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The Trumaine Show
Former Griz Trumaine Johnson catching on
By Jesse Geleynse
Tribune Sports Writer
SEATTLE — Trumaine Johnson had a pretty good idea he would be taken during the NFL Draft’s second day last April. But it was still a thrill when former University of Montana teammate Brandon Fisher called him to let him know the St. Louis Rams had taken Johnson in the third round with the No. 65 overall pick. Whether the fact that Brandon, now the Rams’ assistant secondary coach had influenced the St. Louis brain trust, which includes his father and head coach Jeff, isn’t something Johnson knows. But playing alongside the son of an NFL head coach certainly didn’t hurt the cornerback, who just completed his rookie season with the Rams. “I don’t know actually,” Johnson said last week after St. Louis wrapped up a 7-8-1 campaign against the Seahawks here at Century-Link Field. “I played with (Brandon) at Montana for two years. They wanted me, so they drafted me.”
It was a successful debut season for the former Griz All-American out of Stockton, Calif. Johnson began the season as the nickel corner – coming mostly on passing situations – and ended up starting three games for St. Louis while also seeing action on special teams. He finished the season with 31 tackles and two interceptions.
“They gave me a starting job and I took advantage of it,” Johnson said. “These guys are good guys. Coach Fisher (came) over here with that confidence. It was a good season.”
Jeff Fisher was the longtime head coach of the Tennessee Titans, where he coached another former Griz player in receiver/return specialist Marc Mariani. Brandon joined his father this season in St. Louis after spending the 2011 season as a defensive assistant for Detroit.
The success was evident early in Jeff Fisher’s first season as St. Louis went from 2-14 in 2011 to 7-8-1 in 2012. The total includes a win and a tie with division champion San Francisco and a split with wild card playoff qualifier Seattle.
Johnson saw plenty of action in both games against the Seahawks. His first career interception came against Russell Wilson in St. Louis during the Rams’ 19-13 win in September.
“I enjoyed that one,” Johnson said. “I think it was a cover-two. I came down, hit him and the ball was in me at the last minute. It stuck with me, I rolled over and it was an INT.”
Johnson played most of the snaps at left corner during the season finale at Seattle and nearly picked off Wilson again as the Seahawks’ rookie signal-caller went deep to receiver Golden Tate. Johnson got his hands on the ball, but it popped loose when he landed on the turf on his back. Johnson spent several plays on the sideline, but returned for the next kickoff on special teams.
“We both went up for it. I thought I had it,” Johnson said. “We both came down, the ball flipped up and ended up on the ground. It was a heck of a play by Tate too, going up. All I saw was Craig (Dahl) my safety when I rolled over. I thought he was going to catch the ball.”
Johnson was the second cornerback the Rams picked in April. North Alabama’s Janoris Jenkins was a secondround pick and recorded 73 tackles and four interceptions. The duo joined a veteran St. Louis secondary that included Cortland Finnegan.
“It’s competition (and) I feed off competition,” Johnson said. “Janoris is a great player. Going up against Cortland and those guys really brought my confidence up. I learn every day from them. Like I said, Coach gave me the opportunity to start and I ran with that.”
Johnson’s been running since before he showed up in Missoula and started as a true freshman in 2008. He is one of the top corners UM has ever produced.
“Shout out to Montana man, the whole 406,” Johnson said. “Go Griz, till I die.”
The Trumaine Show
Former Griz Trumaine Johnson catching on
By Jesse Geleynse
Tribune Sports Writer
SEATTLE — Trumaine Johnson had a pretty good idea he would be taken during the NFL Draft’s second day last April. But it was still a thrill when former University of Montana teammate Brandon Fisher called him to let him know the St. Louis Rams had taken Johnson in the third round with the No. 65 overall pick. Whether the fact that Brandon, now the Rams’ assistant secondary coach had influenced the St. Louis brain trust, which includes his father and head coach Jeff, isn’t something Johnson knows. But playing alongside the son of an NFL head coach certainly didn’t hurt the cornerback, who just completed his rookie season with the Rams. “I don’t know actually,” Johnson said last week after St. Louis wrapped up a 7-8-1 campaign against the Seahawks here at Century-Link Field. “I played with (Brandon) at Montana for two years. They wanted me, so they drafted me.”
It was a successful debut season for the former Griz All-American out of Stockton, Calif. Johnson began the season as the nickel corner – coming mostly on passing situations – and ended up starting three games for St. Louis while also seeing action on special teams. He finished the season with 31 tackles and two interceptions.
“They gave me a starting job and I took advantage of it,” Johnson said. “These guys are good guys. Coach Fisher (came) over here with that confidence. It was a good season.”
Jeff Fisher was the longtime head coach of the Tennessee Titans, where he coached another former Griz player in receiver/return specialist Marc Mariani. Brandon joined his father this season in St. Louis after spending the 2011 season as a defensive assistant for Detroit.
The success was evident early in Jeff Fisher’s first season as St. Louis went from 2-14 in 2011 to 7-8-1 in 2012. The total includes a win and a tie with division champion San Francisco and a split with wild card playoff qualifier Seattle.
Johnson saw plenty of action in both games against the Seahawks. His first career interception came against Russell Wilson in St. Louis during the Rams’ 19-13 win in September.
“I enjoyed that one,” Johnson said. “I think it was a cover-two. I came down, hit him and the ball was in me at the last minute. It stuck with me, I rolled over and it was an INT.”
Johnson played most of the snaps at left corner during the season finale at Seattle and nearly picked off Wilson again as the Seahawks’ rookie signal-caller went deep to receiver Golden Tate. Johnson got his hands on the ball, but it popped loose when he landed on the turf on his back. Johnson spent several plays on the sideline, but returned for the next kickoff on special teams.
“We both went up for it. I thought I had it,” Johnson said. “We both came down, the ball flipped up and ended up on the ground. It was a heck of a play by Tate too, going up. All I saw was Craig (Dahl) my safety when I rolled over. I thought he was going to catch the ball.”
Johnson was the second cornerback the Rams picked in April. North Alabama’s Janoris Jenkins was a secondround pick and recorded 73 tackles and four interceptions. The duo joined a veteran St. Louis secondary that included Cortland Finnegan.
“It’s competition (and) I feed off competition,” Johnson said. “Janoris is a great player. Going up against Cortland and those guys really brought my confidence up. I learn every day from them. Like I said, Coach gave me the opportunity to start and I ran with that.”
Johnson’s been running since before he showed up in Missoula and started as a true freshman in 2008. He is one of the top corners UM has ever produced.
“Shout out to Montana man, the whole 406,” Johnson said. “Go Griz, till I die.”
