There Was A Michael Johnson Sighting
November 16th, 2014
Bucs DE Michael Johnson was no ghost today.
That shadowy figure you may have seen from time on the Bucs defense with a red No. 90 on his back was not a ghost (today), but a real live football player.
That would be defensive end Michael Johnson. The big-moneyed free agent defensive end, but for one game this year, was like a ghostly character in a Washington Irving novel. You heard he was on the roster and getting paid, but damned if you could find him.
Maybe his nagging ankle injury is healing? Maybe he got tired of being mocked? Maybe Bucs coach Lovie Smith finally found a button to push on him? Maybe he got tired of being embarrassed and ashamed? Whatever reason, Johnson showed up today.
Johnson actually had two tackles and a sack today. Now it was hardly a Canton-like performance, but Johnson did his part to get pressure on Robert Griffin III and, yes, get a sack, his first since the Bucs beat the Steelers. An odd pattern this is: When Johnson gets a sack, the Bucs win.
Joe hopes today’s game was a turning point for Johnson. If he can get pressure on a quarterback, then the whole line excels, like defensive tackle Clinton McDonald did today.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:15 pm
I still see a lack of hustle on most plays by Johnson.
Whatever happened to play through the whistle?
November 16th, 2014 at 6:17 pm
What about that kid Jacques smith? He was on fire!! 2 sacks & a ff!!!
November 16th, 2014 at 6:18 pm
If you get a chance to see him again after that play…..he was truly very, very excited……maybe this will fire him up…..
November 16th, 2014 at 6:24 pm
In the first half, there were a number of plays where it looked like he was hardly trying. When Trent Williams went down, he was playing against a rookie LT.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:25 pm
The Bucs will beat the Bears if they play like this next week but I don’t know how to feel. I want the Bucs to get a top 3 pick but I said it last month that it would be just like a Lovie team to win 5 straight games to move out of prime draft position. And since I know this I am going to root for the Bucs to run the table, oh well, so long Winston.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:26 pm
I’m glad he did something today, but there were several plays that he was clearly loafing. That’s one thing that really bothers me. When you are on a 1-8 team and you are a high priced free agent, at the very minimum I expect maximum effort.
November 16th, 2014 at 6:30 pm
Cut him please-
November 16th, 2014 at 6:41 pm
Smith is an emerging star. Johnson is a gigantic bust
November 16th, 2014 at 6:58 pm
Washington’s starting left tackle went out early with an injury…so Johnson played against second string talent all game. He still gets a passing grade, but definitely wasn’t as impressive as Smith, McDonald and McCoy
November 16th, 2014 at 7:02 pm
Generally speaking, the Bucs rush was designed to contain and push the pocket with only one DE trying to run the arc to try and contain Griffin. More often than not, Johnson was assigned a lane…he bull rushed and kept his head up ready to run laterally…when he was given an opportunity to rush he did well. he also made nice penetration, but didn’t make the play, on a few Alfred Morris runs. Morris was running through tackles all day, but against other RBs he would have likely had a few tackles for loss.
November 16th, 2014 at 7:06 pm
I hope it was the beginning.
Still would love to see him and McCoy hunting QBs!
Um, like today!
November 16th, 2014 at 7:16 pm
“When Johnson gets a sack, the Bucs win”
LOL Joe – That’s a pretty small sample size
November 16th, 2014 at 7:24 pm
Johnson doesn’t scare any OC’s or make it any easier for McCoy, in fact, his sack, was the product of another Buc player, but he was “standin” in the right spot. His play is a HUGE disappointment, and the J. Smith dude is a MUCH better pass rusher than the overpaid MJohnson. Not sure which was a worse signing, Johnson or Collins, but BOTH have been huge FAIL.
November 16th, 2014 at 7:40 pm
You guys are frickin’ blind!!! I saw alot of Johnson… mostly he was standing around watching someone else make a play, but I did see him. Or, at the least, I saw his uniform…
November 16th, 2014 at 8:09 pm
If they played this guy half the time he would be twice as good.
He likes to come in and play but not be an every down player
November 16th, 2014 at 9:44 pm
“There was a Michael Johnson sighting”
Barely. That sack was due to good coverage and he happened to be standing there when RG3 turned around and ran into him. Hardly the adequate NFL player you are suggesting. If you watched him today you saw that he was just as ineffectual as he always is. Stop pumping this no-talent assbag up.
November 17th, 2014 at 12:46 am
Who’s coming to the Chicago game because 90 won’t be there??? Tailgating for traveling fans!!!
November 17th, 2014 at 10:30 am
a little bit of pass rush and the defense looks like it ought to. just makes the huge failure of a contract given to michael johnson hurt all that much more. we have to work around that turd to become the team we’re supposed to be next year
November 17th, 2014 at 10:32 am
Clearly MJ90 can do something against the backup LT… Yippee!
They had what 6 weeks of tape of someone impersonating a RDE and not doing a damn thing? They probably thought we played a man down each week..
Now that their is good tape on him again he will be shut down on his one move shuffle for another 6 weeks… So basically week 16 or 17 he should have a sack again…
I hope I’m dead wrong… But I don’t think I am..