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Late pick making an impression
By Allen Wilson NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Updated: 06/11/08 6:37 AM
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James P. McCoy/Buffalo News
Receiver Steve Johnson has impressed with his ability to run after the catch.
He seems to make a play in every practice, earning the praise of his coaches and teammates alike. When the work is over and the players leave the field, he remains to catch extra passes from the Jugs machine.
When you are a seventh-round draft pick you better make an impression early and often. If it was Steve Johnson’s intention to get the Buffalo Bills’ attention, he is succeeding.
“He’s doing a good job,” Bills wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said . “He’s like all the other rookies, the head’s spinning a little bit. But he’s a playmaking guy. We were very fortunate to get him where we drafted him because we had a higher grade than where we got him.”
Like the Bills, Johnson was stunned he had to wait so long to get a telephone call from an NFL team during the draft. But the former University of Kentucky star has gotten over the disappointment.
“I’m here now so I don’t really have to worry about what happened in the past,” he said. “All I’ve got to do is go forward and everything will be all good.”
Johnson has been pretty good for most of the Bills’ voluntary practice sessions. He has impressive size at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, which was a big reason the Bills drafted him and 6-6 James Hardy.
What stands out about Johnson is his good hands and ability to run after the catch. His route running needs polishing, but he doesn’t seem to have a problem getting open.
“You can see that he has good ability,” Tolbert said. “He still has a lot to learn, but he’s off to a good start.”
If Johnson is raw it’s because he hasn’t been playing football long. The San Francisco native didn’t take up the sport until his high school started a program before his junior year.
He started at running back as a junior and quarterback as a senior, while also playing safety, linebacker and defensive end. It wasn’t until Johnson reached Chabot College in Hayward, Calif., that he moved to wide receiver. He embraced the position switch and earned All-America honors his second year by catching 73 passes for 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns.
After transferring to Kentucky in 2006, Johnson needed a year to adjust to the NCAA Division I-A level. But he busted out in a big way last season with 60 catches, 1,041 yards, 13 touchdowns and was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference by College Football News. Two of his touchdowns were game-winners: a 57-yarder with 28 seconds left against Louisville and a 7-yarder in triple overtime against then No. 1 LSU.
It was Johnson’s performance in that LSU game that really made Tolbert stand up and take notice. Including his game-winner, Johnson had a career-high seven catches for 134 yards during a 43-37 upset of the eventual national champions.
“If a receiver played LSU I’d watch that game because LSU had two senior cornerbacks that did a good job all year long,” Tolbert said. “But Steve pretty much ripped LSU’s senior corners apart, so that stood out more than anything. That showed me everything he could do as a playmaker.”
Producing in what is widely recognized as the best conference in college football didn’t hurt either.
“Some people say the SEC is like an NFL JV, so to speak,” Johnson said. “But going against LSU, Florida and Tennessee is like going against the best, so you’re pretty much practicing for the next level. Coaches always told us that at Kentucky. It has helped make the transition [to the NFL] a lot easier.”
Johnson’s experience against SEC defenses may help him in shorts this spring, but the NFL is a much different and faster game when the pads go on in the summer and fall.
Tolbert likes what he’s seen but wants to see more from Johnson when training camp arrives.
“I have no problem with his playmaking ability,” Tolbert said. “I don’t have a problem with his toughness from what I saw on film. But getting him in a situation where he can be successful and be consistent, that’s the key.”
Johnson knows he has a lot to prove, but that’s nothing different than what he’s faced since he first touched a football.
“Out of high school to junior college it was always the same way,” he said. “I just started playing the position, so every time I stepped on the field I had to prove myself. I think if you step on the field with that attitude and mentality you can’t really lose. Don’t be comfortable at all. Just continue to work and good things will happen.”
I know Matt liked him coming out of college
Still cant believe he lasted until the 7th round....Funny enough I had him going in the 5th round to the Bills
Late pick making an impression
By Allen Wilson NEWS SPORTS REPORTER
Updated: 06/11/08 6:37 AM
SAVE EMAIL PRINT POPULAR Digg it del.icio.us + Larger Font Google Yahoo - Smaller Font
James P. McCoy/Buffalo News
Receiver Steve Johnson has impressed with his ability to run after the catch.
He seems to make a play in every practice, earning the praise of his coaches and teammates alike. When the work is over and the players leave the field, he remains to catch extra passes from the Jugs machine.
When you are a seventh-round draft pick you better make an impression early and often. If it was Steve Johnson’s intention to get the Buffalo Bills’ attention, he is succeeding.
“He’s doing a good job,” Bills wide receivers coach Tyke Tolbert said . “He’s like all the other rookies, the head’s spinning a little bit. But he’s a playmaking guy. We were very fortunate to get him where we drafted him because we had a higher grade than where we got him.”
Like the Bills, Johnson was stunned he had to wait so long to get a telephone call from an NFL team during the draft. But the former University of Kentucky star has gotten over the disappointment.
“I’m here now so I don’t really have to worry about what happened in the past,” he said. “All I’ve got to do is go forward and everything will be all good.”
Johnson has been pretty good for most of the Bills’ voluntary practice sessions. He has impressive size at 6-foot-2 and 202 pounds, which was a big reason the Bills drafted him and 6-6 James Hardy.
What stands out about Johnson is his good hands and ability to run after the catch. His route running needs polishing, but he doesn’t seem to have a problem getting open.
“You can see that he has good ability,” Tolbert said. “He still has a lot to learn, but he’s off to a good start.”
If Johnson is raw it’s because he hasn’t been playing football long. The San Francisco native didn’t take up the sport until his high school started a program before his junior year.
He started at running back as a junior and quarterback as a senior, while also playing safety, linebacker and defensive end. It wasn’t until Johnson reached Chabot College in Hayward, Calif., that he moved to wide receiver. He embraced the position switch and earned All-America honors his second year by catching 73 passes for 1,060 yards and 12 touchdowns.
After transferring to Kentucky in 2006, Johnson needed a year to adjust to the NCAA Division I-A level. But he busted out in a big way last season with 60 catches, 1,041 yards, 13 touchdowns and was named first-team All-Southeastern Conference by College Football News. Two of his touchdowns were game-winners: a 57-yarder with 28 seconds left against Louisville and a 7-yarder in triple overtime against then No. 1 LSU.
It was Johnson’s performance in that LSU game that really made Tolbert stand up and take notice. Including his game-winner, Johnson had a career-high seven catches for 134 yards during a 43-37 upset of the eventual national champions.
“If a receiver played LSU I’d watch that game because LSU had two senior cornerbacks that did a good job all year long,” Tolbert said. “But Steve pretty much ripped LSU’s senior corners apart, so that stood out more than anything. That showed me everything he could do as a playmaker.”
Producing in what is widely recognized as the best conference in college football didn’t hurt either.
“Some people say the SEC is like an NFL JV, so to speak,” Johnson said. “But going against LSU, Florida and Tennessee is like going against the best, so you’re pretty much practicing for the next level. Coaches always told us that at Kentucky. It has helped make the transition [to the NFL] a lot easier.”
Johnson’s experience against SEC defenses may help him in shorts this spring, but the NFL is a much different and faster game when the pads go on in the summer and fall.
Tolbert likes what he’s seen but wants to see more from Johnson when training camp arrives.
“I have no problem with his playmaking ability,” Tolbert said. “I don’t have a problem with his toughness from what I saw on film. But getting him in a situation where he can be successful and be consistent, that’s the key.”
Johnson knows he has a lot to prove, but that’s nothing different than what he’s faced since he first touched a football.
“Out of high school to junior college it was always the same way,” he said. “I just started playing the position, so every time I stepped on the field I had to prove myself. I think if you step on the field with that attitude and mentality you can’t really lose. Don’t be comfortable at all. Just continue to work and good things will happen.”
I know Matt liked him coming out of college
Still cant believe he lasted until the 7th round....Funny enough I had him going in the 5th round to the Bills
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