better fit. I was just wondering how you would compare the two players and which one you would take if you could only have one? Great job on the article :) keep them coming

by RhodesRocks on Feb 10, 2012 10:32 AM EST via mobile reply actions

On a side note...

I we could get them both would you? Having a. CB at FS and a FS at SS would give us a huge boost to coverage skills, possibly giving us the best secondary against the pass in the league. Also at 6’4 220 Iloka looks like he would be no slouch in run support.

by RhodesRocks on Feb 10, 2012 10:39 AM EST via mobile up reply actions

Iloka intrigues the heck out of me.

I haven’t seen him play, so I can’t really say whether he’s any good. But his measurables are nearly identical to Robert Sands (a guy I LOVED last year). If he’s anything like Sands, I’d love to have him.

And I really like the idea using him at SS (or any big FS at SS). I’m with u in that I think u really increase the athleticism and coverage of the position by doing so. And likewise by using a big corner to play FS.

by Crackback on Feb 10, 2012 3:59 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

the thing with Iloka

I loveee Iloka (he and Kerley are my athletes) and I was actually the first person to talk about him here (made my head huge lol) but not sure he’ll be ready to start Day 1. I may be wrong but I think he’d be best as a situational player in his first year, as opposed to an every down player. But otherwise, yea I’d love to have those two guys (rounds 3-4 if we can) and get a OLB round 1 (Mercilus, Ingram, or Perry; NOT Upshaw I think he’s going to be a very good linebacker but he will never be a great pass rusher he is an all around linebacker and won’t put up big sack numbers), OT/WR round 2, them rounds 3 and 4, ADRIAN HAMILTON round 5, punter round 6, and BPA’s with the rest of our picks (including compensatory)….. Would love to have McClellin as well but not too sure it’s possible if we get these two guys

by jets! on Feb 11, 2012 11:24 AM EST up reply actions

100%

I completely agree with your assessment of Upshaw. 100%

by RevisIsland&Alcrotraz on Feb 11, 2012 10:11 PM EST up reply actions

Both

It’s possible to get both somewhere within the middle rounds.

by boblivius on Feb 11, 2012 10:19 AM EST up reply actions

Agreed Crack, Johnson is a player that I really rate and by all accounts a lot of professionals do as well. I think he can be had in the 4th round. The obvious concern is that he played at Montana against some pretty poor opposition, Portland State, Weber State and Northern Colarado among the best. I watched Montana v Sam Houston State at the end of the year in the Football Championship Subdivision semifinal and he was the best Montana player. Although I didn’t see much passing defence as obviously Sam Houston State are a run orientated offence (that ran for well over 300 yards that game). I like him though, he’s pretty raw but has tremendous upside. I would definitely take him in the 4th.

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by David_Wyatt on Feb 10, 2012 10:49 AM EST reply actions

Cheers DW. Thanks for the insight.

by Crackback on Feb 10, 2012 12:37 PM EST via mobile up reply actions

Good Prospect

I actually drafted Trumaine Johnson in the 2nd round of my Madden League just because of his size and decent speed…..like all players at the NFL level I think it boils down to good coaching and being placed in the right situation, Johnson has the size to be effective against TEs but it will be up to him if hes smart enough to pick up the gameplan swiftly….I think a 4th would be a good pick on him

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by AFCxxBEAST on Feb 10, 2012 11:01 AM EST reply actions

He did a nice job shaking of thoes blocks on that WR screen at 2:40 in the CA game.

Jukes the lineman and sheds the back without a problem at all. I like that. Cro sucks against the screen.
And I love him on the blitz. Something I’m convinced we will be doing more of this year for sure.
If Cro was raw and had a pair of nutz he would look alot like this guy.
We can take chances on guys like this in the mid rounds as long as we keep Revis happy. He seems to be elevating Wilson’s play through leadership and example both of which breed confidence and I would expect him to do the same with any other CB.

by Can'tWait on Feb 10, 2012 11:45 AM EST reply actions

I love this kid.

I wrote a post about him a couple of weeks ago. It got a lot of negative feedback but I guess everyone’s warmed up to the idea now. Crack me and you on the same page once again.

by RevisIsland&Alcrotraz on Feb 10, 2012 1:40 PM EST reply actions

He lacks the physical nature to be safety I think hed be best at CB

I could be wrong but according to the scouting report from CBS Sports – http://www.cbssports.com/nfl/draft/players/1633486/trumaine-johnson

“Does not attack ballcarriers or seek out contact as much as scouts would like. Runs past targets in the open field too often instead of breaking down to corral them”

by Nu York Fan on Feb 11, 2012 8:54 AM EST reply actions

I Noticed That on Film

In the clip where Montana was playing C Ark or whatever team it was, a number of times after the man he was covering caught the pass, Johnson just grabbed hold of the receiver, and didn’t even hit or make any real attempt to tackle him. All he did was slow down the receiver a little to allow another Montana defender to come in and actually make the tackle. That was scary bad. I started to mention it earlier, but then when I looked at the other clip, I saw that he does make some solid tackles, especially the goal line tackle early on where I think they got a Safety on the other team. I think the tackling thing can be taught, but perhaps not.

Right now, I like Iloka better than Johnson.

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by joeklecko on Feb 11, 2012 12:24 PM EST up reply actions