What does Alexander Johnson have to do to become a three-down LB for Broncos?

The Denver Broncos are going to harbor one of the better defenses in the NFL in 2019. With the likes of arguably the best edge rusher duo in the NFL in Von Miller and Bradley Chubb, a versatile defensive line six-deep, and the refortification of the secondary this past free agency, the defense looks pretty darn good on paper.

Signing defensive backs Kareem Jackson and Bryce Callahan provides an obvious boost to the secondary, but the reported play and growth of the likes of Justin Simmons, Will Parks, Su’a Cravens, and underrated signing and showing of newcomer De’Vante Bausby, should give the Broncos the most depth they have had in at least a few seasons.

On top of the talent on the defense, the addition of defensive schematic wizard, and player developer, Vic Fangio at head coach, along with his right-hand man in Ed Donatell at defensive coordinator, injuries will be the only thing keeping the 2019 Broncos defense from being very good.

While there are some areas to nitpick along the defensive line and defensive backfield, such as a truly great interior pass rusher who can hold his own against the run and a boundary corner to match up against sizable receivers, the scheme, depth and versatility in talent of these units should be more than adequate to give opponents headaches all season. However, just has been the case seemingly every season since Al Wilson retired, the linebacker corps remains a question-mark.

Injuries & physical limitations at LB

Even entering training camp, many were concerned with the Broncos’ defense in the middle of the field. Todd Davis and Josey Jewell, while solid LBs, just aren’t true difference-makers at the position in today’s NFL. Both can be solid in the box, coming down, and playing the run as well as holding their own in zone coverage, but both lack the true burst and juice to be dominant in coverage, pursuit, or blitzing the middle of the offensive line.

The Broncos defense could have been more than ‘fine’ with the likes of Davis and Jewell manning the middle of the field. Sure, they will get beat if asked to guard a wide receiver out of the slot in man coverage (see Davis versus Sammy Watkins at Kansas City) but that is more the fault of the scheme than the player, as LB-vs-WR matchup is one even the likes of Luke Kuechly, Bobby Wagner, and Deion Jones would struggle with in man coverage.

However, injuries have hobbled the likes of Davis with a calf tear (should be back by Week 1 but may have some residual effect) and Jewell (oblique injury but has returned to practice) as well as the exciting backup and special teams standout Joseph Jones (triceps injury, should be out another four to six weeks). While losing starters is never a good thing, it does open the door for other players to seize their opportunity and run with it.

For the most part, the Broncos' depth at LB has left many wanting. Undrafted rookie Josh Watson has been up and down, earning some reps with the first-team defense but looking more like a player who the team will have to think hard about keeping on the 53-man roster, or relegating him to the practice squad.

Rookie fifth-rounder Justin Hollins has flashed his incredible tools in coverage and off the edge, with 4.5-speed and a 6-foot-5 frame, he's super intriguing, but Fangio has commented about Hollins’ desire to hit and play physically as a true linebacker.

"I’ve seen good progression in that he’s learning two positions, which is hard," Fangio said. "He’s showed he can run and has athletic ability. He’s just got to develop the love of hitting people like linebackers in this league have to have."

Hollins' time is coming, but it may not be just yet. The rest of the LBs, from Joe Dineen to Keishawn Bierria, have been lackluster.

Johnson the exception at LB

While most of the LBs haven’t run with the opportunity to play with the ones and expanded playing time, Alexander Johnson has been the exception. Starting off camp as the main backup to Todd Davis, Alexander was given a golden opportunity to shine playing for one of the premier LB coaches of all-time in Vic Fangio.

Johnson, listed as 6-foot-2 and 255 pounds on the Broncos' official website but likely a bit lighter, had a stellar career manning the middle of the defense for the Tennessee Volunteers from 2011-14, notching over 100 tackles and at least 8.5 tackles for loss his sophomore, junior, and senior seasons in Knoxville, becoming the all-time leading tackler in the SEC.

After his junior season, many thought Johnson, who went by A.J. rather than Alexander at the time, would declare for the NFL Draft. However, considered more of a true in-the-box LB who lacked the speed, burst, and coverage ability to be great in the NFL, Johnosn received a day-three grade from many scouts and returned for his senior season.

He dropped some weight in hopes of adding more explosiveness, speed, and fluidity to his game. Johnson appeared to have done this somewhat to start the 2014 season, putting up an incredible 31 tackles and three tackles for loss against a gauntlet of opponents at Oklahoma, at Georgia, and Florida. Johnson was on his way to improving his stock and very likely being a top-100 pick in the draft.

A detour to the NFL

Things took a dark turn though for Johnson’s career when he was accused of rape and indicted in February 2015 after a female accused him, as well as Volunteer teammate Michael Williams, of rape in Johnson’s apartment on November 16, 2014. On July 27th, 2018, the two were acquitted of the charges, being found not guilty by a jury on all counts.

At that point, Johnson decided to stop going by ‘A.J’, and instead switched to ‘Alexander’ to move on from the incident. He was once again in control of his life and in pursuit of his dream of playing pro football.

Johnson arrives in Denver

During the nearly four years out of football, Johnson stayed in shape and ready for the opportunity to play in the NFL. Signed on August 13 last year by the Broncos, he was given a chance to show if he still could play football at a high level signing a three-year deal.

However, having not played the game for so long, along with the drawbacks to his game, begged the question; could he become a 'rosterable' player in the NFL?

Johnson failed to make much of an impact as a rookie, bouncing from the active roster to the practice squad in 2018. The Broncos were able to hang onto him during the season, and he has once again been afforded the chance to make the 53-man roster in 2019 under Vic Fangio, his staff, and a change in scheme.

With the injuries to the LB corps, through 17 practices and two preseason games, Johnson appears to be turning the corner and showing why he is the SEC's all-time leader in tackles. Through two games and limited action, Johnson has notched a total of nine tackles, five solo tackles, and one tackle for loss against the Falcons and the Seahawks.

Making an impact (& an impression)

Johnson made such an impression against the Seahawks that he earned the Broncos’ top performer according to Pro Football Focus, earning an 89.0 overall grade.

This is not to say that Johnson is set to take over Todd Davis’ spot before the season starts, as Davis is a proven solid linebacker and the signal-caller for the Broncos’ defense, but depth at the position is encouraging for Johnson's prospects, to say the least, not only providing a solid option in case of further injury, but hopefully also providing a boost to the special teams unit.

Johnson is also somewhat of an oddity at the linebacker position in today’s NFL, with a profile much more similar to the dying breed of the true box LB.

With the league trending towards a more pass-heavy spread offense, many teams are sacrificing size, power, and mass for speed and coverage ability. Much like 2018 Defensive Rookie of the Year Darius Leonard, who weighed a self-proclaimed 218 pounds, the 255-pound Johnson seems out of place.

While Johnson might be playing closer to 240, the aggressiveness and middle-of-the-field tackling ability are showing out in preseason much as they did in Knoxville. Showing solid reads against the run, disengaging and beating blockers to spots, as well as showing some flashes as a blitzer, his strengths are showing out.

Defying the scouting report

Johnson, while still somewhat of a limited athlete for the position, has also shown better change of direction, pursuit, and closing burst both against the pass and run. He will likely always be a player a team wants to take off the field in pass situations given his limitations, but in a zone-heavy defense, his length and instincts can help mitigate these weaknesses.

The Broncos could still use a boost of athleticism at the second level of the defense all things considered. With many in the fanbase still disappointed in the Broncos’ inability to land either Devin White or Devin Bush in the draft, a true five-tool LB is nearly impossible to find in today’s game. Also, in an era where LBs are being taken off the field at an ever-increasing rate for defensive backs to stop the run, the position is becoming increasingly devalued.

Bottom line

Johnson by no means is going to solve the Broncos’ coverage woes against tight ends nor provide the desired speed boost many crave, but he can be adequate in the zone-heavy instincts and communication-based Fangio scheme.

Furthermore, Johnson can be a dang good LB when put in a position to do what he does well; play in the box against the run, take on and pulverize blockers and backs, use his size and length in short areas in zone coverage, and provide a power blitz element from the second level of the defense when need be.

Fangio even complimented Johnson, stating that he has improved a lot over the duration of camp.

“I think A.J. [Alexander] Johnson has improved a lot, been pleased with his progress,” Fangio said earlier this week.

Receiving a compliment from the ‘tell it like it is’ Fangio is no small feat. Still making some mental mistakes, the game does appear to be slowing down for Johnson with each passing rep.

Much like Todd Davis, Johnson can be a really good two-down LB in today’s NFL but you shouldn’t discount him from doing more just yet, he’s already beaten the odds to get this far.

Follow Nick on Twitter @NickKendellMHH.

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