Homework Key For Leonard Johnson
July 19th, 2012
There is always a player or two that Bucs fans latch onto in training camp and preseason and hope makes the squad. Last year it was wide receiver Ed Gant, who racked up a bunch of yards against guys who are currently driving beer trucks, teaching high school and bouncing drunks out of bars.
If Joe is rooting for any rookie to make the team, it would be Leonard Johnson, for purely selfish reasons.
Joe got to know Johnson when he was the starting quarterback at Largo High School as a freshman. So Joe thinks it would be cool that a local guy who grew up with the Bucs, a guy Joe knew before Johnson could legally drive, could make the squad.
Always a studious guy, Johnson admitted he didn’t have much of a summer vacation. The downtime between the last OTA and today Johnson spent hitting the books, specifically defensive playbooks and when possible, video.
“I did a lot of studying over the break to prepare myself so I can compete with all of the guys,” Johnson said.
It wasn’t just terminology and assignments that Johnson has learned in his short few months with the Bucs, but he has also learned how to be a Bucs player Johnson said.
“The most important thing is to be a professional, both on and off the field, most definetly off the field,” Johnson said. “Just to be professional every where you go. Carry yourself like everyone knows you around town.
“It is good to come back out here and get acclimated to the heat, start learning terminology all over again and to be out there running around with the guys.”
July 19th, 2012 at 1:45 pm
Does anyone know if Johnson got a new contract over the past couple weeks? He seemed pretty upset on twitter when something got “leaked” before it was supposed to.
July 19th, 2012 at 2:02 pm
I would seriously doubt he would get a new contract before playing a single snap in the pros….
July 19th, 2012 at 6:14 pm
Two DBs I am cautiously optimistic about are Johnson, based admittedly on second-hand info in pre-draft pubs (he was the ”spotlight” CB in ”Lindy’s Pro Football Draft” mag), and Keith Tandy, who may make a move to FS methinks if Leonard can take up some slack at corner.
July 19th, 2012 at 11:18 pm
LJ sounds a lot like Ronde with all of this professionalism talk. That might be the coolest part of the story imo.
Ronde is the last Buc remaining from the glory days, and is a man who was and continues to be all about professionalism and plays the same position as him. What an amazing mentor to have, as someone I’m sure he grew up with as a teenager and viewed him as a role model.
Ronde may not be the most talented but he has always been among the most disciplined, studious, and hard working players in the league, and it’s that professionalism alone that has built himself a HOF resume. If Johnson continues to follow in Ronde’s footsteps, despite not being a draftable talent, then he could go far himself.