Understated O-Line Coach Paul Boudreau has to love what happened shortly after 10 pm Friday night. The most experienced offensive lineman on the NCAA Champion Alabama Crimson Tide football team (with 36 straight starts) became an Atlanta Falcon on the final pick of the third round of the 2010 NFL Draft. Mike Johnson played both guard positions and left tackle for the Tide, and he’s a prototypical Dimitroff selection: a smart, no-nonsense player who blocked for a Heisman Trophy winner on the best team in college football. And his maturity and work ethic arrived at an early age. According to his bio on the University of Alabama Football site, Johnson didn’t miss a single practice or weight room session during his four-years playing football at Pine Forest High School in Pensacola, Florida.
Interview the week of the SEC Championship Game vs. Florida:
Johnson can’t help but zero in on the offensive line when watching a football game:
Elation after a late-season thrilling victory over LSU kept ‘Bama’s national title hopes alive:
13 Comments
Weatherspoon, ok. But the rest of the draft picks…yuck. They past on Dez and Tebow. They could’ve picked either one and made incredible trades with other teams. They seem to past over great players… ones that will stand out and bring bigger revenue to the city, for what Peters, Hawley. We desperately need a pass rusher and a break away receiver. Dominuque Franks, ok… but as far as Dimitroff draft grade this year.. C-!
dwight…. you must be dwight from the office talking out you butt like that. TD is not taking the sexy picks. Atlanta has taken sexy picks for years and where did it get us??? Don’t worry i’ll wait for the reponse for that one, but don’t look to you hard you won’t find it. He picks people based on character and work ethic. He is doing what he learned from great drafters to win championships. You want sexy, troubled players for picks go be a Raider or Bungle fan.
this is the worst falcons draft ever thomas dimitroff what are you doing are you here to help or hurt us the falcons always use this word opportunistic please practice what you preach you guy blew this draft with the exception sean weatherspoon other than that its over for the falcon we did not come through
Great pick for team. Everyone know u got had have great o LINE to win it all.
@ Joe– We need another receiver because teams were free to double team both White and Tony G during several games ad just flaring out a linebacker to barely cover Jenkins, because while the guy is fast, he does not run consistent routes, and he drops a LOT of balls, we need a solid threat on the other side of the field to take more advantage of the Tampa 2 offense which Matt Ryan has had trouble with over and over again.
Why do we need another 3rd of 4th round WR. We have that level receiver already (Jenkins, Finnerann) I say both the Peters and Johnson picks are QUALITY picks. Mike Jenkins is serviceable as a #2 because over 160 passes were sent to Gonzales and White and Mike is no slouch of a receiver I know 1 team he would start for now (Titans). They need Peters due too the durability issues of Peria Jerry and Johnson both guards were out at times this season. If both happen again these two can contribute if needed.
the falcons dont wanna win no superbowl we passed up to many good players that can come in and start immeadiatley sean weatherspoon is good pick what about a #2 reciever there is not a reciever left in this draft that could be a true number 2 this years draft sucks thomas dimitroff i dont know i worried know cause we did not fix nothing we still have needs why are we still drafting dt’s we have 4 or five already to my falcons fans it’s going to be one of those years i mean the lions and the browns had a better draft than we did there is no way were going to beat new orleans this year their offense will kill our d’ our offense will not be able to keep up with them we need more offense
We need to draft players like this one, these are the types of players that make a franchise good. TD and Smith know what their doing and are getting players that will fit in with the falcons brand of football. I cant stand it when people want teams to draft by names, we arent watching hours of films like the scouts are so I trust in what they do.
I like Johnson…definitely a good pick for what we need…but I’m BEGGING TD to show me what I’m missing on bypassing other higher ranked DL’s to take Peters. Don’t get me wrong…I like the guy, but I still say he’d still be there in the line up when we pick in round 4 or 5.
Taking a deep breath now and trusting in Smitty and TD…you guys have proven me wrong plenty of times before. I just wish I saw what you see.
I don’t see the 3 seasons worth of games Mike’s played in as a benefit to his longevity or his conditioning in the weight room. Mike has had both leg and shoulder problems. If he’s used in a very limited role then this is a great pick but I would rather have a blocker without all the nagging injuries. Injuries are a symptom of the punishment he takes on the football field…and the NFL will put his legs/shoulders to the limit every play.
On a positive note, Mike’s a veteran of a winning team and has the experience to focus in the crunch time.
OL is a far greater need than WR.
I love it, love it, love it! Mike Peters is a BEAST and the kind of guy we need to keep Matt Ryan clean and upright during games!
Not a bad pick up. Not really what I wanted but ok. But please let’s get a reciver please.