Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Rufus Johnson Jr. made one position switch from defensive end to outside linebacker soon after the New Orleans Saints drafted him in the sixth round last year. He now is working on another one.

Johnson has worked some with third and fourth units at defensive tackle through most of the OTA and minicamp practices over the last month. The Saints had their final minicamp practice Thursday (June 12).

"They're trying me out there, and I think it's a good position for me," Johnson said. "I'm actually making a lot of progress."

Johnson (6-foot-5, 272 pounds) said he will play defensive end in some packages but will also take snaps along the interior of the line, where he must be quicker with his moves against offensive guards and tackles.

"I've always played on the edge," Johnson said. "This is my first time actually being don in the three-technique, down with the bigger guys."

Johnson said the move inside is "a little bit of an adjustment, just from the fact that you don't have that much space."

The Saints put Johnson on the practice squad after the preseason last year and had him there for the entire regular season. He moved to the active roster during the week of the playoff game at Seattle in place of the injured Parys Haralston.

"Last year was more I would say a learning year, working on my technique," Johnson said. "I look at as just helping me learn. Basically helped me because I make better judgements now. Last year I was playing wild, trying to use athletic ability."

Johnson excelled in college as s 4-3 defensive end at NCAA Division II Tarleton State, where he had 33 tackles for losses in his two seasons there. The Saints moved him to outside linebacker after they drafted him to try taking advantage of his pass-rushing experience, and he played on the fourth-string units during preseason games.

Johnson said coaches talked with him last season about moving to the new position. He made the move for the start of rookie minicamp last month. The Saints hold their final OTA practices next week.

Rufus Johnson Jr. makes another position switch for New Orleans Saints | NOLA.com

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

I said in a thread a couple weeks ago, I thought he would be playing down on the line. He's got a good size/speed combo for a 3-4 end, not all that different from Cameron Jordan really.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Man oh man. If we can teach him the positions then Johnson could line almost anywhere. I wonder how good his coverage skills are?

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Saints reserve Rufus Johnson says he’s ready to answer the call

Rufus Johnson Jr. was in a hospital in early January, waiting for his daughter to be born, when he received the best news of his young NFL career.

After choosing him in the sixth round of the 2013 draft and placing him on the practice squad, the Saints called to say they were moving Johnson up to the 53-man roster mere days before a divisional playoff game at Seattle. There’d been an injury at Johnson’s position; the Saints required depth; and they trusted him to handle himself well if they needed him to play.

Ultimately, the Saints didn’t call on Johnson to appear in that season-ending defeat. But the promotion signified how much he’d grown during a year that had a difficult start. It had a much nicer ending, as Johnson received the Saints’ call and soon after welcomed his baby girl, Aubrey, on Jan. 6.

“She gives me life,” Johnson, 23, said of Aubrey. Of finally landing on the Saints’ roster, he said: “Effort never goes unnoticed.”

That’s a good thing in Johnson’s case. Effort was all he had for much of his rookie year.

After racking up 151/2 quarterback sacks and second-team Division II All-America honors in two seasons at Tarleton State as a hands-in-the-dirt defensive end, Johnson was asked to switch positions by the Saints. Move to outside linebacker and stand up, they told him.

Read more: Saints reserve Rufus Johnson says he

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

According to his college coach, his coverage skills are not very good.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Sounds like he's gotten bigger.

If he can fill out a bit more and get up over that 280 mark, I can see DE/DT in his future.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

DT in a 43 line up sure thing

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Especially at the 3-tech on passing downs.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Looks like we are trying to fit a round peg in a square hole...

I bet he gets cut and ends up on the PS again.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Its certainly true we've been guilty of that in the past, but I think what we're doing here is different.

I think we've found a guy with NFL talent and we're trying to find the best spot for him. Thats why we've tried LB, DE and DT.

I'm happy that we're moving him around to see where he fits best instead of forcing the proverbial square peg into a round hole.

I think we're trying to discover which hole this talented player fits best into. (no crass comments please). Thats Ryan's MO and I'm quite OK with it.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

I don't know where you are coming from with that. It's not like they're putting him at nose tackle or something. Foster played pretty much the same role last year and he's roughly the same size as Rufus.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

This^

Its difficult to find guys his size with such quick short area burst. Its why the coaches decided to keep him around. Its also similar to what we did with Junior Galette and that worked out very well for us. He's just a slightly bigger version.

I think his ideal spot is either a 4-3 DE, or even 3-4 DE if he adds a few more biscuits.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

I like Rufus and was a supporter of his, so my comments aren't meant to slam the guy. However, I think we have so much talent on the team this year he wont make the 53 man roster because (although he has the physical ability) he will be behind learning a new position. I believe this is the 4th position he has been slotted for in the last 2 years.

Also, its not as easy to bulk up and maintain quickness. If he does bulk up to 280 he may lose that sudden burst the coaches liked so much...

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Tweener from a small school. Long shot to make the squad.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Galette was a tweener from a small school too. Also we have a semi-glaring lack of depth on the defensive line at this point. In fact my money's on Rufus beating out Tyrunn Walker for a backup DE spot. If he can flip back and forth between DE, OLB and 3-tech pass rusher that makes him even more valuable.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

Galette however is relentless, he will keep the pedal to the floor every play and that's how he makes money. He can get abused 10 plays in a row but the 11th one look out. Rufus is not that kind of player. Think the writing is on the wall for him unfortunately.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

That's right... has to be a 4-man line. He is not going to move inside and play NT... he's not bulky enough.

I really think Rufus' best chance to make the ballclub is as a situational pass rusher playing DE in a 4-man line. He might even be able to play DT and apply inside pass pressure in that configuration (Cam Jordan LDE, Rufus Johnson LDT, Akiem Hicks RDT, Junior Galette RDE). Neither John Jenkins nor Broderick Bunkley would be playing in that setup, since they are not known for pass rushing skills.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

I feel for the guy. The coaches are switching his position again.........I'd say no. :no:" I'm just learning this position and getting good at it."

He's always fighting for a spot against the up and coming players or
rookies.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

I don't think saying no is an option, if he did he'd end up on the waiver wire faster than kenny stills can grab an 80 yard TD

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

He's not really switching positions. He's always been a down lineman and pass rusher. The only change was when he played LB. He is simply returning to the skill set he's always had. Not a huge difference between DE and the 3 tech DT. It's not like going from DE to OLB.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

I would have to see this move first. We could use another guy up front in different packages. On the heavy set, I wouldn't mind seeing Rufus lined up at ILB crashing a lane.

Re: Rufus Johnson - LB, DE and now DT?
 

:popcorn: