D.J. Named AFC Defensive Player of Week
From the Truman Sports Complex
For three weeks there were many NFL observers asking the question, where is Derrick Johnson in the Chiefs defense.
“I was asking the same question,” Johnson said.
Well, answers came on Sunday when the linebacker led the Chiefs charge on defense, contributing a half-sack, interception, a forced fumble and seven tackles. That performance earned him the AFC Defensive Player of the Week honors.
It’s the first time in six years that a Chiefs linebacker has been singled out by the league for this honor. The last time it happened was Mike Maslowski in week eight of the 2002 season.
“I put more pressure on myself than anybody,” Johnson said on Wednesday. “I knew I had to step up. It was a big game, a division game.
“I wasn’t thinking a lot. I really didn’t care if I messed up. It wasn’t that I wasn’t playing within the scheme, I was just putting it all out on the line … I took some chances, I anticipated some things.”
It was a performance reminiscent of Johnson during his days as an All-America LB at the University of Texas.
“I was more of a free-lance player within the defense,” Johnson said of his play with the Longhorns. “One of the things that Gun told me was to put all the schemes out of my mind and put all the responsibility out of my mind, you know the defense, just go out there and play like you were at Texas.
“When he said that, a light went on. He was trying to get me comfortable, get me loose, not playing uptight.”
Johnson has had similar performances in his career. What’s held him out of being considered among the best linebackers in the AFC has been his consistency. In the first three games of the season, he was averaging 4.3 tackles per game and the only big play he was part of was a sack.
“I’ve got to go out and keep doing what I did last week,” Johnson said. “I’m not really surprised by my play. Now, I want to repeat this, so this is a thing that this is what Derrick Johnson does, he makes plays for this football team to help it win.”
WOW! Seems DJ is crediting Gun for his stepped up play Sunday against the Donkeys. Sounds like (From DJ) that it was Gun’s inspiration for him to just go play.
Good thing Bob is host of this blog. Other wise my prediction of Gun becoming the scape goat would coming to fruition.
Thanks Bob, Great report!
Congrats to DJ! Very well deserved award!
Well done, DJ. I hope he can string together some more strong performances. Interesting how even he recognizes his need for more consistency. Good post, Bob!
‘Bout time !
Is it just a coincidence that Williams was playing at the same time? Me thinks not! Don’t mean to diss DJ he was great and congrats to him!
Demorio Williams seemed to be all over the field! I loved watching him play!