Bengals' 3rd-round pick Johnson showing versatility

Tom Uhlman Cincinnati Bengals' Keith Rivers tries to get through the offensive line during football practice in Cincinnati on Friday, June 19.

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By Chick Ludwig, Staff Writer Updated 11:52 PM Saturday, June 20, 2009

The subject is Bengals rookie Michael Johnson, and inquiring minds want to know why the former Georgia Tech star defender slid to the third round in the NFL Draft.

Despite his team-high 17.5 tackles for loss, including 9.0 quarterback sacks in 2008, Johnson drew criticism from NFL scouts and draft experts for not playing hard all the time and showing too much inconsistency.

Little did they know the pain he had endured. That lingering groin and abdominal injury turned out to be a sports hernia.

“I’m not really trying to put anything out there as far as an excuse,” Johnson said. “You get on the field and go play.”

And nobody played better on defense during Bengals minicamp than the freakish 6-foot-7, 266-pounder. Johnson is listed as a defensive end, but he got snaps at defensive tackle and outside linebacker.

Translation: He’s extremely versatile and he’s going to get significant playing time.

“It felt good just trying to learn everything so I can go out and play fast,” Johnson said. “I feel like I’m a pretty intelligent guy. The coaches are showing they’re confident enough in me to put it on me.”

Johnson swatted passes, showed an explosive burst off the edge and displayed the speed, range and pass-rushing ability needed to play weak-side linebacker.

“He’s exhibited the athleticism we saw that he had,” head coach Marvin Lewis said. “His temperament and speed have been outstanding. When you give him something to do, he goes out and does it.

“He’s been able to handle coaching ... and get better. He’s a young player with a lot of physical tools and he’s proven to us he has the mental capacity to handle it. Generally, when you combine those two elements, you have a very special player.”

How special? Teammates are calling him the second coming of 11-year NFL veteran Jevon “The Freak” Kearse, who has 73 career sacks.

Contact this reporter at (937) 225-2253 or cludwig@DaytonDailyNews.com

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