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Jovon Johnson has developed into a dangerous return man for the Bombers. (TREVOR HAGAN / WINNIPEG FREE PRESS)

JOVON JOHNSON is the busiest football player to wear a Winnipeg Blue Bombers jersey these days and he'd like even more work."I never like to come off the field. In high school I played quarterback, returned kicks and played defence," said Johnson, who is having a solid season at cornerback and has taken over most of the club's kick and punt return duties. "I kid coach Kelly all the time about getting me some work on the offence. I think I could play in the slot and make some plays for this team."

Johnson has picked off four passes at corner for the Bombers and has 483 yards on 20 kickoff returns and 264 yards on 30 punt returns.

"He's fearless. Absolutely fearless. He's a football player and he loves being out there on the field," said Bombers coach Mike Kelly, when asked about Johnson's best attribute as a kick returner. "He's got good instincts and he's patient enough to let the blocking develop in front of him. He's got one of the best breaks on the ball of any corner in this league. Usually that explosiveness is the tool you try to lean on returning kicks, but Jovon has learned to wait for the blocking and then to explode."

Johnson says the more work the better.

"I never get tired. I'm a warrior when it comes to that," said the 5-8, 191-pound former Pittsburgh Steeler. "I've always been in good shape and I could play every play as long as I've got 11 other players out there helping me out."

Kelly says Johnson's work on defence shouldn't be overlooked due to his electric special teams work.

"He's one of the best corners in the league and I'm glad he's playing for us instead of against us," said Kelly. "He's still got some things to learn, but he comes back to ball off his backpedal as well as anyone else. Our whole group of DBs right now are just having fun playing football."

Standing under a punt and waiting for the ball while 12 defenders close in on you -- all with malicious intent -- could rattle the best of men. Not Johnson.

"Every time I go back there I think that I can make something happen," said Johnson. "Like I said, I'm a warrior and when you take that attitude and that passion into the game, nothing can scare you. I've taken big hits and I've given big hits. It's just something that goes with the violence of playing football."

With so many skills, Johnson still has one favourite aspect of the game.

"Returning interceptions for touchdowns," laughed Johnson. "I don't get too many chances for that but when I do, I love it."

There is one part of football Johnson can do without.

"I don't like to block. I used to block when I was a quarterback and we would run a sweep, I'd be the first out there trying to get a block," said Johnson. "But those days are gone."

Kelly was asked if the Bombers might try to work in Otis Amey or Titus Ryan returning kicks.

"Jovon Johnson would be very upset if we tried to mess with what he's doing right now and I can't see any reason to do that," replied the coach.

gary.lawless@freepress.mb.ca

Republished from the Winnipeg Free Press print edition September 29, 2009 C1