Rookie Report Card: Kerryon Johnson and Michael Gallup
Each week throughout the season, I’ll cover at least two rookies in the Rookie Report Card and try to always include the biggest performers from that particular week. On top of reviewing my expectations for each player coming into the league and covering how he’s performed at the NFL level to this point, I’ll actually give him a grade in three categories. Those categories are performance to date, 2018 potential, and long-term upside.
The series continues as we take a look at a couple fringe first-rounders from summer rookie drafts, Kerryon Johnson and Michael Gallup.
Kerryon Johnson, RB DET
Week Seven Stats: 19 carries, 158 yards, two catches, 21 receiving yards (three targets)
I had an uneasy feeling about Kerryon Johnson throughout the pre-draft process. Although there were things to like about what he put on tape at Auburn, there were a couple of things about him that made me question how effective he’d be on Sundays.
For those of you that read the report card regularly, you know the primary thing I like to see in a running back is explosiveness. I love to see a tailback be decisive when a running lane develops in front of him and blast through. Johnson – for the most part – has that skill. Eager to hit full speed, he runs downhill and looks to get to the second and third level on each run.
That burst and explosiveness appeared to be both a strength and weakness, however.
Because he’s so eager to get through the first wave of defenders, Johnson has a habit of running into the back of his blockers at times. There were points while watching him in college where I’d shake my head at his lack of patience.
Along those same lines, Johnson made at least one glaringly poor read per game when it came to running behind blocks. Whether it was a decision to bounce a run to the outside instead of waiting for a kick-out block from a pulling guard or taking a cutback instead of waiting for a block to develop at the second level, I found myself wondering if he’d ever mature into a patient runner that could read blocks and use his explosiveness to its full effectiveness.
Despite all those things – along with an upright running style that always makes me leery of big hits and injury – there was still a lot to like about Johnson’s game.
To go along with his burst, Johnson showed a willingness to be an effective inside power runner. More likely to run over a safety or corner than try to run around them, he showed he can break tackles. And with great balance, he takes a hit and stays on his feet to get extra yardage. All that along with soft hands certainly made him an intriguing prospect, and a prospect that I liked, at least to some extent. And landing in Detroit did nothing to hurt his upside. But seeing him move from the second round of rookie drafts into the late first following the draft and even the mid-first in late rookie drafts, made me back off from him as the off-season progressed.
Based on his 6.4 yards per carry average and an increasing workload through six weeks, I’m starting to regret those actions.
After being part of a platoon in week one, Johnson has averaged 15.2 touches and 99.2 yards from scrimmage per game. He’s looked explosive, powerful and fast. Also showing a quality stiff arm to fend off defenders and good hands which helps him stay on the field on third downs, he’s been everything dynasty owners could have expected when they drafted him. The only thing he’s missing at this point is a role on the goal line – which is sure to come at some point in his career.
In week six against the Dolphins, Johnson looked as explosive as ever, piling up 179 yards on 21 touches. Although many might point to his 71-yard and 24-yard bursts, or the 15-yard screen pass where he gave Kiko Alonso a wicked stiff arm, as his most impressive plays of the afternoon, it was a 19-yarder in the third quarter that caught my attention.
After getting the corner to the left, he followed tight end Luke Willson to the second level. But instead of speeding past Willson only to get tackled, he read his block – not once, but twice – and weaved downfield for extra yardage. It was exactly the kind of play where Johnson would simply depend on his burst and speed in college rather than show patience. The fact that he cut off the block twice was eye-popping.
Although it was only one play, it appears Johnson may be improving when it comes to reading blocks and using patience as a runner – which was my primary gripe about his game coming out of Auburn.
Already posting weekly RB2 numbers, Johnson is a goal-line role away from being an every-week RB1. Currently with an ADP of 42.0, if he keeps up his level of play over the last six weeks, it’d be surprising if he’s not into the top-30 by the time the off-season comes around.
Michael Gallup, WR DAL
Week Seven Stats: three catches, 81 yards, one touchdown (five targets)
Gallup was another player I avoided in my rookie drafts, but not because I didn’t like him.
While at Colorado State, he showed a nice combination of size (6’-1”, 205pounds) and speed (4.51 40-yard dash) to go along with impressive athleticism. All that along with improving route running and separation skills and good run after the catch abilities made him an intriguing – although raw – prospect.
Like Johnson though, he continuously moved up rookie draft boards as the off-season progressed. Whether it was his impressive Combine, his landing spot that offered early playing time, or the glowing reports coming out of Dallas throughout the off-season, there was never a buying window I was comfortable with, so I never invested. And with the exception of his 30-yard touchdown catch on the opening drive of the preseason, I haven’t regretted avoiding him to this point.
Through the first six weeks, Gallup has averaged 1.2 catches and 21.8 receiving yards while playing 53.16% of snaps per game. He was an afterthought in an inefficient offense. But in week seven, things changed…
Slightly.
On top of catching a 22-yarder on a skinny post against a weak Washington zone defense and beating Josh Norman in man coverage for a 10-yard gain on a hitch route, he absolutely shredded rookie Greg Stroman on a double move for a 49-yard touchdown.
While some are calling the performance a breakout for Gallup, I saw the game as much of the same but a good step for the rookie. His stop-and-go route in man coverage was noteworthy, but as I watched his routes throughout the game I was regularly unimpressed. Perhaps it was because of lack of creativity from coaches designing routes because the entire Cowboys’ receiving corps looked the same, but with the exception of the touchdown Gallup appeared to routinely run straight and look back at Dak Prescott for the ball without trying to shake a defender. Creativity as a route runner was lacking throughout the game for sure.
All things told, Gallup entered the NFL as a raw receiver with upside and very few saw him as an NFL WR1, particularly in year one. Considering the depth chart in Dallas, it should be surprising to nobody that Gallup’s biggest game to this point is a three-catch effort. While I feel like he has the ultimate upside of a WR2 for dynasty owners in the mold of Michael Crabtree, he has a long way to go so dynasty owners must continue to be patient.
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