Tide's Johnson thrives in new role

TUSCALOOSA, ALABAMA -- Mike Johnson had held just about every position on the offensive line for No. 1 Alabama except the role of unquestioned leader and was mostly overshadowed by the two All-Americans flanking him last season.

Now the Crimson Tide's left guard is both the leader and an All-American in his own right. Johnson has been the anchor of a line that had to replace three starters, including left tackle Andre Smith and center Antoine Caldwell.

``Last year, I was playing between Antoine and Andre,'' Johnson said. ``I was in a new position, and I really just tried not to mess things up because they were such great players.

``I just tried to pay attention to what they were doing and make sure I was in the right place and worry about myself. This year, it's kind of turned over.''

When coach Nick Saban talks about the progression of left tackle James Carpenter since coming in from junior college, he starts with how playing beside Johnson ``certainly enhanced his development and helped his confidence.''

The 6-foot-6, 305-pound Johnson will start his 37th consecutive game on Alabama's line against No. 2 Texas in the BCS national title game in Pasadena, Calif. He spent the past two seasons as a kind of all-purpose blocker, moving over whenever needed. He started twice at left tackle last season, including the Sugar Bowl when Smith was suspended.

Two years ago, he and Smith were the only offensive linemen to start all 13 games, but Johnson played the first 10 at right tackle and the last three at right guard.

He found a permanent home when line coach Joe Pendry moved him to the left side last season. He went from second-team All-SEC last season to first-team All-American as a senior.

``I told coach Pendry I was willing to do whatever he wanted me to do,'' Johnson said. ``It just ended up working out. It just kind of stuck.''

Carpenter seemingly had the line's toughest job this season, replacing the Outland Trophy winner Smith, the sixth overall pick in the NFL draft by the Cincinnati Bengals. But Johnson had to step in as the vocal leader for Caldwell, charged with helping keep his teammates focused when they don't feel like practicing ``and keeping everything light, keep the mood up."

Like Caldwell, Johnson's Tide teammates voted him a team captain after the regular season.

``I think our offensive line, which started the season being a little bit of a question mark, certainly has been an area of this team that he impacted quite a bit with his leadership and his performance and his example,'' Saban said. ``It doesn't go unnoticed with us as coaches, the impact that he had on the other people that he plays with and how his positive energy and enthusiasm helped those guys play better, which really in turn helped our team be a lot more successful.''

Even with the honors, Johnson has some unfinished business. Subbing for Smith, he left the Sugar Bowl early with an ankle injury and didn't return in the Tide's 31-17 loss to Utah.

``That was one of the worst losses we've had since I was in school,'' Johnson said. ``Just to go out there and try to reconcile that, not being able to help the team last year. Just to make that right is going to be big for me.''