Time to graduate

Jun 05, 2008, 8:45:10 AM by Jonathan Rand - FAQ

Linebacker Derrick Johnson and the Chiefs’ defense have progressed in lock step the past two seasons — steadily and noticeably, but not yet spectacularly.

Though it’s possible to build a dominating defense with 11 very solid players, it’s more feasible when you have at least a few stars. When Herm Edwards took over the Chiefs in 2006, they had not boasted a Pro Bowl defensive player since 2003, and did not have another one until Jared Allen led the NFL in sacks last year.

Now that Allen has been traded, the Chiefs need another defensive player to post a breakout season and replace some of the energy and leadership that Allen provided. On anybody’s list of candidates to fill that role, Johnson, the Chiefs’ first-round draft choice in 2005, would be at or near the top.

“This is the year for me,” he said after Wednesday’s off-season workout. “Knowing my career has progressed each year, it’s kind of like college. This is my senior year.”

Johnson’s gradual progress has been a mixed blessing. He did not experience the clumsy initiation that befalls many a highly touted rookie. Yet he hasn’t made the quantum leap by which up-and-coming stars announce that they’ve arrived.

Johnson, who plays the left outside spot, became the Chiefs’ first rookie linebacker in nearly two decades to start all 16 games. He also played credibly in 2006, despite missing three games because of injury. Then in 2007, he ranked third on the team with 107 tackles, tied for second with two interceptions, tied for first with three forced fumbles and was the runaway leader with 16 tackles for losses.

Now, Johnson says he wants to step up to an even higher level of play.

“I want to be a little more consistent,” he said. “I’ll have a good game, then (people say), ‘Where is D.J.?’ Every game, I’m going to try to make plays. Every time I do something good, I have to find a way to do it again.”

Though Johnson, 6 feet 3 and 242, was drafted by Dick Vermeil, his ability to cover a lot of ground makes him a good fit for Edwards’ Tampa Two defense. Actually, Johnson is versatile enough to fit into any coach’s defense.

He’s big and strong enough to play the strong side. Yet he can also make the big plays typically associated with a fast and sleek weak-side linebacker. Johnson’s four sacks last year ranked third on the team, behind ends Allen and Tamba Hali.

Johnson has an eye on making more big plays this year after listening to Gunther Cunningham, the defensive coordinator and linebackers coach. “Gun says he’s going to turn me loose and let me make plays,” Johnson said.

When told of that remark, Edwards smiled and implied Johnson was putting the horse before the cart. “When you’re ahead on defense, you always have the ability to turn guys loose and go after the quarterback,” Edwards said. “That’s what he’s talking about.”

In other words, a defense has to set the table for itself before it can switch into big-play mode. The more often the Chiefs can force opponents into obvious passing situations, the more often they can take best advantage of their top pass rushers, including Johnson.

“He can be a tremendous blitzer,” Edwards said. “He can be very good at pass coverage because he has great ball skills, a lot of range and has the height and long arms. He can be a heck of a football player.

“He’s matured every year and I think he’s anticipating a good year. He’s going to be a bigger player for us this year. And he needs to be.”

The opinions offered in this column do not necessarily reflect those of the Kansas City Chiefs.

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A former sportswriter and columnist in Kansas City and Miami, Rand has covered the NFL for three decades and seen 23 Super Bowl games. His column appears twice weekly in-season.