Print |
E-mail to a friend
SPORTS
Chuck Landon: Pancakes are on the menu when Johnson is cooking
Chad Schofield isn't the least bit surprised that Delvin Johnson is in Marshall's starting lineup.
He saw it coming.
From flat on his back.
On consecutive days in preseason camp, Schofield was pancaked by the first-year defensive tackle during a pass-blocking/pass-rushing drill.
Oh, yeah, there's one other tidbit of information that puts those pancakes in perspective.
Schofield, a sophomore center, stands 6-foot-4 and weighs 316 pounds.
As pancakes go, that's a triple stack.
So, is it any wonder Schofield didn't hesitate to pass the syrup when asked about the precocious Johnson?
"He's a great player," said Schofield. "We push each other hard every day. He's a real good player.
"And he has great strength. He does. He's quick off the ball. And he's stout and strong."
The 6-3, 296-pound Johnson has proven all those attributes throughout training camp.
That's why it wasn't a stunning surprise to see Johnson listed as the starting defensive tackle when Marshall head coach Mark Snyder revealed the Herd depth chart Tuesday.
That means Johnson will make his collegiate debut as a starter when Marshall hosts Illinois State at 4:30 p.m. Saturday in Edwards Stadium.
And what are the visiting Redbird offensive linemen expected to see from the young defensive tackle?
Bull-rush, bull-rush and more bull-rush.
Imagine the Schlitz Malt Liquor bull after drinking a gallon of Red Bull.
That will be Delvin Johnson.
"Yeah, it was the bull-rush," said the South Carolina native when asked what move he used to pancake Schofield.
"But I'm not trying to embarrass anybody. We're trying to help the guys on offense as much as possible, too."
Which means giving the Herd offensive linemen some experience at facing a big-time bull-rush.
That's what Johnson possesses.
"It's a combination of the strength and the technique that I learned from Coach (Jerry) Azzinaro (defensive line coach). You can't beat everybody on raw talent. Technique will beat talent any day.
"That's what I'm trying to learn right now. That's the biggest transition there is from high school to college."
To make matters even tougher, Johnson sat out the 2007-08 school year as an academic non-qualifier. That's what makes his quick ascension up the depth chart even more remarkable.
"Delvin has done a great job," said Snyder. "He's a very strong human being."
Just ask Schofield.
"Yeah, but he still has that elusiveness that he can also use," said the second-team center. "But, right now, his main things are his power and just his speed off the ball."
That means Johnson is perfectly suited for the role of run-stopper.
"I see myself in any role that will help the team out as much as possible," said Johnson. "(James) Burkes, the starting nose right now, has excellent technique, so he basically can do anything.
"I just want to get in there and help out as much as possible. If that means being a run-stopper, I'll do that.
"I like being a big, physical guy. That's what I bring."
Yet, it would be a mistake to pigeon-hole Johnson as just a run-stopper.
"Oh, yeah, he's a pass-stopper, too," said Schofield. "I mean, he can pass rush. He's going to be a great player."
And Delvin Johnson is all Marshall's.
Eat your heart out, IHOP.
Chuck Landon is a sports columnist for The Herald-Dispatch. Call him at 526-2827. E-mail him at clandon@herald-dispatch.com.
