Lane Johnson, OT, Oklahoma
 

A guy who seems to be making a surge up draft boards and on the internet if Lane Johnson.

What can people tell me about him?

Does he have LT ability?

Could he sneak into the 1st or 2nd round?

Very inconsistent results, not a great run blocker, looks athletic but gets moved to RT quite a bit. I think he'll go in the third round or so.

I came way more impressed from what I saw.

He moved well and had a nice base.

I did not understand why he was moved to RT against West Virginia? The RT [79] leaves the game and Johnson flips over and 71 comes into the game. Then against Kansas St he plays the entire game at LT and does pretty well.

Yes, he's the top senior tackle prospect in this draft. He held Notre Dame's Stephon Tuitt to just one tackle.

There are a number of people who seem very critical of him and mostly his movement skills.

I have like what I have seen.

Johnson was a JUCO QB, and was recruited as a TE. Movement skills are probably one of his biggest strengths.

He played RT tackle all last season. Coaches probably just felt more comfortable with him playing RT than the 3rd tackle.

Once he puts on more weight, and gains more strength he will be a solid run blocker, and great in pass pro. The guy was a JUCO QB, and was recruited to play TE. He switched to DE, and then finally ended up at OT. He has only been playing OT for about 3 years now.

He started all last year at RT due to Donald Stephenson being the LT. He moved to LT this year, and pretty much plays that position unless OU goes jumbo.

As far as consistency goes I question whether you watch the guy. He whipped Jackson Jeffcoat from Texas, and more than held his own against Tuitt from ND.

I guess the real question is at this time next year are we talking about Lane Johnson as a solid LT?

For a team like the Bears who could use an upgrade at LT and are picking so late in round 1 is he a possible target?

I am watching Johnson right now and a couple of quick impressions,

-His body is always in good position because of his athletic ability. He always has the DE in the middle of his body and does not give up and edge.

-He needs to get stronger and use his punch more because he is athletic enough to force the bull rush.

-He needs more experience and coaching as he missed a couple of stunts.

But overall I am impressed by his body position, which is 80% of pass protection.

Just dominated the run block for the Damien Williams huge TD run.

He reminds me a lot of Nate Solder in the fact that he just needs reps.

Solder smoothed out the rough edges and now looks like a stud because the one thing that you cannot coach is athletic ability.

I could see Lane Johnson making his way into the late 1st for a team in need of a LT.

But I doubt a guy with this base to work with gets out of the 2nd round.

I watched Johnson closely in the Cotton Bowl and was very impressed. Huge frame with long arms and excellent feet. Definitely a Top 100 talent. However, I think the first round talk is a little much. Too much work to do from a physical (bulk / strength), fundamentals and temperament standpoint to go that early. More of a finesse type and needs to get nastier.

You brought him to my attention and i was more than impressed with his performance against the Aggies. When they moved Damontre Moore over to his side, which was quite a bit actually, i thought Johnson won all those battles. If someone didn't know they might not have seen a lot of differance between him and Joeckel/Matthews.

As for his draft status i think he can make some strides at the Senior Bowl and the combine. Hard to see him jumping over the top 3 or 4 guys (Joeckel, Lewan, Fisher but he may be able to get into that late first early second, being he looks like, to me at least, that he is very comfortable at LT.

He should be a first-round pick, Scott. LTs come at high value in the draft these days. He will be the second or third offensive tackle taken in this year's draft.

How does he compare to Justin Pugh?

I think Johnson is more athletic and looks the part of a franchise LT and Pugh is a mauler type - not the prettiest looking athlete but gets the job done. I like both of these guys alot.

Saw him interviewed today on NFL Network....Was a QB in Junior College and runs a 4.75 40 =0 damn!! Sick athlete. Here is a youtube video of him doing a reverse dunk...holy cow. Def an athlete.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=_xhgi37KANc

I think he'll be a late 1st rounder, as RC Sooner said, LT's are hard to come by and this guy has a huge upside.

I bet if Fisher goes top 10 that Lane Johnson goes 11 to San Diego or 16 to the Rams.

LTs are hard to find and he is on the Nate Solder path right now.

Looks like the perfect guy for Oregon's system. If Chip does decide to go OL in the first maybe he takes a look at Lane Johnson?

So you're expecting some trade activity, which is entirely possible when a new coach comes in with a long term deal.

I think Lane Johnson could turn out something in the line of a Joe Staley, a guy who was very athletic and needed to add some lbs. Having said that i think somewhere in the 20s is a realistic hope for his supporters.

I imagine Chicago is his floor.

He won't get past the Rams first first round pick.

That's kind of what i'm thinking. If the Rams had someone like Warmack fall to them they might think he's a better player, they do need some help at guard too.