Dontae Johnson film study vs. Jordan Matthews: Next break-out candidate?

Now let me go and say that I took some time to teach and coach DBs as well as play DB/RB in highschool. I know a lot about technique and form as well as ball skills and measurables. Defensive back isn't about measurables, it's about playing the ball and getting your guy off his initial route. I will break down Dontae Johnson and tell you piece by piece why I believe Dontae will have a successful career with the 49ers.

I want to start with form. As a DB, you want to keep your knees bent, head up and arms ready, your arms and knees are your best weapon, part of Seattle's success with DBs is properly coaching their corners how to beat WRs off the ball, while I do see tendencies in holding past 5 yards off LOS, the way they disrupt timing between QB and WR off LOS is second to none. Now go to Dontae for a second, his best play ability is in press man. Off man needs a lot of work which is where Donatell and Fangio come into play in fixing that aspect of his game. But focusing on his press man vs Vanderbilt WR #80: STRENGTH:

Here he is playing right on the LOS, knees bent, head up, arms ready to press. Looks good so far..

At the snap of the ball, #80 right away loses his outside route which is ideal on fade routes.. Dontae plays this perfectly in riding him down 5 yards off and keeping up with him.

Now this is special. Here Dontae reads and reacts, very hard to coach, this is mostly football instincts which people are born with. NFL.com wrote that Dontae has very average ball skills but on this play, you are looking Johnson flipping his hips reading the ball and making the play. Hands are one thing and ball skills are another. He drops this play but makes an amazing play to break up the intended pass. Again, Dontae has that natural ability to make a play on the ball, at the next level you need that kind of reaction.. Key #1 to success. Now on to his weakness, Off Man.. WEAKNESS:

So this play is on Jordan Matthews. Off man, hands on his knees, not ready and down as they should be, just overall bad body language and looks uncomfortable in this coverage.

When you watch this play, you see Dontae almost wait for Jordan to move up to him, couldn't get a good read on the defense but it is probably zone in which case Dontae needs to keep his legs moving back and get ready for anything in front of him.

But this is what happens, in the NFL, this wouldn't be a TD, in NCAA sure, Dontae did do a good job of playing this ball but Jordan just did a great job in this play. But in saying this though, he does make a good play in off man here.. This time he does everything right pre-snap. Head up arms down knees bent, as soon as the ball is snapped, his first step is back..

He keeps the play in front of him which allows him to make a break on the ball

And again, this was dropped, hands will improve but overall good form on this specific play against Jordan Matthews.

Here he is playing in the slot, reading the play like how Carlos Rogers used to do, again, this is against Jordan Matthews, good decent form, standing a bit to tall, but first step back once ball is snapped. On this play Jordan Matthews was running a corner route across the field. Dontae plays it very well, playing diagonally to him so he can make a break if it's in front of Jordan or behind. In which case Jordan Rodgers throws it in front.

Dontae makes the play and follows the ball all the way through ensuring Jordan Matthews does not make the play.

One of the big glaring weaknesses to me is his strength, this will be a big problem facing receivers like Marshall or Johnson, on this play he plays off which allows the WR to come up and take Dontae out of the play.

Again here

This shouldn't be an issue for him to become a stronger player facing Boldin and Crabtree every day. So i am very optimistic for him to fix his game in this aspect.

Now for my bold statement.. When watching his game I can't help but think of a faster Richard Sherman..

Here knees bent arms ready head up.. Presses Hakeem

... A little to far...

Opens his hips fast, finds the ball and makes the play.

In all seriousness, and a little motive to piss off the Seahawks fans on this board, I do think he has all the ability to be a faster and maybe even better Richard Sherman.. He has the work ethic, the tangibles, and the natural play making ability that Sherman has. Would a year off help Dontae? Sure, but I do believe that if Fangio and Donatell put full work into Dontae he would be ready mid season to plug and play. Now let the hate and debate commence..

I actually had him rated as my #2 (tall) corner this draft above McGill and above SJB, I had Desir rated #1. Out of all corners I had him rated as number 5 with Verrett, Fuller, Gilbert and Desir the only corners rated above him. He has potential and with what he showed in college he could thrive in a system like what we have. Very happy and excited to have him in the red and gold and very excited for his career. Full film here.. http://youtu.be/-3VgDSIBx9Q

--UPDATE--

With watching how he has played at the next level, I am confident in the way Dontae has played, he held his own going against the likes of Dez Bryant and Terrence Williams, wish he played more against the Bears but right now, he has shown all the stuff I was concerned about he has leaps and bounds improved.

Kyle Breitkreutz

Co-Writer and Editor for 49ers Hub

@kbreitkreutz49