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Dolphins’ Chris Johnson addresses ’embarrassing’ missed sack against Drake Maye
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- Dolphins’ Chris Johnson addresses ’embarrassing’ missed sack against Drake Maye
MIAMI GARDENS — Miami Dolphins rookie cornerback Chris Johnson was on the wrong side of one of the most-discussed plays in last Sunday's loss to the New England Patriots .
After the team's Wednesday practice, Johnson addressed for the first time what he called an "embarrassing" play. He struggled to find the right words for how he went from having a clear shot at a blind-side sack on Patriots quarterback Drake Maye to coming up empty diving at his feet , allowing a first-down completion on fourth down.
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"I don't even know how to explain it," Johnson said. "Whatever happened in the heat of things, I just ended up missing the sack. I feel like that's the easiest way I could explain it."
Johnson was asked if he had a moment of heightened consciousness over the NFL's emphasis on penalizing hits on quarterbacks, like what happened for edge defender Chop Robinson in a September game against the Kansas City Chiefs and Patrick Mahomes.
He said that wasn't it.
He was asked if he reverted to muscle memory from training camp practices, when hits on the quarterback aren't allowed.
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That wasn't what happened, either.
Fellow Dolphins rookie defensive back, safety Michael Taaffe, has his own theory.
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"He thought Drake was stepping up," Taaffe said. "Most times, on tape, Drake Maye steps up when pressured, so he was just assuming he was stepping up. Obviously, he wants that play back, like many of us want plays back. I want a ton of plays back every week."
In the grand scheme of the 24-19 defeat , the lapse from Johnson wasn't detrimental. Maye's completion to wide receiver Efton Chism extended the New England drive, but the Patriots ended up missing a field goal and Miami maintained a 6-3 lead in the second quarter. The Dolphins extended the lead, 13-3, before halftime, but New England reeled off 21 unanswered points in the second half.
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"Just a bad play overall," Johnson said. "That's a play that I like myself making 10 out of 10 (times). Obviously, I didn't make it, but I moved on. It is what it is. It's unfortunate what happened, but I got to move on and I'm on to a new week."
How he moved on was something coach Jeff Hafley appreciated when he touched on the play Monday .
"I thought he responded really well," Hafley said. "I mean, that's life in this league. You're going to make some plays, and especially at his position, you're going to give up some deep passes playing corner and you got to have short memory. And we can coach him on how to finish in those positions."
Johnson said he's rewatched the play "a lot," often against his will because it keeps coming up on his social media feeds.
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"Some, I don't even want to watch it. I'm just seeing it all over," he said. "I don't enjoy seeing it since it's an embarrassing play, but at the end of the day, it's a reminder to me what happens when you mess up in a big moment. Can't wait to get back on the field and make it up."
Taaffe has a simple message to his teammate.
"Just because the media and everybody on social media is exploding that play, doesn't mean it's any worse or any better than any other play," he said. "We have our plays that we want back, and that's how it is. It sucks for us that our job is public knowledge at all times. If you make a great play, it's great. If you miss a big play, you're the worst player on this field.
"That's why I don't ever pay attention to it, because those guys that are saying 'you're the worst player ever,' I would like to see you try to tackle Drake Maye when coming off the edge yourself. It's easier said than done."
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Taaffe said he often will "keep receipts," or collect public criticisms that can serve as future motivation, and doesn't appreciate outsiders talking down on his teammates.
The teaching point for Johnson?
"Really, just keep being myself," he said. "Obviously, it's an out-of-character play. I feel like I haven't shown that on tape to this point, but really, just maintain, being myself, understanding I'm here for a reason and a bad play doesn't determine me as a player."
Taaffe said defensive backs closing in on an unsuspecting passer need to keep their eyes up.
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Johnson said he'd usually go for the ball in an instance where he's unaccounted for on the blitz.
Next time he has a similar opportunity?
"I'm going to get the ball out," he said.
