I think he'll do well for us, and our fullbacks better look over their shoulders. This kid isnt much of a runner but as a blocker he takes it to the next level with a junkyard dog mentality. This guys blocking will get noticed in a hurry.

my favorite pick

Just watching film on him is impressive. When he contacts a guy, he's not just stopping them... he's 'displacing' them. As much as I like Kuhn, I think the combo of Hall and Johnson is ideal. You have one smaller agile skill fullback and one bruiser. Different sets. It works.

I just like the style of football he brings. Nastiness. Make the D-Linemen and linebackers fear having to play at the line of scrimmage. Half the guys he hits probably don't even remember the rest of the game...or the next several days. I call that "giving someone the ability of time travel."

3d and 1? 4th and 1? No problem.

I love the pick as well. He hits like a truck. I was watching a highlight of Charles Scott, the RB from LSU, and on almost every single play, Johnson was leading the way and just destroying the first level of defenders, both DL and LBs.

Classic Thompson-guy. Love em'

Very versatile, physical guy that should add a nice piece to the puzzle both on special teams and in jump-starting the running game.

The thing that interests me the most is that he's got very long arms. Compared to someone like AJ Hawk, who is the same height and weight, he appears massive.

first, I like a FB who doesn't have much of a resume as a runner or receiver. That means he is a true FB.

Second, that being said, Johnson put on quite a display in the Senior Bowl running and catching, both during the practices and in the game. He was a 1000-yard rusher in HS. I'm just saying perhaps he gets those 3rd-and-1 and 4th-and-one conversions Kuhn didn't. In fact, perhaps those failures on Kuhn's part are the primary reason we shopped for a FB.

That was the first thing I thought of when we drafted him. I said, "There's our bruiser."

He reminds me of Henderson when he first came into the NFL.

I think Kuhn is gone.

This guy will probably start. And man will Grant and AR like that.

A little help for a developing OL-maybe?

Count me as another who loves this pick. I really think they needed a guy like this- especially in short yardage.

The inverted wishbone could also become real interesting now.

The guy is an absolute hammer. I like the pick as well. If they keep 2 FB's, someone with some good ability is going to get cut (either Lumpkin or Wynn).

I don't think they will keep 3 FB's, so it is more likely that Kuhn or Hall (the 2 FB's from last year) will be cut over Lumpkin or Wynn.

Scott Wright from draftcountdown.com compares Quinn to Le'Ron McLain. Both of them were FBs in college (SEC) and used almost exclusively as lead blockers.

Here is McLain's Draft profile coming out of college:

http://sportsillustrated.cnn.com/football/...ayers/5689.html



Le'Ron Mclain was Baltimore's leading rusher last year with 10 tds. He was also selected to the Pro Bowl. So I am fully expecting the exact same thing to happen with Quinn Johnson. Well..maybe not but I think he is going to be a beast as a lead blocker.

There isn't much out there on this guy but damn, he sure can hit. He always goes forward. ALWAYS.

Johnson might be one of those rare guys you watch block instead of watching the ball carrier, once the carrier gets past the blocker then your focus goes back to the ball carrier. He supposedly is a pretty good kid. I'm sure once Hall and Kuhn get a load of this guy, their blocking will go up a notch too. He and Tyson Jackson were high school and college teammates

I think there is a possibility that we keep only 1 FB now. Maybe a reason we kept 2 last season was because of special teams. With additional LBs this season, maybe we only keep 1 FB. How often did we use a FB last year? Didn't think it was often enough to keep 2. I am thinking we run even more empty backfields this year with the big 5 formation or even single back 4 wide looks.

I haven't missed an LSU game in the last 5 years, including the Monday night fiasco post hurrican against Tennessee, but thats another story.
The game that sticks out in my mind that lets me know this guys toughness was 2 years ago at home vs. Florida. That was the most physical game of football at any level I have ever seen. For those of you who love Youtube, Matt Flynn pulled a trick play on special teams. Anyway, LSU converted 8 4th downs. You read that right, 8! ALL by rushing. It got to be a joke after a while, EVERYONE knew what was coming and NO ONE could stop it. The combo of Johnson blocking for Jacob Hester. It was a dominating display of brutality. THAT is why I am excited about Quinn Johnson.

Going into the draft I felt that the team had other needs because we already had two capable fullbacks already on the roster.

I like both Korey Hall and John Kuhn, but I'm betting that Quinn Johnson becomes the starting fullback early in his rookie season and those two will battle it out to just keep their roster spot. I absolutely loved the pick.

Kuhn might have a shot to stick as a big RB and short yardage guy, but most likely Korey Hall will stick due to the fact that he's a superior blocker, receiver and special teams player and John Kuhn will either be traded or cut.

I love the selection of Quinn Johnson and I'm excited about the shift toward a more power-oriented running game. A smash-mouth fullback will go a long way towards helping to dominate the LOS again.

I was surprised that we picked a FB that early in the draft, but after reading, hearing and watching him, he seems like a good pickup. I thought our FB talent was always just so-so, but even though Johnson is fairly one-dimensional, I like what he brings to the table. I also hope he can using some of that power as a short yardage 'back. This draft keeps looking better and better...

I actually don't think that Quinn Johnson is a one dimensional player. That's just how he was used at LSU. When he got to the Senior Bowl he was able to showcase his receiving and running abilities as well. He looked very good and very complete. I think that he'll become the starter early and won't look back. I'm really excited about all the new elements that he adds to the offense. The only thing that I'm not sure about is if we get rid of Kuhn or keep him as a 3rd FB and short yardage running back. IMO his running background and work ethic makes it a realistic possibility for him to beat out Wynn, Lumpkin and Sutton.

I think the only way we keep only 1 FB is if MM thinks one of the TEs could double as a backup FB. Almost every running play we run utilizes the FB position.

That makes me think of Henderson too. William could catch and run really well besides lay the lumber. I'm really excited about this pick too. I watched an interview with him the other day and he came across as a really nice kid. I agree this draft looks better and better all the time. Can't wait 'til camp!

That's true. To be honest, I think if a FB can block VERY well, and can be used as "safety valve" on some throws, that's about all you could expect. I would love for him to also be a "battering ram" sort of power runner too! I love that stuff!

This is a great point.



Another great point.



And yet another very important point.

Several thoughts:

1. What a FB can perhaps do, and what he will actually be asked to do, often differ. It is well possible that the guy could have some receiving, running, or pass-blocking skills, but he was never asked to use them in college. It's also true that whether or not he might have them or might develop them if given opportunity, that it's again likely that GB will never ask him to use them in the NFL. I would really like it, though, if in fact he did emerge as a reliable and effective pass receiver. William Henderson got a lot more yards on dump passes than on called running plays, IIRC.

2. If Johnson is used almost exclusively for run plays, which seems likely, might that not be an undesirable giveaway to the defense? Some posters have criticized that the offense was too predictable: Jackson in = pass, Kuhn in = run. It would be nice if Johnson could emerge as an effective enough screen receiver, dumpoff receiver, and pass blocker so that he would be used on at least some passing plays. Often enough so that defenses wouldn't immediately know it's a run-play coming every time he's on the field.

3. His potential virtue as a run-blocker is important. But it would also be really nice if he turned out to be a smart, effective pass-blocker and blitz-picker-upper. Again, maybe that won't be relevant, because he'll never be on the field when Rodgers is planning to pass anyway. But it has been my uneducated impression that neither Grant nor Jackson are especially good or especially strong pass/blitz blockers. Given how little experience our RT will have, given how little experience our RG will have, and given how limited is Spitz's experience at center if indeed he wins that job, it seems very likely that no matter how talented or strong those linemen may be, they are going to make some mistakes and pass-rushers/blitzers are going to be coming hard at Rodgers not infrequently. It's theoretically possible that if Johnson is strong enough and physical enough, that he could be a big help in helping out in such cases.

4. Providence mentioned how LSU could run the ball on short-yardage, even though everybody knew it was coming. That's been the total opposite of recent Packers. In 07 Grant could get some yards on surprise plays when D's were largely protecting vs pass. But on obvious goalline, 3rd-and-short, or even routine 1st-down plays where D's anticipated runs, the running hasn't been good at all. If Johnson could improve this weakness to some degree, that could help a lot. A goalline TD vs a FG, a short-yardage 3rd down converted versus being forced to punt, a few such successes could turn some losses into victories. Might also help to get some 5-7 yard gains rather than 2-3 yard gains on 1st downs when we so often run with limited success.

5. Last year it seemed that MM was significantly fishing for ways to convert on such plays. Early on he was going with Rodgers on the sneak a number of times. Those worked pretty well, but given his importance to the franchise, it's always scary. Especially after his shoulder was bummed up. Then for a while MM was going with kuhn, but that didn't have sustained success. Would be nice if somehow Johnson would add an additional and superior option to MM's list of choices.

6. Most people have seemed to think that hall is the smaller finesse FB, Kuhn the stronger blocking FB. Since Johnson profiles as a stronger-yet blocking FB, I've gotten the sense most expect him to replace and upgrade Kuhn, since they d the same kinds of things, only Johnson hopefully will do them more effectively. Is that what you would think? But I wonder; if they aren't going to throw to Hall (that seemed pretty rare) or have him do much of the finesse type stuff, as a FB what does he offer to win him a job over Kuhn? If FB are basically going to be used only as blocking OL, might not having two stronger blocking OL FB's be better than having one and a finesse lighter-weight guy? Personally I like Hall, and think he's a smart if not powerful blocker; very mistake-free and assignment sure. I think he's smart and high-effort, which I like, and I think if they actually threw to the FB's more often I think he could do well in that. And obviously he profiles as a smart and effective ST player. So I'd rather keep him than Kuhn. But if the only usage in the offense will be as a blocker, might not Kuhn be stronger enough that Hall's ST play might not be enough to keep him on the team?

4th and Goal on the 1-yard line. I'm hoping McCarthy with QJ on the team gives it to him instead of opting to kick.

We needed better lead blocking. If anything will help, this guy will.

No way do I think we keep only 1 FB, and I'll tell ya why;

Special Teams coverage SUCKED last year. FBs and LBs are the meat of your coverage teams. Big guys that can run and hit. I look for Quinn's immediate impact on STs.

I think he'll see some time at FB as well, and not just smashing people.

Quinn and Hall. Both former linebackers. Both solid special teams players in college. IMO Johnson will be the starting fullback early sometime this season and Hall has been one of the team's top special teams guys since he was drafted. I think that he'll stick around as the backup fullback and special teams standout for years to come. He might not be the starter for much longer, but I think that he still has a lot of value for this team. Especially with McCarthy's inverted wishbone. I'm still hoping to see a true wishbone pop up there sometime in the future with Johnson, Grant and Jackson on the field at the same time.

Listening to his interview, what struck me was his unselfish attitude. He said something to the affect, that he doesn't care if they hand off the ball to him or if they just ask him to block. All he wants to do is play football.

I really like this kid.

Me too !!!

I really like the pic !!!

I want to see him pankaking Briggs and that purple a$$hole Jared Allen !!!

Damn I am as happy as I can be with the overall draft,,, cant wait for the season to begin !!!

Hey Cutler there comes Hawk and Clay !!! Hey Mr. Cutler what is that brown thing leaking from your pants???

I really can't wait for this guy to come and lay some wood. Our RB's should have some space to run this year!

I love what TT really did with this draft. I think Need met value really well with every pick. We needed to step up our run D, and definitely will with Raji. Our goalline situations should be much stouter.

Like I said earlier; I'm not for taking Raji @9 unless he could also play DE. It sounds like that's what they're going to do; so I see OUTSTANDING value in that pick.

I wanted Matthews during this whole process, but did not think we could trade out of the 9 spot to get him at a better value... I'd never Dreamed of TT trading back up to get him! I think he has the most upside of any 3-4 OLB in this draft... he has the loosest hips and an extremely quick 10yd split. I think we'll be seeing alot of #52 jerseys in the stands.

TJ Lang,,,, meet right tackle

Merideth.... Our future LT with OUTSTANDING value @ rd 5

Just giddy,,, sorry about the rambling,,, my wife just doesn't understand and my boys are too young. I don't have many folks to share my joy with living in MN.

someone mind linking me some good vids of this guy in play

I like this pic too - at first when he got called I was like wtf is this? ... now that I got to know him. Seems like a great pic for our team ... especially with how much MM uses fullbacks

There's not much out there, but here you go:

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rRmJLM5cnZk

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLMppXE97kE

http://www.packerchatters.com/op-ed/view.php?id=6431

Heh heh, just to get a contrary view on the greatness of this pick, read patty's grade: D+, she hated the pick so much it made her cry, and as negative as her written eval was, it sounds like she would have even been more negative at the time of the selection. "He has virtually no running skills. Has no hands and is a liability. Very slow footed and can make no adjustments. He has no running instincts or field vision. What he is, is a brute force punishing lead blocker."

"Opponents will know what to expect when he comes into the lineup. Run up the middle."

I share that latter concern. Well, not exactly; I'm no scout so I have no idea what he can or can't do. But *if* he is a one-dimensional blocker: how effective will it be to put a player like that on the field? Having a good lead blocker is nice, of course. But if defenses see him on the field and immediately know you're going to run up the middle, might not their knowing what's coming largely neutralize whatever effectiveness he has in that role?

I hope he's a good run blocker. But I'm a believer that when defenses know the run is coming, most can stop it pretty well. (Especially against our offensive line and our less than explosive, less than unstoppable running backs). Somehow Johnson will need to be used in plays where it isn't run-up-the-middle all the time. Some pass plays, some screen plays, some sweeps. And he'll need to be able to contribute to those plays in some way; blitz-picker-upper, or lead blocker on sweeps, or something. If the defense knows that Johnson-in-means-run-up-the-middle-every-time, I'm not confident that will end up being all that effective. I know it worked for LSU vs Florida, but I just don't think that even with Johnson we'll have the physical superiority at line or running back to make that work very well.

I'm not expecting him to run the ball more than once or twice per season; obviously FB's don't do that normally. But if he could end up being a serviceable dumpoff receiver and a serviceable or excellent pass blocker as well as run-blocker, that would help a ton.

That's why I think it will be very necessary for the coaches to develope him and round him out better as a player. The one thing he brings to the team is that he is supposedly a very punishing blocker, if he can learn to catch little dump-offs coming out of the backfield and learns to pick up blitzers then I think he could become a big contributor for this team we already have a fullback that can do a bit of everything in the form of Korey Hall.

I think in his first year Quinn will see most of his time as the extra fullback in the full-house backfield goal-line situations and on special teams. Fullbacks in this offense typically have to be effective at catching passes out of the backfield, if he can't do that yet then it stands to reason his time will be limited.

However I do think we need a FB that can just punish blockers and I hope Quinn fits the bill in that regard.

She ignored the fact that the role she described for the FB as a negative is exactly how MM uses them anyway. Long gone are the days of Billy Henderson catching 30 swing passes in the flat. Our FBs are there to run and pass block and play ST. MM has done that here so far and he did the same thing as OC in NO with Terrelle Smith. By design the FB's have almost no role outside of blocking.

In MM's three years, our FB's have caught 12, 10, and 11 passes all year out of the backfield. In his one season in SF, his FB's caught 7 passes. In NO, it went 12, 4, 9, and 6.

If McCarthy could clone a Lorenzo Neal at age 24 and put him on the roster he would because that is the kind of guy he wants at FB in his offense.

And what exactly were the skills Hall and Kuhn brought to the team originally?

Quinn has at least deveped a college resume at the position, and a pretty good one at that for what he was asked to do IMO. Hall was a converted LB with no demonstrated ability to run or catch the ball...or asked to clear a path for a RB at the line of scrimmage. Hall's developed nicely, as has Kuhn, but I have no reason to believe Quinn won't be as effective...if not more so than either of them. IMO he will prove to be an upgrade over the players currently starting at the position on our roster and regardless of position, if I can find a starting caliber player in the fifth - I'm happy.

Good points.

"Our FBs are there to run and pass block..." Maybe I'm nitpicking, but being there to run AND PASS block is different from being in there solely to run block.

If it's run-block only, and the defense almost knows a run is coming and can sit on run when they see he's on the field, that's one thing.

But if he can both run and pass block, so the defense can't sit on run, that's multi-dimensional enough for me. Then he could be invaluable as a stronger run blocker. But also invaluable in protecting Rodgers and helping the passing game.

I just find myself watching this clip over and over.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=sLMppXE97kE

I see no evidence that he can't do this multiple times a year, if not a game.
I think he can run much better than given credit for. He just hasn't been asked to do it.

As a Junior in HS he rushed for 800 yards and eleven touchdowns as a FB, not the feature RB.

The sneaky thing about getting a guy like Quinn Johnson is that while he may not blow anyone away statistically (a la Mike Alstott) if he can translate his game to the Pros, he can be a vital cog in the Packers offense. The elite teams can beat you in multiple ways. Right now the Packers weakness on offense is in short yardage situations. Hall and Kuhn are assignment sure, but they are not bulldozers. What Johnson provides is someone who can get that extra inch or two when it matters most. Not saying he's for sure going to come in and blow everyone away, but he certainly flashes the potential to be that mauler the Packers have been missing. I'm all about versatility and if the Packers can improve their short yardage ground game, they are going to be awfully hard to contend with.

Disagree, Watch the Senior Bowl tape.

I did and he still has no hands and no running ability.

I have seen plenty of RB's have several catches in the Senior Bowl and end their career in the NFL with maybe 6 total receptions. When in the NFL they will have someone over that slot he caught 2 of those 3 passes no one even bothered to cover him. In the pros they will not allow that to happen.

During some LSU games they threw the ball to him and he badly botched everyone of them. He has no hands. A couple of times a LB came up and he just flat 0ut dropped an easy throw that a 14 year old would have caught

But the eval that matter the most is his blocking. Not as effective as it is being made out to be on this board. Many times he hit the wrong gap and the Rb got stacked up. His pass blocking is atrocious at times. But that might be adjusted by better coaching at the NFL level.

The notion on this board is he is this monster that will solve every problem of the Packers in the short yardage. All he has to do is run into the line and the waters will part and Green Bay has an automatic 1st down.

Yes he could carve out for himself a career as a blocker who miraculously catches a pass now and then.. But with the 5th rounder that he came in this value does not merit a passing grade. Certainly not the best player left on the board and especially not the top need of the Packers at that time.

For years I have advocated getting a big bruiser of a RB or FB . I wanted a guy who could come in and provide a punch with his ability to catch a pass and of course run with churning feet and power. Also a solid blocker as well. But what I did not want was a 1/2 dimensional type of back.

We got him now it will be interesting to see if the coaches can develop him.

All I got to say is look at Korey Hall. Basically the same size as Quinn and was a monster LB for Boise State. Look at his stats as a LB and you see athleticism. Converted to FB by Green Bay because of his devastating blocks he made on special teams units at Boise Sate. Look at his ability as a FB: Was the primary lead blocker for Ryan Grant in 2007 , his rookie year. and last year as well. Has shown the ability to catch passes in a crowd. Was said to be the strongest player on Packers special teams unit in 2007. Registered 15 key blocks for Packers RB's in 2007 and made 4 TD resulting blocks for Packers in 2008

Scout's report: Korey Hall FB: a strong lead blocker for the Packers. Has developed quite nicely since coming from Boise State where he was a top level LB. Has decent to good hands and can make the tough catch. Not used by Green Bay as a RB but was a good RB in high school. Has good foot placement and uses leverage well. For what Green Bay uses a Fb for he fits. Very good special teams player -- uses his power and strength on return units -- has good field awareness.

So my question comes to this Why did we need Quinn Johnson? We have Korey Hall. And if we needed a FB who can give you something as a runner we have John Kuhn. Who is also a pretty decent lead blocker as well. Kuhn displayed good blocking technique on several downs for the Packers this past season. Kuhn is more of a bulldozer as his frame supports 260LBS well. but, he has shown the skills to be an all around blocker using good technique in setting for pass blocking.

The reason I gave a grade of D+ was it was not a needed selection and there are several questions about Quinn by some scouts. But in round 5 you have sort of a freedom to draft on a hunch or take a gamble. Green Bay and more importantly Ted THompson must have seen something he liked and felt he could upgrade a position. Certainly not ST units because Hall and Kuhn are standouts there. But he saw something. So I am now a Quinn Johnson fan and will hope to see development and results.

I think McCarthy is redesigning the Packers' ground game substantially this offseason. Previously it has relied far too heavily on stretch plays and misdirections, with runs off tackle and off end accounting for three-quarters of all runs. Opponents learned to counter that easily — go back and watch the Panthers' LBs stay in their lanes and swoop on the RB as he cuts. And it put a ton of pressure on the tackles and tight ends in the blocking scheme. With a new RT and Clifton's deteriorating physical situation, that is now unsustainable. Hence McCarthy must be building up an interior running game — at last. Quinn Johnson fits into that: not as a replacement for Hall, but as a supplement.

I don't expect either back to touch the ball outside of a gadget play or a massive QB checkdown.

Fair enough, clearly they think they can work with him. I think he'll warrant a higher grade than D+, but we wont know that until he shows or doesn't show what he can do.

Clearly this is a scouting issue. Different scouts have different evaluations of the same players all the time. Can't remember whether it was MM or Edgar Bennet, but they said TT and whomever is their LSU area scout loved the guy, as a blocker especially, but also seemed to talk about him as having the athleticism to possibly do other things. Clearly they scouted him as being potentially superior to Hall and/or Kuhn, superior enough to invest a 5th round pick when a guy like Meredith was still on the board.

Patty clearly doesn't scout him like that. She doesn't see how he's any better, or perhaps even as good, as Kuhn.

Johnson: "Many times he hit the wrong gap and the Rb got stacked up" .... "His pass blocking is atrocious at times"
Kuhn: "Kuhn displayed good blocking technique .... Kuhn is more of a bulldozer as his frame supports 260LBS well...he has shown the skills to be an all around blocker using good technique in setting for pass blocking."
Hall: Patty makes reference to "devastating blocks" , same size as Quinn, strong lead blocker, etc..

Patty scouts Hall and Kuhn pretty favorably, and Johnson as run blocker not so favorably. And she scouts nothing favorable whatsoever about Johnson outside his blocking.

TT obviously has somewhat different scouting evals on this trio, or else he wouldn't have spent his first pick in the 5th round on Johnson, when talents like Meredith and others were still available.

Different teams and different scouts have different evaluations on people all the time. If Johnson turns out to be nothing much, it won't be even close to the first time that TT and his scouts thought they saw something that wasn't there. (4th rounder Cory Rodgers in the 2006 draft stands out as one of the dramatic mistakes. Lacked both hands and speed...) But Ted and his scouting staff have had their hits, and I'm sure Patty and some of her sources have had their misses too. All scouts do.

In this case I certainly hope that TT's higher grade for Johnson proves more accurate than Patty's much more negative evaluation.