Well, except that a 3-4 DT is supposed to be a bloated hog who clogs up traffic. In fact, the primary purpose of the d-line in a 3-4 is be like those big concrete boulders they put in front of department stores to keep thieves from driving through the glass doors. If you get any pass rush from them, so much the better. While Travis Johnson hasn't supplied much of a pass rush, he hasn't exactly been an unmovable boulder either.

wasn't TJ drafted as a 3-4 DE? I know he wasn't taken to play NT.

Nope...pretty sure he was Supposed to play NT...which is why everyone was shocked when we drafted him. He was known more as a 1 gap type DT in college. IF we actually free up our lineman he should benefit. Could be a decent end in a 3-4 maybe. He is what he is at this point. average at best DT.

I know he was a DT in college but I'm pretty sure he was not taken as a NT. The best I could find was this chronicle article from his first training camp.

"Defensive end Travis Johnson, who's learning both sides and moves inside to play tackle in a four-man front, is a work in progress. "

http://www.chron.com/CDA/archives/ar...d=2005_3897218

This is exactly how I remember it. They drafted him and intended to make him a rotation player with Smith and Walker at 3-4 DE on 1st and 2nd down, and then moved him inside to DT a lot to replace Payne as a pass rusher on 3rd down.

Either way nobody ever saw Travis Johnson as a 3-4 nose, and nobody is going to now.

I seem to remember him as being a NT then too, but maybe it was just on passing downs. Then at least there was a chance he might grow into....now, no one would buy him being a 3-4 nose.

I wonder if the Packers would take a 7th round pick for Jeremy Thompson. He's definitely a 4-3 DE that they traded up for in the 4th round last year to get. Perhaps now, he's expendable.

Any interest in Antwan Peek for this role? The Browns just cut him. Assuming he's healthy (he missed the '08 season with a knee injury), I'd be okay with signing him on the cheap (maybe with some performance incentives) to compete for playing time as a nickel rusher. Maybe the new coaches (he's never played for Bush or Kollar) and the fear of his NFL career slipping away could overcome his knuckleheadedness.

I was thinking the same thing.

According to McClain we arent looking for a "light" DE.