Johnson Passes Myron Lewis’ Career Numbers
October 27th, 2012
Hell, Johnson now has more career inerceptions (1) and official passes defended (4) than Lewis has in his career.
Johnson, the former Largo High QB, revealed to veteran Tampa Tribune scribe Woody Cummings that he knew he would get the nod against the Vikings but sat on the information like a KAOS agent.
Johnson started at left corner when the Bucs moved regular starting left corner Eric Wright into the slot as a replacement for Brandon McDonald, who injured an ankle against New Orleans.
“I didn’t want to say anything because I didn’t want to psyche myself out or say anything to my mom or anyone else and have them all excited and put more pressure on me,” Johnson said. “I just wanted to stick to what I knew.”
The low-key approach worked rather well. Johnson recorded two tackles, three pass breakups and had his first NFL interception when he sealed the victory by picking off Vikings QB Christian Ponder on Minnesota’s last offensive series.
In addition to Johnson’s late pick, he likely got jobbed by the zebras on another.
Yeah, it’s one game. But Johnson has earned a lot more playing time. And given that Aqib Talib remains sidelined for putting a funny pill in his Pez dispenser, Joe suspects the Bucs will go to Johnson again in Oakland.
October 27th, 2012 at 11:00 am
He impressed me with his play. He was 6 inches from having 2 picks. Congrats to the young man for his play on Thursday.
October 27th, 2012 at 11:04 am
Classic look at the “Rockstar”. The guy can hit and bust with the best of them.
October 27th, 2012 at 11:16 am
Problem with LJ is he’s tough inside the 30 when the opposing offense has a short field to work with, but they pretty much kept him out of the game when the field was longer. Why? Because he doesn’t have the kind of speed necessary to defend go routes or skinny posts against outside receivers.
Come on guys, open your eyes…you gotta watch how the coaches use a player. Watch when he comes into the game and watch when they take him out. What is the situation? What is the field position? This will tell you a lot about how the coaches view his ability or lack thereof.
Point is, we still need a #1 corner in the draft and if they plan to let Talib walk we probably need a second one in the draft or in free agency. LJ being tough on a shorter field doesn’t change that situation for the Bucs.
October 27th, 2012 at 11:29 am
4th round pick for Mike Jenkins. The Bucs can correct the drafting of Talib with a mid round pick.
October 27th, 2012 at 12:00 pm
He’s pretty darn good suprised me to. I been praying somebody stepped in our horrible secondary(the corners) and he did that kudos to Lj. I’m convinced that we still need more corners but he should still get a lot of playing time if his play continues to progess. I mean he is a rookie for god sakes. A couple of speed trainings and we’ll see wassup with a starting role next year.
October 27th, 2012 at 12:25 pm
Looking at the replay on his 1st pick, looked like he had both feet in bounds and had the ball pinned to his shoulder.
October 27th, 2012 at 12:30 pm
“Likely jobbed”=”Absolutely robbed!” It was a pick, my Vikings friends knew it was a pick, but things worked out so there wasn’t anything to talk about. LJ played his role great, and I think he has earned more playing time.
I agree a 4th or 5th for Mike Jenkins would add some depth, but we still need a stud corner drafted/signed in FA this offseason. Loving the direction of the Bucs…continue to stay patient this staff is fixing the little holes in their games, continuing to learn from their mistakes, putting guys in the right position to succeed, it will only get better in the coming years if we let them do work.
October 27th, 2012 at 12:59 pm
Flyboy in the Big D is correct in his assessment of LJ in this defense. The New Schiano Order has ushered in and employs nickel and dime defenses that use 4 or 5 DBs (2 deep safeties and 3 CBs) on the field at any given time.
These defenses require man-to-man or press cover CBs to be effective. CBs that can jam a WR at the LOS and delay the QBs release giving the D-Line a chance to close and have the speed to recover when the WR releases and goes downfield.
This is why Talib, among other reasons, looked like a duck out of water when he could not delay Nicks at the LOS and couldn’t recover when Nicks went downfield bad foot and all in the Giants game.
The 2013 draft is loaded with big lengthy CBs who excel in this type of defense and they all pretty much have a 1st round grade – Milliner, Banks, Rhodes, Amerson and even Poyer. We must get one of these to keep pace with the gunslingers in the NFC-South.
October 27th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
FLBoyInDallas, he stuck with Harvin pretty well on that go route, IIRC. Looks to me like one of those guys who lack track speed but have good functional football speed, like Jerry Rice.
October 27th, 2012 at 1:25 pm
It’s funny that Myron Lewis is the joke. But, he’s better than McDonald. I was actually asking and hoping that he played in the New Orleans game after the many third down McDonald gave up. Hope Gaitor get wekk soon. We could use the help.
October 27th, 2012 at 1:27 pm
*well*
October 27th, 2012 at 1:49 pm
Can everyone please stop with the Mike Jenkins suggestions? He is small, soft, prone to mental errors and penalties, and he totally lacks the physicality that this coaching staff seems to prefer in its corners.
October 27th, 2012 at 2:18 pm
Why has lewis not been cut . Domminck missed on price lewis and benn from the deepest draft
October 27th, 2012 at 2:35 pm
He’s too slow to be a long term option, great stop gap guy though.
October 27th, 2012 at 5:45 pm
@red86
Lewis better then McDonald? Don’t agree on that one. I dont think theres many players at all on our 53 man roster that are worse then Lewis, McDonald is definetely not one of them
October 27th, 2012 at 5:46 pm
I am psyched about Johnson. He was a steal as an undrafted Free Agent.
You realize he was a 2nd round prospect but due to a bad 40 time (4.71) dropped out of the draft.
According to scouts and what I saw in the game he has fluid hips, explodes out of cuts and excellent ball skills. Also he was timed at 4.52 at Iowa’s pro day (which is .04 faster than the greatest receiver of all time aka Jerry Rice according to Pro-football talk.com).
EJ “toast” Biggers time was 4.38. Myron Lewis ran a 4.48 is 6’2″and very strong a “prototype” cover corner right. However, he can’t even sniff the field and if the Bucs cut him is probably out of the league.
Ronde Barber ran a 4.63 and he had a decent career as a Defensive Back. The point is I will take ball skills, quickness and coverage ability (scouts words not mine) over 40 times any day.
This Coaching staff knows a tad more than us. Look at the people they cut who we scratched our heads about are they even playing in the League. What is K2 doing, what about Brian Price ?? It is about time determinations were made about players based on their body of work and work ethic rather than intangibles.
October 27th, 2012 at 6:03 pm
Everyone knows he had two picks. I’d like to see Myron take his talents to New Orleans, Charlotte, or Atlanta.
October 27th, 2012 at 6:06 pm
If LJ is good in the role the coaches put him in, then he’s good. End of story.
October 27th, 2012 at 6:19 pm
@CanadianBucsFan
I would say they are even if I had to break a tie I go with lewis due to experience. Those 3rd downs and miss coverage in the Saints game all had one guy that was in the area. Yep McDonald. If Lance Moore wasn’t making him look silly, then it was Colston. I can get over it if it was two times. But, nooooooooooo. Brees target McDonald and abused him in the process. Glad Johnson did great while McDonald was hurt.
October 27th, 2012 at 10:52 pm
Trade Talib for anything