Arizona Cardinals’ Rookie Herman Johnson: What I Wish I Could Ask Him

I could be unoriginal, and ask theoretical questions of Larry Fitzgerald or Anquan Boldin, but I have my eye on one of the so-called “big uglies” up front.

Born in West Monroe, Louisiana, on January 29, 1985, Herman Johnson still holds the record for the largest baby born in the entirely of Louisiana. He weighed 15 pounds and 14 ounces then, and now checks in at 382 pounds.

Johnson chose to attend LSU over Oklahoma, Oklahoma State, and Houston, and it seems like he made the right choice. He was a three-year starter at guard, and in his junior season, the Tigers captured the national title, averaging 417.5 yards per game behind the big fella.

Johnson was first-team All-SEC in 2007 and 2008, and his senior season was an Associated Press first-team All-American. Drafted less than two months ago in the fifth round by the Arizona Cardinals, Johnson’s career has just begun.

Because 10 is just not enough, here are a 12 questions (and follow-ups) I have for Herman Johnson:

1. What was it like to win the national championship for your home state school, in front of LSU fans in New Orleans?

2. Continuing with the 2007 LSU season, what was the triple-overtime loss against Arkansas like? Did you think you still have a shot at the national championship after that loss?

3. How would you describe yourself as a player? What are you looking to improve upon this year?

4. You had two teammates drafted in the top-five playing defensive line the last two years. How often did you go up against Glenn Dorsey and Tyson Jackson in practice, and what are their strengths and weaknesses?

5. You have lived your entire life in the south. How are you adjusting to Arizona? Have you brought anyone out there with you?

6. You did not play football until you reached high school. What other sports did you play before then, and what positions did you play? What were your favorite sports growing up?

7. Who would you compare yourself to as an offensive lineman? Are there any particular players you look to as role models?

8. You sat out the 2004 season after developing an infection in your big toe from a spider bite. What was that experience like, and what did you learn from a season on the sidelines?

9. Who is the best player you’ve played with? Against?

10. What were you doing on draft day when you found out you were selected? Were you surprised that the Cardinals picked you, or that you were drafted in the fifth round?

11. You are joining a team that was a minute away from winning the Super Bowl last season. What are your expectations for this coming season?

12. What is your daily dietary regimen like?

Steeltown’s Influence On the Arizona Cardinals’ Coaching Staff

As one might expect from a tight end-turned-H-back, Ken Whisenhunt has a fondness for the running game. In his first year as offensive coordinator of the Steelers in 2004, he improved their running game from 31st in the league to 2nd.

However, the man who was once second on the all-time receiving yards list at Georgia Tech also has a fondness for the passing game, a statement Kurt Warner, Anquan Boldin, and Larry Fitzgerald would all agree with. With the departure of offensive coordinator Todd Haley to the Chiefs, Whisenhunt will take on more responsibility offensively this season.

Whisenhunt’s chief lieutenant on the offensive side of the ball is another former Pittsburgh assistant, Russ Grimm. Grimm was an all-pro lineman with the Washington Redskins for 11 years that saw him make four consecutive Pro Bowls. He also was a member of the famous “Hogs” offensive line that starred for the Redskins throughout the 1980s.

Grimm was a teammate of Whisenhunt for both the 1989 and 1990 seasons. Grimm rose through the coaching ranks with the Redskins, beginning in 1992, right after his retirement, debuting as tight ends coach.

He moved over to his more natural position coaching the offensive line in time for the 1997 season before leaving the Redskins in 2001 to become the offensive line coach of the Steelers. Grimm’s son, Chad, is also on the coaching stuff as an offensive assistant.

Mike Miller, who will be in charge of the passing game after the departure of Todd Haley, assists Grimm on the offensive side of the ball. Miller also spent time with the Steelers, as an intern in 1994 and 1995, and then later as an offensive assistant from 1999 to 2003.

Despite the prevalence of former Steelers’ assistants on the Cardinals’ coaching staff, their offense in very little way resembles the Steelers. While the Steelers have always focused on establishing the run first, second, and sometimes even third, the Cardinals seem to have kept the offensive line proficiency of the Steelers’ offensive line but combined it with their own potent passing attack.

In terms of play on the field, defensively is where you can most see the Steelers’ influence. After firing Clancy Pendergast following the close of the 2008 season, Ken Whisenhunt promoted Bill Davis. Though Davis’ earlier performance as 49ers’ defensive coordinator was unsuccessful, he spent three years in Pittsburgh under Bill Cowher from 1992-1994. Davis, interestingly, played on the offensive side of the ball in college, as a quarterback and receiver for the Cincinnati Bearcats in the mid-1980s.

Davis has earned a reputation in his career as a specialist in working with linebackers, and in 1996, he coached Kevin Greene and Lamar Lathon to finishing first and second in the NFL in sacks as the Carolina Panthers made it all the way to the NFC Championship game.

Davis was promoted from linebackers coach, where he had spent the past two seasons mentoring players like Karlos Dansby, Gerald Hayes, and Chike Okeafor. It remains to be seen if Davis can shift Arizona to a productive 3-4 from the mixed packages the Cardinals ran last year (Davis was criticized in San Francisco for the same thing), but his familiarity with the personnel is an asset in this position.

Davis has been around the game his entire life, as his father spent 13 years working in the NFL. Davis was a ball boy for both the Philadelphia Eagles and the Miami Dolphins during his childhood, and is now in his 18th season as an NFL assistant, despite being just 43 years old. Davis’ play-calling this year will be under a great deal of scrutiny, as the team is counting on improvement on the defensive side of the ball in order to better last season’s record.

The Air up There: (Few) Expected Changes for the Arizona Cardinals’ Playbook

The Arizona Cardinals will be without both of their coordinators from last season.

Clancy Pendergast, who predated Ken Whisenhunt in Arizona, left after the Super Bowl defeat and was replaced by linebackers coach Billy Davis.

Davis is a long-time NFL assistant who has coached with eight different organizations, including six in the NFC. His previous coordinator experience was with the San Francisco 49ers, who employed him for two forgettable years during the 2005 and 2006 seasons

Though his track record as a coordinator is not great, Davis has experience running a 3-4 defense, and should hopefully improve on the lackluster red zone defense the Cards had last year.

I would expect to see more blitzing from the outside linebackers as a result of Whisenhunt’s love of the Pittsburgh 3-4.

In the secondary, bringing in Bryant McFadden should give the safeties more room to roam. It will also allow the Cardinals to use their nickel packages more and mix up their coverage patterns. This will also allow Davis to push up the linebackers and blitz more defenders.

Offensively, I would expect to see the tight end used more in the passing game.

With defenses needing to key on Larry Fitzgerald, Anquan Boldin, and Steve Breaston, there is a role in this offense for a big receiver to grab some balls running short patterns over the middle and in the flats.

Dominique Byrd showed a great deal of potential at USC, and though he spent last year out of football, he could very well improve on the nine catches Leonard Pope had last year.

With Chris “Beanie” Wells, the Cardinals will likely look to run the ball more. Tim Hightower could do little outside of the goal line, and I look for the Cardinals to try to get him carries off tackle.

Though Todd Haley has left to become the head coach of the Chiefs, I doubt there will be major changes to the offensive playbook, considering how successful the offense was last year.

Other than a little more focus on the running game, you should expect little different from Kurt Warner and company.

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