Film Review: Chicago Bears corner exposed in uncomfortable spot

Going back to the rookie season of Jaylon Johnson we wrote that he had defined strengths and weaknesses. When the Chicago Bears play to his strengths, he does well, and when they do not, he struggles.

Johnson is long, fast, and physical. He does a great job as a boundary cornerback and a zone cornerback. That is because he does well with pressing and staying on his man. However, it also is because he is best when he is running vertically down the sidelines with players.

You very rarely see Johnson beat near the sidelines. However, when Johnson is forced to break inside and cut on in-breaking routes, he usually gets exposed. This has been going on throughout his career, which is why the Chicago Bears often play him on one side, do not move him around, and play heavy zone, which does not ask him to go near the middle of the field.

Detroit Lions exposed Chicago Bears’ top cornerback Jaylon Johnson.

Johnson has 38 career snaps In the slot, and that includes four snaps in the slot on Sunday. Because of injuries at cornerback, the team was thin, and they asked Johnson to step out of his comfort zone for a few looks. On two of those four snaps, he allowed two receptions for 64 yards.

Below is the first play against Khaliff Raymond. This route is the worst nightmare for Jaylon Johnson. Johnson is in the slot, the first sign of danger.

The route is something Johnson just does not see on the outside, either. Raymond breaks out, sinks his hips, and cuts back inside. Johnson does not have the hips to change directions that quickly, and this is not something that happens often to him.

Raymond torches Johnson for an easy reception with room to run. Below, we see more from Jaylon Johnson in the slot, this time against Tom Kennedy. This time, Johnson is just slow to break on the in-breaking route. Kennedy beats him clean and is off to the races. This catch set up the go-ahead touchdown late in the game.

There is a combination of coaching and Jaylon Johnson to be blamed here. First, Jaylon Johnson is a great outside cornerback, but this is why he is not elite. He needs to be in a specific scheme and role to do well. When he moves into the slot or has to play man against in-breaking routes he gets exposed. This has been going on his entire career, and it will not change.

Still, while Johnson is not on the Jalen Ramsey tier for this very reason, he is still a good cornerback when used right. So, the Chicago Bears should not be asking him to do this. He never plays in the slot, yet in big moments on Sunday, he was in the slot. He never moves sides, but he was all over the place on Sunday.

The Chicago Bears have to admit that he is not an elite cornerback who can follow wideouts anywhere. He is good when you put him on one side and ask him to defend the sidelines from deep-breaking routes. It would be great if he could take the step and do more, but at this time, the Chicago Bears should not ask that from him.