Time I got a move on, says Jovon about lack of big plays

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This article was published 03/08/2012 (4812 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current.

THE irritation of a 1-4 start to the 2012 season appears to be getting to all-star Bombers cornerback Jovon Johnson.

Johnson, the CFL’s Defensive Player of the Year in 2011, spoke about his frustrations Thursday following a team walk-through at Canad Inn Stadium. His complaint: a reflection of his own play this season. More specifically, his inability to come up with that big play on the field.

“I just go out and play the game the way I know how to play,” said Johnson. “I don’t try to focus too much on what kind of impact I can make, but when the opportunity presents itself I always want to make an impact. So far this season I haven’t had many opportunities to make an impact and I hate that. But at the same time I’m a team player and everybody else around me has been making plays and I can live with that.”

In five games this season Johnson has recorded 12 tackles and one interception, a slight drop from his start last season where he recorded 16 tackles and a pick by the same point.

At 28 years old, Johnson doesn’t credit a slow start to a drop in his performance. Rather, he suggests it’s from a new recognition he’s earned from opposing teams after a stellar 2011 campaign.

“I think it’s a lot of teams’ game plan (to throw away from me) considering I’m coming off… being defensive player of the year,” said Johnson. “I’m not saying that they’re afraid to go at me, but they pick and choose their moments when they want to throw at me.”

Besides the Blue’s 1-4 start, one can only assume Johnson’s frustration can be attributed to a Bombers team that has allowed 32.6 points per game this season, up from last year’s 19.4 points through five contests.

Upon hearing of Johnson’s troubled frame of mind, defensive co-ordinator Tim Burke offered up some advice for his star defensive back:

“Jovon is playing extremely well,” said Burke. “Sometimes plays come to you and sometimes they don’t. One thing I always tell the defensive backs is the guy who usually gets a lot of interceptions — that means they’re throwing at him, so they might think you’re the weak link.

“If they’re not throwing at you they think you’re pretty good, so that’s what I’d tell him.”

jeff.hamilton@freepress.mb.ca twitter: @jeffkhamilton

Jeff Hamilton
Multimedia producer

Jeff Hamilton is a sports and investigative reporter. Jeff joined the Free Press newsroom in April 2015, and has been covering the local sports scene since graduating from Carleton University’s journalism program in 2012. Read more about Jeff.

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