Nice story on Tom Johnson
 

Tom Johnson settles in with Saints in New Orleans

HURLEY -- As with any NFL player who is not a member of the Super Bowl champion New York Giants, Tom Johnson's 2011 season didn't end exactly as he'd hoped. But considering from where he came, the New Orleans Saints defensive tackle can look back on his first year in the league and smile.

Johnson, a Moss Point native who also played at Mississippi Gulf Coast Community College and Southern Miss, finally stuck in the NFL last season after five years in the football wilderness. The 27-year-old worked his way into the Saints' defensive rotation, playing in 13 games and recording 15 tackles, a sack and a forced fumble for the NFC South Division .

Full article.
Tom Johnson settles in with Saints in New Orleans (Stephenson) | gulflive.com

Can't wait to see what Spags does with these boys.

Coach him up Spags.

Yeah, I think the pre-season injury really hurt him (no pun intended) with his acclamation to the NFL game speed and schemes.

With a full off-season with OTAs and camps, and with a new DC who is known for his ability to create pressure with the front four - I'm hoping he can become a really good DT for the Saints going forward and even past next season.

He had the most quickness out of the DT corps before and after the calf injury, and I think that is something Spags can/will utilize going forward.

Its kinda sad, but I have more hope and expectations for TJ than I do Ellis. I know that doesn't make much sense but its kinda how I feel about it.

And with all that in mind, Injuries, getting acclimated to the game speed etc He still made more of an impact than Sed Ellis, Shaun rogers and Aubrayo Franklin

The thing about Ellis is that he really doesn't have the size to be a dominant DT in the NFL. A 6-1 DT can have great success in college, but it can be a real weakness in the NFL, especially if the individual is lacking in other areas as well.

The Saints wanted Glenn Dorsey in that 2008 draft and when that was no longer possible they seemed just invested in moving up and getting a DT/E. The Saints having had Ed Orgeron as the D-line coach back then - who coached Ellis at USC and was the guy who recruited him in the first place - probably sealed the deal, and is the reason the Saints ended up picking Ellis in that draft.

It's even more disheartening to think back to that draft when you consider the fact that the New England Patriots used Saints' original pick to pick LB Jerod Mayo.