DENVER – Chris Johnson has an idea of how to make sure Denver Broncos rookie wide receiver Eddie Royal doesn't embarrass the Raiders again.
Royal caught nine passes for 146 yards and a touchdown in his NFL debut against Oakland on Sept. 8.
"The only thing I'm going to do is press him," Johnson said. "We didn't press (in Week 1)."
The "we" was DeAngelo Hall. Hall since has been waived, albeit $8 million richer, and replaced at left cornerback by Johnson.
This is the third game for Johnson, 29, since taking over for Hall. He has been willing to do what Hall didn't – get in the face of opposing receivers.
The Raiders have aided Johnson by having a safety help out in coverage, but coaches have lauded his willingness to challenge receivers and his aggressiveness.
If all goes well today for Oakland, Denver quarterback Jay Cutler won't be able to make statements such as this one after the Raiders had been humiliated 41-14 on "Monday Night Football": "We played one-on-one football with them. We didn't outscheme them. Eddie Royal beat DeAngelo Hall time after time after time. That's what happened."
Johnson could only watch what Royal did against Hall from the sideline most of that night. At the time, Johnson was the team's fourth cornerback and a special-teams player.
But Johnson knows not to give Royal or any receiver any space in which to operate.
"If you give any receiver off coverage, you're going to make them look like all-stars," Johnson said. "Not to take anything away from (Royal). He's a good receiver. But I'm going to get in his face, press him and see what the outcome's going to be."
Johnson has a lot of confidence for someone who has been an NFL vagabond since 2003.
Drafted in the seventh round by Green Bay, he spent two seasons with the Packers but never played. Johnson was traded to St. Louis in 2005, where he finally made his NFL debut, appearing in 13 games with one start as a cornerback and returning kickoffs. Johnson signed with Kansas City in 2006 but was released before the season. He spent the 2006 season working out, waiting for work, but no teams called.
The Raiders signed Johnson in March 2007. He played in 13 games last season and figured to be a backup after the team acquired Hall to start opposite Nnamdi Asomugha, with Stanford Routt as the third cornerback.
"Chris is a guy who is very appreciative of where he is right now because he's been through going to this team and being released," Raiders defensive backs coach Darren Perry said. "He feels like now he's found himself a home and an opportunity to prove himself, and that's what he's trying to do."
Read Jason Jones' Raiders blog at www.sacbee.com/raidersblog.
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