STRENGTHS - Johnson has outstanding bulk and length for the position. He has a quick first step off the snap, which allow him to get into his set before is man can initiate, as well as quickly get to the 2nd level on pulls and combo blocks. Once on top of LBs in space he consistently overwhelms them with his bulk and power. As an in-line runner he has the ability to drive his man off the ball when he gets a strong inside fit.
WEAKNESSES - While he demonstrates good foot quickness off the snap, Johnson often struggles to sustain blocks because he tends to bend at the waist and reach, causing him to get overextended and struggle with balance. In pass pro he tends to employ more of a backpedal than shuffle, which results in him getting on his heels and giving up too much ground. This allows aggressive defenders to establish leverage and jolt him backward on bull rushes, despite often being at a disadvantage from a natural strength perspective against him. This poor technique also limits his ability to slide and adjust to counter-moves and stunts.
SUMMARY - Oscar Johnson immediately impresses with his natural strength and quickness off the ball, but from a technique standpoint he is not ready to play at the NFL level. In pass protection he minimizes his strength level by backpedaling off the LOS, which puts his weight on his heels and allows defenders to get into him quickly at the POA. He flashes the ability to fire off the ball quickly and get into his man before he can get set, but he must demonstrate the same level of aggressiveness off the ball on pass blocks that he does in the run game. When he stays over his feet he is extremely effective in space, but he tends to overextend and reach for blocks, causing him to fall off blocks early. Johnson should be a solid day three draft pick, because if he can improve his footwork in pass protection and learn to play with consistent base, leverage and balance, he will at the very least develop into a solid backup in the NFL.