CHARLOTTE— What is it like to be the man behind the man? The one who isn't necessarily in the shadows but can be blinded by the light at times. When Julius Peppers is inducted into the Pro Football Hall of Fame this weekend, his already shining legacy will receive a gold tint but when you look at those who came behind Peppers, both literally and figuratively, you realize even more just how special Peppers career was.
When Charles Johnson was drafted by the Carolina Panthers in the third round of the 2007 NFL draft, he was coming off a stud year with the Georgia Bulldogs that included 44 tackles, 9.5 sacks and three forced fumbles. Many expected him to even be an early round pick in the draft. The first time he walked into the Panthers defensive line room though, Johnson realized just how far he had to go.
"I used to play with Julius on the (video) game, the college game," Johnson recalled, days ahead of Peppers HOF induction. "So, to then come up and play behind him my rookie year that, that whole D-line was coming off Pro Bowl years, the Super Bowl (in 2003), you know what I'm saying? So, a lot of that was, I was starstruck a little bit, but I was like, how am I going to fit in with all these guys making Pro Bowls."
Johnson's rookie season saw him play primarily as a substitute behind Peppers and Mike Rucker. His second season in the league, Rucker had retired and Johnson found himself playing opposite Peppers all season. After only starting two years at Georgia though, Johnson knew he still had a "development stage to go through."
So, he did what so many others around the league and sport did for years, albeit with a front row view; he watched Julius.
"Julius was just a beast and a force and I just, I tried to mock everything he did to a certain extent and see how I could do it towards my game," Johnson admitted. "I had to go through a process, you know what I'm saying? Julius came in on the rip, like headfirst in. Making plays, making plays, making plays. So, everybody got different paths.
"I'm glad he was in front of me so I could see that to be able to have the years I had."
When Peppers left Carolina in 2010 to join the Chicago Bears, he had already accumulated 81 career sacks with the Panthers, and 30 forced fumbles. His departure also meant Johnson was finally a full-time starter. Now better suited to the NFL and speed of the game, Johnson did what had already proved to work well in his career thus far; mimic Julius.
Through his 11-year career with the Panthers, Johnson racked up 67.5 sacks and 19 forced fumbles, both respectable in normal circumstances, but both second behind Peppers in franchise records.
"I was always chasing him, but I knew I wasn't going to get him," Johnson laughed. "To be fair, he's hard to catch."
Johnson's final year in the league also saw the return of Peppers to the Carolinas. In his final two seasons, Peppers added 16 more sacks and four more forced fumbles, padding an already insane franchise record. Johnson does hold a franchise record for most sacks in a postseason, with five, and tied Kony Ealy for most sacks in a post season game, with three.
Maybe if Johnson had started earlier in his career, arrived from college more developed or not forced to wait behind two legends, his numbers would be higher. Maybe he'd hold more of the franchise records. Or maybe, without Peppers there as a model and totem, Charles Johnson wouldn't have had something to model himself after, something to chase.
The long careers and eye-popping numbers became the standard for those on the Panthers defensive line. Derrick Brown has done his part to keep the legacy alive, setting a NFL record for tackles by a defensive lineman in a single year, last season (and from a defensive tackle position) with 103 total.
Johnson remembers his years behind Peppers and Rucker though and hopes others in the Panthers building are doing as he and his teammates did; emulate their best.
"It was always a tradition to pass on with the Panthers. I think like how dominant our D-line was and how we seen it as like, we're known, the Panthers are known for having a great D-line, a great four man pass rush. And I think that tradition kind of passed; Pep and them really started it, Pep and Ruck, Kevin Greene and they really started it. And then passed down to us and then we passed down to the younger guys," Johnson said.
"So, lot of traditions try to get passed down, but you never know what cycle might break it or not. I really hope they get back to level, that four-man D-line, dog up front. We want the D line to be the head of everything. When the D-line is always good, you're more likely to go to the playoffs and Super Bowl."
Johnson had five tackles and a sack in Super Bowl 50 with the Panthers. In other words, he has been on one of those defense's that can help drive a team to the ultimate game.
"Everybody has got to be on the same page," Johnson offered as advice for what it takes. "It's going to take a lot of like team camaraderie, a lot of team stuff that's outside of practice, like you got to get to know each other.
"What's your reason? You need to know the next person's reason because they need to hold you accountable, and you got to hold everybody accountable on the team. Every day, you got to find that reason because it is going to get tested every single day."
To be the team, the era, behind the team can be intimidating. So can being the man behind the man. But as the Panthers watch Julius Peppers inducted into the Hall of Fame this weekend, they can remember the lesson from those like Charles Johnson as well. Follow that model, and it may just pull you into the light as well.
