 Winnipeg Blue Bombers Jovon Johnson (right) breaks a tackle by Hamilton Tiger-Cats Daryl Stephenson during CFL action in Winnipeg Friday August 26, 2011. (QMI Agency/BRIAN DONOGH) |
Jovon Johnson is the reigning CFL defensive player of the year, but he’s looked like a rookie right out of college this season when it comes to a certain passing play.
The Bombers cornerback has been beaten badly twice this season on double moves by receivers Chad Owens and Chris Williams, who have gone either inside-out or outside in to leave No. 2 in the dust. Now, those are two excellent and speedy pass catchers, and defensive backs are going to get beaten, but Johnson didn’t have a chance on either one.
Johnson, who missed practice on Wednesday due to a bum hamstring, will be on the field on Friday night against the B.C. Lions, and he doesn’t plan on letting any more receivers blow by him with the double move.
“I don’t know what it is,” Johnson said. “A lot of people are starting to do routes that simulate going one place and then going another, just because I’m so aggressive.
“One thing you can do is to kill yourself once. And once you kill yourself a second time, there’s nowhere else to go but up. So I won’t fall for it again.”
Believe it or not, the Lions are the last CFL team that will beat Johnson deep. They have the fewest passing plays this season of 30 yards or more, with just six. On the other hand, their stout defence has given up just five such passes.
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The Bombers, meanwhile, have 15 passes that have covered at least 30 yards. They are dead last in defending the deep pass, however, having allowed 19 tosses of 30-plus yards.
— Penton
GOING DEEP
A look at how many deep passes (30-plus yards) each CFL team has completed this season:
Montreal 18
Winnipeg 15
Toronto 15
Edmonton 13
Hamilton 10
Saskatchewan 10
Calgary 9
B.C. 6
BEATEN DEEP
A look at how many deep passes (30-plus yards) each CFL team has allowed this season:
B.C. 5
Toronto 10
Hamilton 11
Saskatchewan 11
Edmonton 12
Montreal 13
Calgary 15
Winnipeg 19