Bucs: Different Routes: Keyshawn Johnson ponders his role

Different Routes: Keyshawn Johnson ponders his role

Bucs receiver says being in an offensive system means less production and fun.

By RICK STROUD, Times Staff Writer

TAMPA -- Keyshawn Johnson extends his index finger and will thrust it repeatedly into your chest when he wants you to pay particular attention to what he is saying.

And the Bucs receiver really knows how to drive his point.

As a swarm of reporters descended on Tampa Bay's locker room the other day to machine-gun questions about San Francisco's Terrell Owens, Johnson pecked away at why he isn't having as much fun as the 49ers flamboyant receiver.

"When I look at other people in my position, I envy the fact they get the football to lead their teams to do things," Johnson said. "This is really the first (offensive) system I've been a part of. I've been around coaches that said, "(Forget) the system. He's my guy."

"I assume if I continue to play football, I'll get back to that moment where I'm just having fun out there all the time. I think for the last couple years, there's been so many distractions, from an offensive standpoint, it's hard to just focus on having fun."

Long before Owens emerged as the most prolific pass catcher in the NFL, the 6-foot-4, 212-pound Johnson was the poster boy for big, flamboyant receivers prone to emotional outbursts who bickered with coaches and begged for the football. But leading up to Sunday's NFC divisional playoff game, the spotlight has all been on Owens while it danced short of Johnson.

Lost in the hubbub over the San Francisco treat is that both players have nearly identical career numbers. Owens has 512 receptions for 7,470 yards, a 14.5-yard average. Johnson has 558 receptions for 7,336 yards, a 13.3-yard average. Owens has a 72-45 edge in touchdowns.

Earlier this week, Bucs coach Jon Gruden said Owens was "as good a receiver as I have seen." Even Johnson, the first overall pick by the Jets in the '96 draft while Owens lasted until the third round, admits that T.O. deserves top billing in Sunday's game.

"It should be that way," Johnson said. "But based on the season, the first playoff game for him and the season I've had and not having been in a playoff game (until Sunday), then the billing is going to be pretty much Terrell Owens.

"Everybody just thinks I'm the primary target of the offense. But that's not the case. I'm the backside guy. I get all the trash, the garbage, the clear-outs."

And while Owens has been busy pulling out Sharpies and stealing pompoms in his endless fall of fun, the 30-year-old Johnson has worn the frown of a basset hound.

Witnessing Johnson's occasional collisions with Gruden has been like watching Austin Powers have his mojo stolen by Dr. Evil.

"He's a good player, too," Gruden said of Johnson. "There's this image, there's this gray cloud flying around about how unhappy we are together. But he's had a career year for yards per catch, he's made some clutch plays for us as a receiver and a blocker.

"I think he's also a big reason why we're 12-4. He's a heck of a player."

But Johnson's distrust of Gruden runs deep, so much so that he doesn't expect to have a big role in the game plan against the 49ers.

"I don't know, I don't really care what his opinion is," Johnson said of Gruden. "He's the head coach and he's the decisionmaker. If he likes me, he likes me. If he doesn't, he doesn't. You don't have to get along with somebody to be a dominating force. I'm not the coach. I've got to do what he puts me in position to do."

While Johnson and Owens play in similar West Coast offensive systems, Florida Key is quick to note they don't play the same position.

Owens is the Z receiver, who frequently lines up in the slot or can go in motion and create better opportunities for mismatches. It's a position that has been played by the likes of Jerry Rice, Sterling Sharpe and Antonio Freeman.

Johnson is the X receiver, who lines up primarily as a split end on the weak side of the defense and frequently has a safety over the top.

"I was talking to the guys that had played in this system," Johnson said. "Steve Young, Sterling Sharpe, they were good players, you know? They had no idea that I was playing the X receiver. They thought I was the Z. The Z receiver in this offense is typically the guy. But to be able to do what I do at the X receiver in this offense was a little mind-boggling for them. The X receiver don't get off in this offense. They don't catch 80 passes for 1,000 yards. They're J.J. Stokes. Or Robert Brooks. Or John Taylor, guys who have always been the second guys in this offense."

Johnson says it's no coincidence that with Keenan McCardell and Joe Jurevicius out with injuries, he caught a season-high nine passes for 133 yards and two touchdowns against Minnesota.

"Sometimes, even though it's hard and there's some growing pains, there's some things you know are flickering there," Gruden said. "And the natural competitiveness are going to pay off for us."

Johnson may be down, but he's not out. With a little prodding, and more poking from his finger, he'll point out that he is a unique talent hardly lacking in confidence.

"There aren't a whole lot of guys like No. 19," Johnson said. "A guy that's going to give you 16 games, that's going to give you big catches when you need them, that's going to block 270-pound guys. You're not going to find it. Any of those guys that have great numbers, none of them are doing that. Period."

The exclamation point for Johnson would be to win the Super Bowl. If that occurs, Owens couldn't top it.

"If I don't win a Super Bowl, I am nothing. I'm just a receiver who caught a lot of passes," Johnson said. "I'm Andre Reed. He was fabulous, he was a wonderful player.

"I'd love to have his numbers at the end of my career. But I'd also like to have a ring. That's why I play.

"The only thing that's missing from my piece of hardware is the ring. If I get that ... who knows? I might wake up the next morning and say I don't want to play. That's just how I am. I'm not starving to do this. Do I think I can get a ring here? Oh, yeah. Hopefully, in the next three weeks. I see it. I'm reaching for it."

And hoping the Bucs will let him point the way.