This is my second year with the Stamps, so I’m more familiar with the system. Or I guess maybe the system is more familiar with me.
They’ve let me play and get into the scheme. I’m confident I can go out there every weekend and do my job. The coaches just feel more comfortable with me in the game and I’m just taking advantage.
I was confident last year, but it was short-lived and when the defence had a few breakdowns, the coaches decided to go a different way with the front line. But that was last year. This is this year and I’m going to prove myself week in, week out.
I think the D-line is doing great this season. I think we’re gelling as a unit and the camaraderie between the four of us — well, it’s the eight of us actually; it doesn’t matter who they put in the game — is great. Outside of football, we go out and spend time together and chill.
We know that with the scheme that we play and with Chris Jones’ system, we’re not going to get a lot of sacks. We pride ourselves on being disciplined, knowing our assignments and making sure there are no big plays or leakage for the running backs. We want to be sound and we want to be pressuring the quarterback.
Stopping the run is the big thing. That’s an important thing in this league and it’s something we take pride in. If teams can’t establish the run, they’re going to start making mistakes in the passing game.
With the game at BC this weekend, it doesn’t matter that the Lions have lost four games in a row. It’s professional football, man, and everybody comes out every week to try and be at their best. Their record just shows that they’ve made a few mistakes but we’re not going to be sleeping on it. They’re a pretty good team and if you look at them closely, they have an extremely good running game and their new quarterback is still making good passes and making good plays.
We’re not going out there thinking it’s going to be a win just because they’ve lost four games in a row. We’re going there to put out our best effort and try to come out with the win.
Tom Johnson, #77
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