FS, Rashad Johnson, Alabama

FS, Rashad Johnson, Alabama

Pros:  Cerebral defender. ... Reads the action quickly and puts himself in position to make big plays. ... Quick to recognize run and is able to often get to the ballcarrier before blockers can be effective.

Cons:  Has a skinny build. ... Needs to bulk up in both his upper and lower body to be able to handle taking on blockers at the NFL level

Styg's Broncos Fit:  An extremely smart player with an excellent first step and deep understanding of his role and the roles of others.  I really like this kid and think he could step in as a starter right away.    Working against him are his size and the type of frame he has, where it looks like he would be sacrificing some of his speed to get bigger.  But as is, he still managed to produce, especially at critical times.  As a last line of defense he needs to work on his tackling, but overall he is a secure tackler with good power and a great instinct for getting to the play.  Not intimidating enough to warrant four stars, but if he could somehow get his strength up and become more of a hitter, he could push past three stars.  Watch his pro day results to see if he added any bulk and maintained his quickness.

Around MHR:

Around SBNation:

From Scouting Report at Mocking the Draft:

Johnson has become a solid safety prospect after walking on at Alabama. He's done that with hard work, particularly in the film room. That work has turned Johnson into a smart defender who is quick to react, differentiating quickly between pass and run plays. Leader of the Alabama defense on and off the field. Good hands and instincts versus the pass. Johnson had 11 interceptions over his final two seasons. Has played special teams.

Highlights:

Scouting Reports and Offsite Links:

• Is very tough and has consistently shown a willingness to make hard tackles. Shows good flexibility and loose hip movement. Is a smooth athlete with good transition skills. Has range to get to the sideline in time and make a hard hit on a receiver right after the ball arrives. Is sure-handed and shows good ball skills. Displays a nice backpedal and fairly quick feet. Is smart and can make calls in the secondary. Covers tight ends well in man-to-man coverage and even flashes ability to cover slot receivers.   [see more...]
• He was named to the All-SEC First-Team by the conference's coaches. Johnson does not have incredible size for a safety (6'0'' and 187 pounds), so he is not one of those prototypical huge-hitting defensive backs, but he is a good hitter and a standout in pass coverage. He has outstanding vision and is great at reading quarterbacks. He has been used occasionally at cornerback for those reasons and his speed (around 4.4. in the 40-yard-dash) could enable him to make a permanent move to the outside at the next level.   [see more...]
• Rashad Johnson has been on of the busiest safeties in the nation the last two years, totaling 11 interceptions in 2007 and 2008. He is probably limited to playing on a team that will let him play deep center as a free safety, since he won’t be able to help versus the run much. However, he is a ballhawk with great coverage abilities that will find a way to succeed at the NFL level through hard work. Though he is nowhere near the athlete, his play is similar to 2007 first rounder Reggie Nelson.   [see more...]
• A two-year starter and team captain who began his college career as a walk-on...Was a 2nd Team All-American in 2008...Named 1st Team All-SEC in 2007 and 2008...Came up with three interceptions in the Crimson Tide's overtime win against L.S.U. as a senior...Arrested on a disorderly conduct charge in February of '08 following a disturbance at a bar...Was pretty durable in college, only missing a couple of games with an ankle injury in 2006, but you wonder if he will be able to hold up physically at the next level...A true playmaker and ballhawk in the secondary with a real knack for being in the right place at the right time...A bit of a free safety / cornerback 'tweener...Had a tremendous senior campaign and really improved his draft stock...Has been able to overcome a  lack of top-notch measurables with  first-rate  intangibles.  [see more...]
• A smart, heady defender who reads run/pass quickly and has the instincts to consistently get after the ball. Reads so quickly that he often beats receivers and blockers to their spot in the pass and run game. A confident open-field tackler who is very patient and wraps up well on contact. A real ball hawk in the secondary but doesn’t take himself out of plays. Possesses great hands and body control. Can create turnovers on all levels of the field.  [see more...]