Tough Duty For Leonard Johnson
September 16th, 2013
With precious seconds ticking off the clock and Drew Brees needing a big play late in the fourth quarter yesterday, the Bucs had Darrelle Revis covering rookie WR Kenny Stills in man coverage. Leonard Johnson was 1-on-1 with Marques Colston. Results above.
Greg Schiano made a point last week to say Leonard Johnson is “better” than he was last season.
That’s great to hear, but Joe’s not sure that’s anywhere near good enough.
Undrafted in 2012, Johnson is the Bucs’ No. 2 cornerback, the starter opposite Darrelle Revis. If Johnson left the Buccaneers, would he start anywhere else in the league? Johnson does some good things, but he makes critical errors and is limited by his physical tools.
Johnson was charged with man coverage on superstar receiver Marques Colston with the Saints frantically looking for a winning score yesterday. (Here’s the video evidence.) Darrelle Revis? Well, he was on rookie fifth-round pick Kenny Stills. Brees drilled a ball to Colston downfield. He was open and made a stunning catch.
Joe really can’t get mad a Johnson. The Bucs are asking him to play over his head, as they did last season when he was a member of the Fearsome Foursome of cornerbacks — “E.J., Leonard, Danny and LeQuan.”
Joe has to fault rockstar general manager Mark Dominik for leaving the Bucs so thin at corner, and for Greg Schiano seemingly consistently overvaluing Johnson. Schiano and Bill Sheridan must get the blame for putting their $1 million-a-game cornerback on the wrong receiver.
September 16th, 2013 at 12:31 pm
Johnson was the only downer on defense yesterday. The last real piece the Bucs D needs is that other corner to matchup opposite Revis. Banks has got to start stepping up.
September 16th, 2013 at 12:35 pm
I don’t know who’s to blame for lack of depth and refusal of signing FA while they had the salary cap to do so.. I just can’t imagine how incredible we would have been if we signed Grimes (or another one) and resigned Bennett on the line. There’s just no depth at all in this team. The only position we have depth is RB. All other positions are suspect.
I like Dominick but maybe it’s time for a real cleanup. Hire a proven NFL coach and a GM from a winning franchise. I feel that will be necessary to reboot the franchise. Most of the pieces are there but they just can’t solve the puzzle.
September 16th, 2013 at 12:39 pm
The NFL has completely changed the rules that CB’s play within. He gave up a play at the end of the game, by not making a great play, one that few CB’s in the NFL past and present would have made.
The D is better, the Offense besides VJ, Doug Martin, and Lorig has yet to arrive this season. And yes, I saw Mike Williams’ bonehead plays yesterday, including the business decision not to drag his right foot. Got payed eh Mike?
That loss yesterday was on Shiano and his girly starting QB Fro-ball-late, and inaccurate, or get sacked Joshy.
No, I don’t think Glennon is a savior of the season, but do expect to see him soon, and Freeman gone.
September 16th, 2013 at 12:40 pm
If this season continues to spiral down the drain, I’m all for a full house cleaning. Dom. Schiano. Freeman.
September 16th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Not related to this topic, and it might be old news! But guess who’s play last night got the Guinness World Record for sound at a stadium? Mr. Michael Bennett that’s who! Thanks for trading him Bucs…
September 16th, 2013 at 12:44 pm
Psh its amazing what a couple of interceptions will do to people’s perspectives of you. Johnson was never anything THAT special.
Banks is still a rook. How many rookie CBs kill it when first gettimg into the league? From the sounds of it Revis is starting to get fed up with these coaching shenanigans.
September 16th, 2013 at 12:46 pm
So glad we didn’t sign DRC to play Cb because he is looking like a young champ bailey in Denver !!! And we could’ve had him for peanuts he got in Denver!! DRC n Revis with Barron n Goldson !!!
September 16th, 2013 at 12:48 pm
The commentators said it was the best throw Brees made all game. LJ is good/average like Wright and most other NFL CBs.
September 16th, 2013 at 12:55 pm
Johnson > Banks?
September 16th, 2013 at 12:56 pm
Im telling you all we lost these games because of mark dominick.. we lost both of these games on 1 play…maybe if we resigned michael bennett… he would be good for a sack and run down ongeno smith. also we could of had his brother a tight end on the bears hes been lighting it up for a td a game.. help freeman out… the sad thing is they offered to come cheap as a package deal in the off season but dominick wouldnt do it… those two pbrothers wanted to play together and for the bucs for cheap……they would be inspired to play better to…would of been a good nfl story instead were getting a suspebded goldson and were 0-2 with qb rebuilding mode..
September 16th, 2013 at 12:57 pm
Leonard Johnson is an undisciplined, selfish player and needs to be benched immediately.
Forget about his bad coverage on Colston. It happens to the best of them. But the last two games now he has committed selfish penalties on third down that have extend our opponents drives.
This is unacceptable and he must be held accountable. He needs to be benched.
September 16th, 2013 at 1:00 pm
Tac, that Mike Williams missed catch was on Free. There was about 7 yards between Mike’s break from his route and the sideline, yet Free was late with the throw and almost threw the ball near the sideline. Good QBs get the ball to their receivers on time with space and a chance to get upfield. Just another part of Freeman’s offensive struggles.
September 16th, 2013 at 1:10 pm
No the blame goes to the idiot that puts johnson on the best receiver they got. It reminds me of radio always lining biggers up and gettin burnt. Who does that! We got Revis now theres no excuse for that bad coaching
Dont Revis follow the best receivers around or am I mistaking. Not! We put Vjax in the slot to create mismatches so why the hell we get fried like that with our on stuff. Coaching..Scheme.. Non-Prevent D.
Itss seem to me for years these other teams have been targeting our weakest corners. Before the foursome it was Biggers, Mack, Corey Ivy, Zemetis, Kelly,Barber, Abrams, Abraham( was a beast for the Jets) Mincy..etc
Going after the 3rd & 4th corners on the pass plays has beat the bucs for years. Thats due to never having depth at cb for decades.
That Revis smoke screen Mark Dom made lost us out on some premium one year dudes at the position.
Look what the raiders Did! Tracy Porter and Mike Jenkins at cb Woodson at safety Burnett at Lb Andre Carter DE. My point there gm built a veteran D in one off season.
Comedy.
September 16th, 2013 at 1:13 pm
@mvermulm ~ gr8 observation! ppl on sports talk radio etc were blaming MW for that and i’ll admit i agree’d, but after review, you are exactly correct! he was so friggin wide open after his break the ball definitely came late. like you said, the ball should of been there much earlier and not only would he of stepped inbounds he probably could of got yac’s out of it! if you have a twitter account i’d love to follow you on it. thx and go bucs!
September 16th, 2013 at 1:20 pm
Yea, I can believe that. Mike has been a big part of carrying Fro-balls-late for a couple of years now with his circus catches, body control, and ability to get both feet down.
Armchair critic here, and the bonehead high school penalty’s are getting old quick too.
Kick them all while they’re down is the way I roll, lol. I saw some good things yesterday, but as usual, it takes Shiano and Freeman 3-4 games to get rolling.
I think sully should just get a coloring book, and sit with freeman on the sidelines after a 3 and out, and make him stay within the lines with crayons, nothing else seems to work.
September 16th, 2013 at 1:24 pm
I watched that play…..Johnson was with him step by step…it was an absolutly perfect throw against good coverage…it happens. I’m not real sure Revis defends against that pass any better.
That’s not to say Johnson hasn’t got room for improvement….he does.
I don’t consider his offsides “selfish”…just over-agressive…an characteristic of our entire defense.
September 16th, 2013 at 1:35 pm
Yes, why in the world is Darelle Revis covering Kenny Stills all game when he should have been on Marques Colston. Also, why in the world are the Bucs playing so much zone when Darelle Revis is one of the best man defenders in NFL history?!?!? The weakness of the Bucs is not Josh Freeman. It is coaching!
September 16th, 2013 at 1:41 pm
Anyone think Free would’ve put the ball in the same spot Brees did? Absolutely perfect throw by one of the game’s best QBs this century, and a great catch by a big, physical receiver.
September 16th, 2013 at 1:49 pm
After watching Seattle destroy San Fran and bennett playing a nice role in that, I have to question Dominic’s evaluation skills. Furthermore, like BucsQcCity said, not acquiring Grimes or a solid vet corner is ridiculous.
September 16th, 2013 at 2:21 pm
That was perfect coverage leonard johnson had on Colston.. Nothing you can really do about that play except hope its a bad throw.
September 16th, 2013 at 2:28 pm
The point that some of you are missing is that if Revis is covering, Colston probably isn’t in position to make the catch of the ‘perfect throw,’ or Brees doesn’t even look at him because Revis is on him. Bad coaching puts your worst DB on their best WR at the most crucial part of the game.
September 16th, 2013 at 2:31 pm
“hope its a bad throw.”
And make the tackle, which he did. Ke didn’t make a spectacular play, so he is the bad guy this week, lol.
Why was he on Colston? Now that is a buc conspiracy, and mystery to be solved.
Where is the hardly boys to figure that one out. Maybe Fro-balls-late, and his agent are working on that mystery.
September 16th, 2013 at 2:41 pm
Some CBs only guard one side of the field. I know Revis hasn’t been that type so far this year, but maybe he is still more comfortable on one side of the field? Revis definitely needed to be on Colston, but perhaps Revis isn’t quite at the point where the Bucs have him seeking out the best player, but rather a spot on the field instead. Not sure.
September 16th, 2013 at 3:08 pm
So let me get this. All the plays that Brees ran on that drive this is the fall guy. WHO allowed it to get that far and the pass to be thrown? Revis on a rookie great call. Million dollar man to cover a rookie on a major game saving drive.
September 16th, 2013 at 3:24 pm
What is really funny is first it is only Freeman not offense not scoring all day.
Then a stupid call (only because the FG was missed. Make it everyone is a hero if we win). Now Johnson is the fall guy not the entire defense who let the drive get that far to begin with. Next?
September 16th, 2013 at 4:45 pm
So Revis was covering a rookie instead of their number 1 receiver? Makes perfect sense paying him 1 million a game to cover the worst player. Good play choice Coach….
September 16th, 2013 at 6:51 pm
If only ONE of the CBs that Dominik drafted was a worthy starter. You’d think he’d get lucky ONCE.
“Mock Star” General Manager