Johnson Getting Bumped Out?
June 23rd, 2015
Getting squeezed out?
One of Joe’s favorites is Leonard Johnson. No, he won’t be Darrelle Revis. But Johnson, the pride of Largo High School, has fought and scratched for everything, whether it be his college degree or his spot in the NFL.
Having his dream realized when he was undrafted and the Bucs picked him up, Johnson has had fantastic moments with the Bucs, and his share of duds.
Last year, Joe thought Johnson made strides as a nickel back, though some Bucs fans are quick to toss him overboard. It seems Luke Easterling of Bleacher Report thinks Johnson may be squeezed out of a gig this summer thanks to the addition of Sterling Moore.
Moore may be running with the second team for the most part, but that’s likely due to his need to get acclimated to the Bucs’ particular brand of Tampa 2 defense, which is likely to have a few differences from the version he ran under Rod Marinelli in Dallas. Don’t be surprised if he quickly jumps ahead of Johnson once training camp rolls around.
If that happens, look for Johnson to be the odd man out in the slot, as his lack of ideal size at just 5’10” would keep him from being able to slide outside and beat out the likes of veteran Mike Jenkins for playing time there.
Oh, boy, here we go with the Mike Jenkins love again. This is sort of like a local football version of an outbreak of the chicken pox.
Not long ago, Joe spoke to someone he trusted at One Buc Palace and asked him point blank what is the deal with all this Jenkins chatter. If Joe didn’t know any better, then he’d be of the mind Bucs folks were talking about Darrell Green the way this journeyman Jenkins is pumped up.
Joe was told that Jenkins is pretty good in press coverage. So there’s that.
June 23rd, 2015 at 2:03 pm
I hope he doesn’t make the team. The man hasn’t earned his keep so far and I doubt he ever will.
Not my money to spend, but it seems to me the roster spot could be used on someone with actual potential.
June 23rd, 2015 at 2:21 pm
Sorry but id take Mike Jenkins over Leonard Johnson anyday. If you study the Bucs games like I do, you’ll see that everytime Leonard Johnson comes in he gets exploited time and time again. He’s a liability in coverage and every team that plays us knows it. Just ask Drew Brees and Marques Colston.
June 23rd, 2015 at 2:31 pm
Leonard gets a lot of grief from some Buc fans, though you have to give him some credit for sticking around as long as he has. I like him too, in part pulling for a local player to do well.
June 23rd, 2015 at 2:33 pm
Good guy, terrible player. Period.
June 23rd, 2015 at 2:44 pm
Supersam
True story
June 23rd, 2015 at 2:55 pm
Joe, what is it with the jenkins comments? Maybe he is outperforming the rest in practice. It’s not that hard to understand dude. It’s not a conspiracy or something.
June 23rd, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Leonard Johnson doesn’t make me miss E.J Biggers.
June 23rd, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Johnson is a good story but is always getting roared on big plays even when he’s in position to make a play, he just cant. He’s slow, small’ and never wraps his head back towards the QB
June 23rd, 2015 at 3:01 pm
Roasted*
June 23rd, 2015 at 3:09 pm
Another J Says:
June 23rd, 2015 at 3:00 pm
Leonard Johnson doesn’t make me miss E.J Biggers.
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lol, Well there’s always that
June 23rd, 2015 at 3:22 pm
Have to agree with the above comments on Johnson. He always seems to be just fast enough to tackle the receiver immediatly after catching the ball 8 yds downfield on 3rd and 7. He almost NEVER is good enough to break up the pass. Always a step or two behind.
June 23rd, 2015 at 3:28 pm
I just watched LJ’s int TD in Joes link.
Looking at the old uni’s made me realize how disgusting these new ones are. They are horrible.
Bring back the old uni’s, and keep the current helmet!
June 23rd, 2015 at 3:55 pm
It’s almost like Largo Johnson thinks his job is to cover the receiver but not actually, ya know disrupt the ball being thrown. The secondary as a whole was very poor last year in getting their heads turned or getting their hands on the football.
June 23rd, 2015 at 4:16 pm
Yep, Johnson has been very frustrating to watch covering receivers coming across the middle. Step behind, just like everyone has been saying. Feel good stories don’t make you feel very good after a 2-14 season.
June 23rd, 2015 at 4:16 pm
It wasn’t just LJ letting teams catch the ball, it was an epidemic last year, no passes defended. Even in the heyday you would see this but then the rush would get there making it difficult for the QB, in other words no rush. LJ had success when Mike Bennett was here, even Keith Tandy had some success when Bennett was here. Even though I like the local story, if we have someone that can SURELY out perform him, let’s do it, but not with a marginal player, that keeps my television on pins and needles on third down scared it’s going to get hit with my foam brick.
June 23rd, 2015 at 4:32 pm
Is there something personal with Mike Jenkins?…….let’s face it….he certainly has the talent and capability of playing well…..he’s done it in the past. What on earth would be wrong with him winning a starting job…..for that matter, what would be wrong with Gilkiey playing well enough to bump EDS?….This is how teams improve…..competition for playing time.
Imagine if T.J. Fatinikun got so many sacks we didn’t need George Johnson?
How about Kenny Bell bumping Vjax to #3 WR? (unlikely)…..but all is good!!!
June 23rd, 2015 at 4:40 pm
Although I’m sure Leonard is a great guy, I learned something the year we had Revis. Since our team was pitiful, I resorted to basically tracking Revis across the field the entire game.
When the ball was caught, my eyes shifted over to the other part of the field where I would find a merry receiver skipping joyfully with the ball. Behind him was a sad, lonesome Leonard Johnston a few steps behind after giving up yet another big play.
I guess my point is that Leonard Johnston is the worst NFL football player I have ever seen in my entire life. Thank you.
June 23rd, 2015 at 5:18 pm
Get him off the feild plz.
June 23rd, 2015 at 5:38 pm
I never liked Johnson. I think he must get tired of smelling burnt toast.
June 23rd, 2015 at 5:57 pm
I’ve always rooted for the kid…
June 23rd, 2015 at 6:00 pm
This is why Leonard Johnson must go!!! fast forward to 215 242 and 122 yep all Leonard Johnson, the one at home that got the saints into field goal range broke my heart. I also think it ruined are whole season. https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=AuvwrVIXw1Q
June 23rd, 2015 at 6:16 pm
You always want the home town players to do well….but it’s strickly business….if Johnson is waived or rides pine….it will simply show that we have improved.
June 23rd, 2015 at 6:25 pm
Atleast your smart enough not to destroy your credibility by taking Johnson over Jenkins. He should be the odd man out. It’s time for the Morris and schiano leftovers that aren’t stars to go
June 23rd, 2015 at 6:52 pm
Johnson obviously isn’t going to be a stud starter….but he provides good depth and I like him on the team. I was once optimistic he would be better but his size and speed are a little underwhelming. Still a hard working player with heart. Hope they find a way to keep him around but if he goes it must mean there is someone better which is never a bad thing.
June 23rd, 2015 at 7:15 pm
May the best man win the job. Next case
June 23rd, 2015 at 7:21 pm
Meanwhile the Rays are on top of the East and have the best Road Record in MLB!!! Lets Go Rays!!!
June 23rd, 2015 at 9:13 pm
One thing that sucks about Mountain time is that it is hard to talk to your friends back in Eastern time after you get off work because they are usually ready for bed. Oh Well. Part of being a Bucs fans part 128 in my 39 yrs of Fandom
June 23rd, 2015 at 10:11 pm
Don’t count on Mike Jenkins… He is usually able to play @ 4-6 games before getting injured…
Johnson was a nice underdog to root for but he has just been burnt too many times for us to rely on him…
June 23rd, 2015 at 10:20 pm
Have to agree with the comments here. He’s been burned badly way too many times over the past few years. I’m sure he’s a great guy and all but the reality is that he is not a starting calibre CB.
As someone else said earlier, if he doesn’t make the team then that means that our secondary has improved. Simple as that.
June 23rd, 2015 at 10:31 pm
Time for LG to move on. I too was looking at a picture of McCoy in their old uniforms. What a mistake to change them. Jameis would have looked killer in them.
June 23rd, 2015 at 10:55 pm
I really don’t care who is the starter at any position, as long as they’ve earned it.
June 23rd, 2015 at 11:05 pm
Wow! I just realized someone dropped the name E.J. Biggers! Two years ago I was playing Madden with my Son who was 9 at the time. He would play as the Bucs and I would have to play as a random team. When he was on Defense he would take control of Biggers and blitz me all of the time. He would get some sacks and tell me that Biggers was good!! LOL!! It took me 2 months and then 3 weeks into the next season for him to believe me that Biggers was horrible! He still brings up the sack he had on Matt Ryan as the only good play he saw him make!! Lol! Oh the memories!!!!
June 23rd, 2015 at 11:44 pm
He did go undrafted for a reason. The Bucs picked him up knowing he was a little slow. We can’t blame the kid too much. He is playing his heart out and made a few good plays, but he was not a hidden gem coming out of college. We didn’t waste a pick on him. We gave him a chance and now its time to move one. He wasn’t blessed with J. Banks size and ball skills. Hopefully this year we are much better and can move on. Hopefully another UDFA D. Everett is baller from Texas A&M. He has the size. S. Moore has much better speed. Lets put the best 11 on the field and not go 2-14 again.
June 24th, 2015 at 12:25 am
Leonard “I got burned again coach” Johnson! It’s 3rd and whatever. Who is the opposing going to throw to?…. Ding! Ding! Ding! Good ole Leonard!
June 24th, 2015 at 12:27 am
*** opposing QB
June 24th, 2015 at 1:04 am
The beauty of the Tampa Two is you don’t need burners to play it. Ronde Barber was just as slow and just as small as Leonard Johnson. But Rhonde will be in the Hall of Fame but he wasn’t a star his first two years until he mastered the Tampa Two. Rhonde had lots of heart and was gutsy and durable and a great tackler and fantastic playmaker. Don’t forget that Leonard Johnson got thee interceptions quickly his first year and has playmaker potential and is a good tackler, is durable, and good on Special Teams. This will be his make it year. I think he can turn the corner this third year like Rhonde did. I am pulling for him to make the 53 man roster.
June 24th, 2015 at 1:36 am
I’m anxious to see Brandon Dixon in preseason games, I believe he can be a hidden jewel. Leonard Johnson has the experience and skills, but it seems like he’s always a step too slow. Brandon Dixon is a burner and he’s tough, played his high school ball in Pompano Beach,i’m looking for him to challenge Leonard Johnson,Isaiah Frey, Sterling Moore, CJ Wilson for that 4th CB spot.
June 24th, 2015 at 9:04 pm
Everyone is correct that as long as they keep the best option we will be good. Whether LJ with another year of experience and game film can be a master of the scheme or MJ wins the job with better size, speed and athletic ability, let the pre-season decide. Props to the kid though for realizing his dream and giving so much back to his hometown community in Largo.