GIANTS 9-15-09

[Lughead]

 

 

Gartrell Johnson awarded to Giants off waivers

5:28 PM By Tom Rock

 

 

While just about everyone thought Allen Patrick would be elevated from the practice squad to the active roster to take the place of Danny Ware andhis dislocated elbow for a few weeks (even Patrick seemed to think that would happen when we chatted briefly yesterday), the Giants went in adifferent direction.

 

They claimed running back Gartrell Johnson off waivers. He'll immediately be their third running back behind Brandon Jacobs and Ahmad Bradshaw.

 

So who is Gartrell Johnson? Well, he is a rookie out of Colorado State who was with the Chargers as a fourth-round pick and waived on Monday just hours before that team's opener against the Raiders. Theydid it to make room for defensive end Andre Coleman. Guess that was before LaDainian Tomlinson's ankle acted up or didn't act up, depending on who you talk to.

 

Anyway, back to the Giants. They get Johnson. They also activatedMichael Boley (above in photo). To make room on the roster they waived Leger Douzable and released OL Tutan Reyes.

 

They also made some practice squad moves. Gone are RB Allen Patrick(who was expecting a call from the Giants, but not THAT call),CB DeAndre Wright who was a sixth-round choice of the Giants this spring, and TE Kareem Brown. They brought in TE Bear Pascoe and DB Michael Coe for their practice squad.

 

That does leave one vacancy on the practice squad. I'm told it will not be Douzable, and someone will be there in the morning.

 

The best thing about Gartrell Johnson: He comes with his own website and Twitter page. Unlike me, though, he has not updated his blog since the end of July.

 

Here's what they said about Johnson at the Combine:

 

Analysis

 

Positives: Powerful build. Runs with a low pad level, giving defenders little room to hit him. Has a low-center of gravity and a good first step to accelerate. Hits the hole with authority. Some lateral quickness to elude in tight quarters and can make defenders miss in the open field. Good vision for the cutback. Finishes his runs by falling forward. Secure ball-handler with only one fumble in 310touches in 2008. Experienced hands out of the backfield. Good strength and effort as a pass-blocker. Relatively fresh legs, considering he didn't establish himself as a full-time starter until his senior year.Strong performance in the East-West Shrine Game alleviated concerns about his level of competition.

 

Negatives: Lacks the speed to beat linebackers to the edge or the top-end speed to pull away when gets to the second level. Lacks the agility to make defenders miss if met in the hole. Relies on his initial pop and aggression, rather than true power, in taking on defenders. Can be taken down too easily at the line of scrimmage, as he needs a step or two to build his momentum. May struggle with a complicated playbook.

 

 

 

[BIGBLUE01]

How the hell are we gonna win w/o Leger Douzable?

[BronxRik]

To make room on the roster they waived Leger Douzable

 

Uh oh, Fish isn't going to like this at all.....not at all.

[so-cal dub]

How the hell are we gonna win w/o Leger Douzable?

woh woh woh...the question is, how arent we going to win with Gartrell?

[fishgutmartyr]

Yet another dream dies tonight...

[BIGBLUE01]

woh woh woh...the question is, how arent we going to win with Gartrell?

 

I think the bigger question is, why the hell would someone name their kid GARTRELL????

[TaylorBanksCarsonVanPelt]

sounds like the name of that Black shirt tucker from Revenge of the Nerds.....

[fringe]

I think the bigger question is, why the hell would someone name their kid GARTRELL????

according to his wiki, his mother loves garfield, father is a big sprewell fan.

[NightFire]

I think the bigger question is, why the hell would someone name their kid GARTRELL????

 

Apparently your going to have to go back a few generation to ask that question:

 

My heroes are:

Both my grandfathers, Gartrell Sr. and Earnest, and my father, Gartrell Jr.

[BIGBLUE01]

according to his wiki, his mother loves garfield, father is a big sprewell fan.

 

[Ditto]

Here's what they said about Johnson at the Combine:

 

Analysis

 

Positives: Powerful build. Runs with a low pad level, giving defenders little room to hit him. Has a low-center of gravity and a good first step to accelerate. Hits the hole with authority. Some lateral quickness to elude in tight quarters and can make defenders miss in the open field. Good vision for the cutback. Finishes his runs by falling forward. Secure ball-handler with only one fumble in 310touches in 2008. Experienced hands out of the backfield. Good strength and effort as a pass-blocker. Relatively fresh legs, considering he didn't establish himself as a full-time starter until his senior year.Strong performance in the East-West Shrine Game alleviated concerns about his level of competition.

 

Negatives: Lacks the speed to beat linebackers to the edge or the top-end speed to pull away when gets to the second level. Lacks the agility to make defenders miss if met in the hole. Relies on his initial pop and aggression, rather than true power, in taking on defenders. Can be taken down too easily at the line of scrimmage, as he needs a step or two to build his momentum. May struggle with a complicated playbook.

Everything about this guy sounds like Joe Morris.