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Jimmy Johnson's Guide To Evaluating NFL Talent

Comments (4) | 1989, 2010, analyzing prospects, Cowboys, Daryl Johnston, evaluating talent, intelligence, interview, Jimmy Johnson, NFL, NFL draft, No. 1 pick, personnel,
qualities, strategy, tips, Troy Aikman, Zach Thomas
Patrick Crawley | November 24, 2010 | 4:07 p.m. PST
Senior Sports Editor

On Tuesday, staff writer Kate Rooney and I had the opportunity to talk to Fox NFL
Sunday analyst and Survivor contestant (not to mention Super Bowl and National
Championship-winning coach) Jimmy Johnson as part of a promotional campaign
for Crown Royal.
Johnson discussed a number of relevant NFL topics, which we'll cover
here in the days to come, but the part of the conversation I found most
interesting was his criteria for evaluating NFL talent.
Former NFL coach and current Fox Sports football analyst Jimmy
Johnson looks on as the New Orleans Saints play against the
Minnesota Vikings during the NFC Championship Game at the
Louisiana Superdome on January 24, 2010 in New Orleans,
Louisiana. The Saints won 31-28 in overtime. (Photo by Ronald
Martinez/Getty Images)
Minnesota Vikings v New Orleans Saints

Here are the top 5 qualities Johnson looks for when scouting future NFL stars:

1) Intelligence

Intelligence is the "number one most important thing," Johnson said.

He didn't limit it to intelligence on the field, either.

"I don't believe in football intelligence and being dumb off the field," he said. "If he's dumb off the field, he's going to make dumb
problems off the field and that's going to be just as big a problem as being dumb on the field."

The tactic worked out well for Johnson in his time with the Cowboys.

In 1989, his first season with the team, he drafted quarterback Troy Aikman with the No. 1 overall pick, guard Steve Wisniewski and
running back Daryl Johnston in the second round, center Mark Stepnoski in the third round, and defensive end Tony Tolbert in the
fourth round.

Johnston, Stepnoski and Tolbert were all Academic All-Americans.

All five players went on to play in the Pro Bowl, and Aikman made it into the Hall of Fame. Not a bad draft for a rookie personnel
guy.

"Hit me in the head with a hammer the next time I want to draft a dumb guy," Johnson said.

The Raiders would be wise to take his advice. (*Cough, cough* JaMarcus Russell.)

2) Playmaking ability

Johnson coached plenty of superstars in his time: Troy Aikman, Emmitt Smith, Michael Irvin, Dan Marino. But he says a playmaker
isn't necessarily someone at one of the main offensive positions.

"A playmaker can be an offensive guard, the guy who makes the key block," he said. "It could be a defensive tackle that's always
getting fumbles."

He highlighted Kevin Smith, a defensive back he drafted in 1992 out of Texas A&M, as a player who wasn't a household name yet
was still able to be a game-changer because of how well he returned punts.

3) Gym rat

From what I gathered, this extends past lifting weights.

"I want him to love the game," Johnson said. "Someone that if he wasn't playing football was over shooting baskets with somebody
or who's a competitor playing pool. Someone with a real passion for the game."

Anyone who's read Boys Will Be Boys knows this quality was certainly true of Aikman, Irvin and Smith.

4) Speed

This one's simple.

"I just didn't want slow guys," Johnson said.

Al Davis obviously bumps this quality a little higher up his list.

5) Character

It's hard to define this quality and/or separate it from intelligence.

It's also a quality that produces much debate.

Was Michael Irvin a bad character for partying like a maniac, doing cocaine and incessantly cheating on his wife?

It's all a matter of perspective.

"If he's a bad character, he's going to give you problems," Johnson said. "If it's not a problem on the field, it's going to be a problem
off the field and he's going to elminate himself."

Eliminating oneself. Hmmm. Would that be like, say, Irvin getting arrested in 1996 for cocaine possession? Hard to say. But either
way, that didn't fall under Johnson's per view. By then he had left the Cowboys.

***

Interesting side note: We asked Johnson about character and whether it's liable to change when a player gets a big contract.

He was insistent that that's rarely the case.

"If a guy was smart and had a strong character, it wouldn't matter if you paid him or not," Johnson said. "Zach Thomas [a fifth
round draft pick of the Dolphins under Johnson in 1996] came from a wealthy family but he loved playing the game. So I didn't
have a problem with him getting paid. He wasn't playing for the money. He was playing because he loved the game."

So there they are, folks. Jimmy Johnson's keys to draft day success.

You better believe I'll be using them come April.

To reach editor Patrick Crawley, click here. Follow him on Twitter, @BasketballFiend.