Giants’ Walter Thurmond: Calvin Johnson has weaknesses
Even Achilles had his heel. It just took everyone a while to recognize it was his weakness. Former member of the “Legion of Boom” and current Giants’ cornerback Walter Thurmond thinks that its about time he exploited Calvin Johnson’s achilles heel.
More from Detroit Lions
- Dan Campbell lets Lions fans breathe sigh of relief with C.J. Gardner-Johnson update
- Former Eagles safety, Lions star C.J. Gardner-Johnson suffers scary injury
- C.J. Gardner-Johnson sounds off on Eagles fans in NSFW rant
- Lions trade for risky potential Jameson Williams replacement
- NFL Power Rankings: Who is the best quarterback in each division?
“Everyone knows he’s a talented guy, you know, but being a big receiver, he has some weaknesses for sure,” Thurmond said, via NJ.com. “Being able to get in and out of his cuts and breaks and stuff. Of course, he’s good with yards after the catch and jump balls, but there is no perfect receiver. Everyone has some weaknesses and it’s about understanding what those weaknesses are, watching film and exposing them.”
Calvin Johnson isn’t exactly built like a slot receiver, so as long as Johnson isn’t flying straight toward the end zone, Thurmond thinks he can find an edge.
“It takes him longer to get out of stuff where the ball is coming in and we can get out and beat him to the route, we’ve won that play,” Thurmond said. “Whether it be a knockdown or interception, that is one of the benefits of being someone smaller than he is. There’s always benefits to being able to get out of a break quicker than your man.”
At the end of the day, players are only as big as you play them up in your mind. He’s going to worry on his game and what he can control. He’s going to stay focused on Giants football.
“If you get caught up in what the other team is doing, it can get caught up inside the minds of the players who aren’t mentally strong in that aspect,” Thurmond said. “We’re building a culture where it’s all about us, you eliminate that fear aspect of what the other team is capable of doing. You give respect, but you’re not getting caught up in ‘Oh Calvin Johnson, this or that.’ Then you start thinking ‘this guy is better than me.'”