Joshua Huffman

2010 NFL Draft Report Card Fan Grade
Team: Tennessee Titans
Round 5, Pick 148: Robert Johnson, S, Utah
Votes: 27
Incomplete: 0
Calculated Votes: 27
Median: 50
Mode: 0
STAFF GRADES: Here
FAN GRADE: 38.33 (F)
FAN GRADE W/ CURVE (19 votes): 54.47 (F)

Analysis
It appears as though Titan Sized readers aren’t satisfied with players just making the team, nor are they satisfied with players who’ve been with the franchise for three seasons but have contributed almost nothing during regular-season games. That’s the case for Johnson, who probably won’t make the 53-man roster for the 2013-14 NFL season. Most respondents voted Johnson with a grade of 0 or between 50-65.

Johnson will compete with a slew of safeties that include Michael Griffin, Bernard Pollard, George Wilson, Markelle Martin, Daimion Stafford and Al Afalava. Johnson must show a lot of progression if he wants to make this roster. Even then, it may serve as an audition for depth on another team.

Stay tuned as Titan Sized continues this series of 2010 NFL Draft report cards.

Nov.11, 2012; Miami, FL, USA; Miami Dolphins running back Marcus Thigpen (34) is tackled by Tennessee Titans strong safety Robert Johnson (32) during their game at Sun Life Stadium. Tennessee won 37-3. Mandatory Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Developmental players don’t always work out. That’s probably the case with Robert Johnson, who enters training camp as the sixth or seventh option at safety. For most of his first two seasons, Johnson was either on the practice squad or learning behind safeties such as Michael Griffin, Chris Hope and Jordan Babineaux. In 2012, he rotated in and out of the starting lineup with a struggling Babineaux.

Not much was expected from Johnson when he was drafted. Here was a snippet of his pre-draft scouting report from New Era Scouting:

Johnson was an under-the-radar talent for the Utes. In his three years, he finished with 155 tackles, 13 pass breakups and 13 interceptions.

He played free safety at Utah, often dropping back in deep coverage. He showed in 2009 that he can play closer to the line of scrimmage, notching 29 more tackles than he did the previous year.

Johnson really isn’t great at any one particular area, but he’s very solid. He could play either strong or free safety, which increases his value some.

Does simply staying on the roster for three seasons merit a passing grade? The unforgiving analysts from Titan Sized will give you an answer.

2010 NFL Draft Report Card Evaluation
Robert Johnson, S, Utah
Round 5, Pick 148
Still With Team: YES

Career Stats
Career Games: 12 (Defensively)
Tackles: 19
Stuffs: 2
Interceptions: 1
Pass Deflections: 1

Joshua Huffman (Editor): 50 (F)

Although Robert Johnson remains with the team, his days are numbered. Along with Michael Griffin and Jordan Babineaux, these three safeties formed one of the worst units during the 2012-13 NFL season. Johnson never panned out as a starter, reserve, rotational player or even as a special-teams contributor.

Josh Gunnels (Assistant Editor, Lead Columnist): 60 (D)

Johnson finally got to see the field after 2 years of grooming during the 2012 season.  He failed miserably.  Jordan Babineaux’s play declined dramatically from his 2011 level and the Titans coaching staff tried to give the job to someone else, namely Robert Johnson.  I’m not sure what you expect out of your 5th round pick, but after 3 years he does not have starter ability or recognition and isn’t a special teams standout.

David Fleming (Contributor): 67 (D+)

Johnson was inactive for the majority of his first two seasons with the Titans, but in 2012 he was given his chance to contribute. Regrettably, the safety experiment of last season was disastrous, and Johnson struggled to produce in his expanded role. With the signings of Pollard and Wilson, Johnson will return to his spot on the bench.

Titan Sized Staff (3 Participants): 59 (F)

67 + 60 + 50  = (177 / 3) = 59

What do Titan Sized readers think? Answer in the poll below. All grades will get averaged and tallied within the next 2-3 days.

Next Up: Rusty Smith, QB, Florida Atlantic

The nominees for LVP (Least Valuable Player) for the Tennessee Titans 2012 Season are:

• SS Robert Johnson
• SS Jordan Babineaux
• OG Leroy Harris
• CB Ryan Mouton
  

AND THE WINNER IS……

Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports

SS Robert Johnson/ The SS‘s…. The Titans secondary was abysmal in 2012. QB’s had a completion percentage over 60% throwing at the safeties and they took advantage of that in every game, save for a couple at the end where a joker was slinging the ball (Jets, Jaguars). Robert Johnson started out the season as a starter, first at FS and then after losing his starting spot he was being put back in as a SS.

It was painful to watch the angles Johnson would take and the way he just looked lost in the backfield. It was his first real action on the field since being taken in the 2010 NFL Draft, the last Fisher draft class, during the 4th round. It quickly became apparent as to why Johnson hadn’t found himself on the field sooner. It’ll be interesting to see if he makes the roster in 2013 or if they decide to cut the dead weight.

The Titans recently signed veteran SS George Wilson to a two-year deal. It’s still expected that they’ll be drafting a young safety in the upcoming 2013 NFL Draft which seems to boast a good class of safeties. People are even starting to suggest that the Titans pair Michael Griffin with another Texas safety in Kenny Vaccaro with the 10th overall pick.

Either way, one shouldn’t expect the SS group to be the winner of the LVP in 2013. The Titans will be doing their best to make sure that hole is all patched up by the start of regular season.

As for 2012, though, Robert Johnson and the rest of the SS’s ran away with the LVP award. That’s what you call a group effort.

You can find me on Twitter @JustinLStewart