Was Will Johnson's Red and White Interception Staged?
by Walter Mitchell
photo thanks to Tyler Drake at Arizona Sports
Cardinals' 2nd round pick, CB Will Johnson of Michigan, is off to a fabulous start just 10 days into training camp.
Will Johnson has come to the Cardinals just as advertised. He is a keenly instinctive zone cover corner who reads his man and the QB extremely well, which enables him to jump routes and make timely pass breakups and interceptions.
In man coverage, he lacks the requisite recovery speed to stay sticky on speedy receivers. But that's ok, as long as the coaches match him up with receivers whom he can run stride for stride with.
We have yet to see whether the 2024 concerns about Will Johnson's tackling, which may have been due to injuries. With him presumably taking over Sean Murphy-Bunting's starting role, the coaches will have to hope that he tackles way better than SMB (29.4 2024 PFF tackling grade). If you look at Will's 2023 game tapes, he was balling all over the field.
Yesterday at the Cardinals' Red and White scrimmage, Will Johnson made the eager crowd of Cardinals fans and his teammates jump for joy when he stepped in front of WR Zay Jones to pull down his first training camp interception.
Having watched the tape of that play several times, I took to X with this question:
We have to hope this play was staged. From an offensive standpoint, everything about it, except the pass protection, is wrong. They are running an out pass to the near side of the field (telegrammed the whole way by the QB) with Zay Jones lined up so wide that off his break, on what was an unsellable route, he only has 3-4 yards between him and the sideline. The only chance is for a completion is for the QB to throw the pass a step before Jones makes his break. Instead, without any real pressure, Kyler resorts to arching a tad backward and throwing more off his back foot, seconds after Zay's break and floats a pass that gives Will Johnson an easy path to the football. At least it was thrown so late that Zay Jones can easily make the tackle.
Every QB in the NFL knows that throwing late on an out route is an absolute no-no.
Every NFL QB knows that throws on out routes have to be well-timed frozen ropes.
The weird thing is that Kyler is keying in on Zay's route the whole way and yet chooses not to make the throw just when Zay is making his break.
Credit Will Johnson for his side pedal, knowing that he can use the nearby sideline as an added defender and feeling that playing the top of Zay's route to the side gives him a better sight of where the QB is looking. Johnson knows that Zay is not a burner, so he feels free to apply a crowded type of cushion.
While Cardinals' pundits and fans on X were calling Johnson's interception "incredible" and "phenomenal" --- the fact is --- it was gift-wrapped by the QB.
Any CB should have been able to make that interception.
Whether it was staged or not --- stages as perhaps a message to Cardinals fans and the NFL that Will Johnson is a player to be reckoned with, we will likely never know. Was it staged to increase ticket sales? That question may actually be rhetorical.
But --- here's the thing --- if Johnson's interception wasn't staged, this play underscores what discerning fans worry about Kyler Murray (now 7 years into his career) with regard to his questionable timing, proclivity to arch backward on his throws (rather than to step into them), float passes, telegram throws, wait too late to throw the ball off the receiver's break, get panicky (even when well protected) and struggle with what should for a veteran NFL QB be relatively simple decision-making.
Plus, for added context, this interception came in a scrimmage while Kyler was wearing the black vest (no contact allowed).
And fans want to blame Drew Petzing? No coach on planet earth would encourage Kyler or any QB to make that throw. Let alone telegram the pass the whole way.
My concern now and the main reason for posing this question, is seeing the number of Cardinals' fans doing the same thing they did last year with Marvin Harrison Jr. by touting Will Johnson already as a sure-fire NFL defensive rookie of the year, as an "elite" talent, a top 10 NFL CB and the biggest 2nd round steal in the history of the NFL draft.
All of these pre-season accolades and expectations, when Will Johnson has yet to play a snap in a regular season NFL game?
This week I would like to post a revised list of the 10 best ways to appease the football gods.
One of the 10 --- "Do not put the players on pedestals."
Why so?
These are the concerns from Kyler that make us fans who have been watching him for 6 seasons now feel uneasy about the upcoming season, we have a good enough roster to win 10-11 games if the QB play can be consistent with the running game and improved defense. Watching this play develop from behind the line of scrimmage, it had the look of "tuck it and run" or "dump it off" the entire play. It is still so baffling as to why Kyler holds on to the ball for so long and and does not have more decisive 1 look reads. It is a blast to watch Mahomes play because so often he throws right on the back step of the 5 step drop, something I can't remember the last time Kyler did. Also, Xavier Weaver had a great opportunity to make a diving catch but couldnt come down with it working with the second team. Brissett was running the 2's and Tune was working with the 3's. I don't really understand the logic behind this because Tune is every bit of the thrower that Brissett is but his mobility shines, Jacoby can not move half as well as Clayton Tune does.
ReplyDeleteBrissett is no threat whatsoever to Kyler, that's the main gist as to why they signed him. If you watched his games with Patriots last year, he was so lackluster and made critical mistakes with the Pats winning in the 4th quarter versis the Seahawks and Dolphins, otherwise that Pats' team could been 3-2 after Brisett's 5 games instead of 1-4.
DeleteThe way the coaching staff has handled Clayton Tune is egregious. But Clayton is super resilient and does not discourage easily --- he will embrace the challenge and play his hardest. His mobility is pretty special for a player his size. What I believe works for CT in DP's offense, is the timing, zip and accuracy of his throws over the middle.
Not only does Kyler hold the ball too long, look at where he keeps the football. Dropping it below his waist so he can do the baseball windup, which adds extra time on his throws, some of which turn out to be lobs.
"Not only does Kyler hold the ball too long, look at where he keeps the football. Dropping it below his waist so he can do the baseball windup, which adds extra time on his throws, some of which turn out to be lobs"
DeleteKid has refined his bad habits and I have yet to see any significant good habits developed under the guise of an excellent impactful experienced QB coach and OC. Can a player who runs a team's offense actually coach himself to credible improvement and excellence? We just might find out when our pampered self proclaimed super star QB plays for his next team.
I’m sure KMs QB/passing game coach will insure that KM never makes any mistake like this again? Maybe this experienced successful staff can “stage” some wins over the Seahawks this season.
ReplyDeleteWhile I wouldn't put it past them to stage an INT to generate excitement and boost ticket sales, I don't think that's what they were doing here. If that was the intention, why have your QB1 - the player who is supposed to be THE guy and our future at QB - be the one who threw the pick? That doesn't look good on him for a multitude of reasons, and it pretty much negates any benefit they would see from Johnson's INT. Instead, I think it was Kyler making yet another boneheaded play that we're so accustomed to seeing.
ReplyDeleteWith that said, another commenter mentioned Tune and it's perplexing to see the way he's being handled. Seriously, what's the deal? Based off what Walt has written at length, it seems like Tune has potential and I don't think it's even remotely logical to conclude that he's a bust based on the limited playing time he's had.
So, is there something that we're not aware of that the coaching staff isn't telling us? Last year, they brought in Ridder, and this year, they signed Brissett. Clearly, they're not comfortable with Tune backing up Kyler. Since they paid Brissett a decent amount and there are connections to him among many in the building, he's likely QB2 and Tune will hit the PS. Right?
I think there is little question given guaranteed $$ that JB will be QB2, Tune might get cut if not on the 53 as an emergency third quarterback to be available on game day without counting against the 48-man active roster limit. This provides flexibility in case of injuries to the starting and backup quarterbacks during the game. They can elevate him on and off the PS whenever they want.
DeleteI agree with you Walt on this being staged. JG's high energy, motivational style of coaching requires his players to follow suit with their own high energy of play out on the field. To me it looks like a staged play to build energy amongst the younger players heading into the regular season. One thing I like about JG is that he's more than and X's & O's coach. He's a get in your head motivational coach who knows how to inspire young players. Not all uber talented players are self-motivated and IMO the first two or three seasons of a player sets the tone for their entire career. This play was just one of JG's tools to get the younger guys plugged-in heading into the season and because a play like this also gets fans excited, it's a win win for the team.
ReplyDeleteOne can take the high or low road here-solid play by the "Steal of the Draft" or another example of a 7 season self coached QB with poor mechanics trying to complete a terrible ill timed advised pass.
DeleteThis pass was so bad that I would be more concerned if our "Steal of the Draft" didn't pick it off.
OK, so it was a terrible throw in practice and there are lots of bad throws in practice. I'd bet if they compiled all the bad throws in practice, this throw would be ranked one of the very worst.
If the pass was staged it was executed perfectly. Now that our Qb has shown us he can throw a terrible pick, how about throwing one or two game winning sensational throws sometime soon? Maybe do it in the Playoffs?
Yeah it was a bad pass but I believe it was intentional. I think JG and Petzing told Kyler to throw some lazy passes(potential INTs) for WJ to create a buzz amongst the team especially the younger guys and it did. It also hypes the fans as well as the young players. JG and Petzing are treating Kyler like a veteran/player coach as they should. Anyways that's what it looks like to me.
DeleteBelieve you answered your own question:
ReplyDelete"But --- here's the thing --- if Johnson's interception wasn't staged, this play underscores what discerning fans worry about Kyler Murray (now 7 years into his career) with regard to his questionable timing, proclivity to arch backward on his throws (rather than to step into them), float passes, telegram throws, wait too late to throw the ball off the receiver's break, get panicky (even when well protected) and struggle with what should for a veteran NFL QB be relatively simple decision-making."
This is exactly the plays we are all tired of seeing from Kyler, throwing off back foot, staring down his 1st option, and floating the ball. Unfortunately on this play at least he does not seem to have grown out of his bad habits.
Silliness. Typically love your work. This smells like intentional froth in the water, given your transition. Hope that's not the case. Everyone needs eyeballs. Not everyone need resort to the least common denominator to get them. Most likely a great db read, a great break, and a lazy throw. Hope it was worth it.
Delete...And I too really like E. Jones' abilities. Not gonna bury Will Johnson's crisp skills because of it.
DeleteDid you see the orchestrated celebration photographed by the franchise exactly 20yds away at the Cards logo? Staged photo op? I don't think the posit is silly and Walt has provided credible facts to back up his question. Did KM just throw up a jump ball to see if who could come down with it-didn't look like a jump ball pass to me? The circumstances didn't reflect a great DB read nor break as you suggest. It was a poor rookie like pass to a completely covered WR that left me scratching my head. No good explanation for it unless the effort and result was staged.
DeleteIs it out of the realm of possibility that staged or orchestrated plays have never used by a franchise to excite the fans for a million good reasons?
PS I'm excited to see Elijah Jones progress too. He was an Iron Man at BC
DeleteJas, how well do you know me? I don't make up shit. The first thing I thought of when I saw the play was that it looked staged by Kyler and Jones. I had to rewind it 5-6 times and each time convinced me more and more. It's always worth it to me to be honest with my reactions. Then, as 61 pointed out, when you watch the post interception ceremony, that also looks completely rehearsed between Will and Budda (who even walk together to what appears to be a designated point in the field --- which eventually results in a photo so perfect that it's hard to imagine it came like a miracle by pure happenstance.
DeleteWhat's been alarming to me in the aftermath of the article is the number of Cardinals' fans who casually dismiss Kyler's piss-poor decision-making and execution on the play saying it's ok because this is just practice. How low a bar can there be for Kyler Murray? --- the same QB who threw multiple head-scratching interceptions when the games were most meaningful. That's why I hoped this interception was staged. Because if this was yet another head-scratching interception thrown in earnest, man, what does that say about Kyler's ability to improve his decision-making?
Just watched that play. It's so bad you could take it out of a backyard football game from a bunch of kids in Sandlot. If this is any indication of how this team is going to play we will be lucky to win a game. Throw was a joke.
ReplyDelete