Johnson ready to contribute to Roughriders’ defence

The Saskatchewan Roughriders’ defensive line is once again hoping to cause nightmares for opposing quarterbacks in 2019, thanks in large part to one of the CFL team’s premier signings.

Micah Johnson signed with the Roughriders in February, with reports indicating the deal made him the highest-paid defensive lineman in the CFL.

He joins a Roughriders defence that recorded 45 sacks last season, tying for the league lead.

“I ain’t ever been around (this sort of) level of talent on the D-Line; this is the most talented group I’ve been around,” Johnson said following Monday’s practice at Mosaic Stadium.

The addition of Johnson, along with the signing of defensive end A.C. Leonard, is seen as a way to shore up the group with the departure of defensive end Willie Jefferson (who signed with the Winnipeg Blue Bombers) and defensive tackle Eddie Steele (who retired). Zack Evans and Charleston Hughes are returning from last year’s fearsome group.

“I think (our defensive line) is going to be really good,” head coach Craig Dickenson said. “I think we will be a productive, lunch-pail sort of group. We want our D-line to be the group that just grinds it out, that basically imposes their will on the other team.”

Johnson, who was a linebacker before coming to the CFL, realized he needed to make a positional change to continue his football career.

“Coming up (to Canada), I just wanted to make a team at that point. I got cut by five or six NFL teams,” Johnson said. “(The Calgary Stampeders) said I had a shot to make the team as a defensive lineman at that point so there was nothing left to talk about. I just started working on my craft.”

One of his biggest influences when he first arrived in Canada was Hughes, with whom Johnson spent five seasons in Calgary. Hughes was traded to the Hamilton Tiger-Cats in February of 2018, but was sent to Saskatchewan a few hours later.

“It’s fun,” Johnson said. “Me and Hughes have a good relationship, we kick it off the field. I met him when I was playing D-line for the first time so he remembers and he taught me a lot from that aspect. It will be fun to get out there and be rushing (quarterbacks) with him again.”

Hughes was the only player in the league last year with more sacks than Johnson. Hughes had a league-leading 15 sacks, one more than Johnson.

Johnson said he and Hughes feed off each other when they are lined up against opposing offences.

“When you’re rushing and you have guys out there that you know can get to the quarterback, it makes you want to go that much harder,” Johnson said. “If Charleston knows I’m coming from the inside to get (the quarterback), he knows he’d better get around the corner to get there or else I will.”

The Roughriders open the regular season Thursday in Hamilton. That will be the first game action this season for Johnson, who sat out the team’s two pre-season games.

“I’m real excited just to get back out there and knock the rust off,” Johnson said.

Dickenson said Johnson was kept out of the games to get him some rest.

“He looks great,” Dickenson said. “We’ve got to get his conditioning a little bit better; he was gassed (Monday).”

Dickenson said it’s easy to tell that Hughes and Johnson enjoy competing against each other and playing on the same team.

A lot will be expected out of the defensive linemen in Hamilton as they try to contain quarterback Jeremiah Masoli. Along with passing for 5,209 yards and throwing 28 touchdowns, Masoli ran for 473 yards last season.

“We want (Masoli) to feel pressure even when we aren’t bringing pressure,” Dickenson said. “That’s the goal.”

Kickoff for Thursday’s game is set for 5:30 p.m. The 980 CJME/650 CKOM Green Zone pre-game show begins at 3:30 p.m.