A.J. Johnson is playing for Sunday

#1
turambar85

turambar85

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#1
A.J. is absolutely killing it this year. I decided to check the defensive stats to see how he is doing relative to the rest of the SEC, and he is completely dominating the rest of the conference.

It's impressive when you see that he is second in the SEC. But the numbers themselves don't tell the story. Here are the standings:

Michael Scherer - 50
AJ Johnson - 46
Martrell Spaight - 43
Kentrell Brothers - 39
Nigel Bowden - 36
Jalen Reeves-Maybin - 35
Amario Herrera - 34

Now, Michael Scherer, Spaight, Brothers, and Bowden have all played 5 games, whereas AJ and JRM have played in four. So, the player with the second most tackles in 4 games is JRM. AJ is in first place by 11 tackles. The non-Vol with the second most in 4 games is Herrara. So, AJ is in first place relative to non-Vols by 12.

He also has more tackles for a loss than anybody else in the top 5, and is one of only two in the top 10 with an interception.
 
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#4
#4
Love the play of AJ Johnson, but he tries to do too much which puts him out of position sometimes. We need for players around him to step up and play their position, and for AJ to have confidence in their play.

But the guy has fun playin football, and would be a asset for any NFL team.
 
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#5
#5
This dudes draft stock has risen exponentially if he isn't taken in the 1st some lucky team is gonna pick up a baller
 
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#6
#6
ItsAllVols said:
Love the play of AJ Johnson, but he tries to do too much which puts him out of position sometimes. We need for players around him to step up and play their position, and for AJ to have confidence in their play.

But the guy has fun playin football, and would be a asset for any NFL team.
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He won't have to do too much when he gets to the league because he'll have better pieces around him and he can focus more on what is expected of him on an individual level.

He's been playing a lot better this year, and towards the end of last year, because there are better players/team around him.

Some people say that he lacks speed, but I still think he can make a pro roster.
 
#7
#7
turambar85 said:
And you're welcome...I almost made the title "A.J. Johnson".
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Shame on you for putting the players name and a day of the week in the thread title. I thought he was suspended for Saturday's game.

;-)
 
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#8
#8
ItsAllVols said:
Love the play of AJ Johnson, but he tries to do too much which puts him out of position sometimes. We need for players around him to step up and play their position, and for AJ to have confidence in their play.

But the guy has fun playin football, and would be a asset for any NFL team.
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Seriously? I suppose there will always be fans looking for the negative; but dang dude. Our team defense is playing lights out this season. JRM is on the list in OP which is a "player around him". AJ is living proof that better team mates and better coaching of God given talent makes good players great players.
 
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#9
#9
Add leadership to his bio. He stands out to me as the one that energizes and moves the defense to play harder and faster.
 
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#11
#11
BigSteve09 said:
Some people say that he lacks speed, but I still think he can make a pro roster.
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I thought the same in the past, but he appears to be a step faster this season to me? The NFL drafts heavily on combine results so a lot will depend on how AJ performs there. His play this season looks like a first day draft choice.

Shane Schov, the LB from Stanford a couple of years back looked like a sure fire NFL player and he wasn't even drafted so you never really know?

I do wish AJ and JRM weren't being asked to make so many tackles...our depth still isn't where it needs to be.
 
#12
#12
And UT fans were hating on him like a mofo preseason, at least discounting him. Told you guys when he had some support he'd look like the true beast he is. Not even counting what he did to elevate his own game like practicing with the secondary etc to increase his speed. He's on a whole other level.
 
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#13
#13
I couldn't believe he made a statement basically apologizing about the Georgia game and ensuring that it wouldn't happen again this weekend. AJ has nothing to apologize for, he plays his tail off.
 
#14
#14
He said, and i agree, that UGA was his worst game this year. He had 17 tackles, which is absurd, but was out of position at times and got shook a few more. UGA has the best RBs in the country so it's only up from here.

And if your worst game has you register 17 tackles... you play sundays.
 
#15
#15
They mentioned him during the draft this year. I believe they graded him as the 3rd overall ILB and likely would have been a 3rd-5th round pick. If he can keep this up all year he will probably jump to late 1st but more likely 2nd rounder.
 
#16
#16
Great college player and an incredible leader. Think he goes in rounds 2-3. I'm as big an AJ fan as any.
 
#17
#17
A.J. is one of the best linebackers we've had at Tennessee in awhile. He is a beast and should be a late 1st rounder/early 2nd rounder at a minimum in the NFL. Let's enjoy watching him while we have him.
 
#18
#18
rocketskates said:
I couldn't believe he made a statement basically apologizing about the Georgia game and ensuring that it wouldn't happen again this weekend. AJ has nothing to apologize for, he plays his tail off.
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I loved those comments. It shows a lot of self-awareness and leadership. I think on a few of GA's big plays he over-pursued and opened up cut back lanes. You're right he's playing his tail off and being asked to do too much due to lack of depth. He's taking responsibility for his mistakes though and holding himself to a very high standard. I love it.
 
#19
#19
TBtheGBwiththeTD said:
He said, and i agree, that UGA was his worst game this year. He had 17 tackles, which is absurd, but was out of position at times and got shook a few more. UGA has the best RBs in the country so it's only up from here.

And if your worst game has you register 17 tackles... you play sundays.
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I rebuked an earlier poster for saying the same thing AJ said. I had no idea AJ said it was his worst game. I apologize to the poster i responded to earlier in this thread.

Gotta love the passion of AJ. 17 tackles and leading the defense combined with his special teams play and he considers it is worst performance. He has become my favorite player on this team and is in my top 10 VFLs.

Now, Go get those gators, AJ!
 
#20
#20
People say he's too slow, but Kevin Minter from LSU starts for the Cardinals and he ran a 4.8 at the combine in 2013. So I think he'll be fine
 
#21
#21
walkenvol said:
I thought the same in the past, but he appears to be a step faster this season to me? The NFL drafts heavily on combine results so a lot will depend on how AJ performs there. His play this season looks like a first day draft choice.

Shane Schov, the LB from Stanford a couple of years back looked like a sure fire NFL player and he wasn't even drafted so you never really know?

I do wish AJ and JRM weren't being asked to make so many tackles...our depth still isn't where it needs to be.
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I think there was a misconception that AJ was too slow because a lot of times, his teammates were out of position or nowhere to be found, so he was coming across the field and just baaaarely missing RBs or other ball-carriers.

This year, now that everyone is rushing to the ball and playing better, the bulk of responsibility doesn't fall on AJ's shoulders, so he can actually make better plays and take better angles to assist in tackles.
 
#22
#22
"Playing for Sunday" could certainly have a negative meaning.

AJ is playing for Sundays in the since that he is throwing it all out there trying to go pro....


2012 Justin Hunter on the other hand "played for Sundays" in a different way........
 
#23
#23
chatt-townVOL said:
"Playing for Sunday" could certainly have a negative meaning.

AJ is playing for Sundays in the since that he is throwing it all out there trying to go pro....


2012 Justin Hunter on the other hand "played for Sundays" in a different way........
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You're right. I didn't really know what to add in addition to his name (to prevent panic), and so I just threw that in. It would have been better to have said "playing his way into the NFL"

The "for" definitely implies a bit of purposiveness, and does make it seem like AJ is acting with that in mind. My bad!
 
#24
#24
chatt-townVOL said:
"Playing for Sunday" could certainly have a negative meaning.

AJ is playing for Sundays in the since that he is throwing it all out there trying to go pro....


2012 Justin Hunter on the other hand "played for Sundays" in a different way........
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Oh right, because 1083 yards (1/3 of the team's total passing yards) and 9 TDs coming off of a knee injury is really holding back.

Fourth in receptions in the conference that year behind Jordan Matthews (NFL) and Mike Evans (NFL 1st rounder).

Fourth in yards in the conference.

Tied for fourth in the conference for TDs
 
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#25
#25
One additional note: AJ is on pace for 138 tackles in the regular season. If we make a bowl game, he is on pace for 150. He is also on pace for 10.5 tackles for a loss in the regular season, and 12 with a bowl game. He is on the way towards having an all-time great season for UT.
 
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