Gang needs Johnson to be Tru force at CB
Smart football people agree that you lose games quickest at two positions: Quarterback and cornerback. The Jets seemingly have solved their signal caller quandary, but there are legitimate concerns about a secondary that lacks dependable pieces and depth.
Gang Green doesn’t exactly have a formidable collection of corners, leaving some to wonder whether Gregg Williams will be yanking out his hair in frustration if his last line of defense stumbles. Darryl Roberts, slot corner Brian Poole and a host of inexperienced backups make up the group.
“Obviously, we need some of these young guys to come along quickly,” Adam Gase said about his cornerback group. “We knew coming in that we had two guys that are veteran players. We have a lot of young guys and a lot of guys with no experience. You know, we’re thin and we need guys to develop quickly. We’re going to need guys to play well in the preseason and practice well and step up.”
Real talk: Trumaine Johnson needs to have the best year of his life.
The Jets are cautiously optimistic that the eight-year veteran will bounce back from his underwhelming first season after signing a blockbuster 5-year, $72.5 million deal. Johnson had four interceptions and career-low five passes defensed in a forgettable campaign that included a nagging quad injury and suspension for repeated tardiness.
Gase expects that Johnson will perform better now that he’s reunited with Williams, who got the best out of the player when they were together with the Rams.
“When I see him come out here with the focus that he’d
had, the aggressiveness that he’s played with the first two days and what I saw in OTAs,” Gase said, “Our goal is to get him back to that level when we used to go up against him — whether it was L.A. or St Louis — when we go out there and it was scary to throw to his side. He has a good look right now. He’s focused. He wants to have a good year.”
Johnson had a career year in Williams’ scheme in 2015 (seven interceptions, 17 passes defenses, 71 tackles).
“Gregg ’s not shy about saying anything to anyone,” Gase said. “If something occurs on the field and he wants to make a correction, he’s not afraid to tell them. I think Trumaine likes it like that. I think Trumaine wants to be someone that gets coached. Good players want to be coached.”
Although Johnson maintains that “I don’t consider myself or my group weak,” the bottom line is that he has to elevate his play from a year ago or the Jets will be in big trouble.
CAMP NOTES
Quincy Enunwa’s contested 50-yard touchdown catch and 40-yard grab over Darryl Roberts highlighted the second practice. Robby Anderson added a 50-yard touchdown from Sam Darnold in team drills.
Brian Poole had a solid first practice after being taken off the non-football/injury list. The free-agent signing had forced a fumble by popping the ball loose from Le’Veon Bell on a catch and run. Poole also did a solid job in coverage on Jamison Crowder, who feasted on the backup slot corner on Thursday.
Right guard Brian Winters returned to practice after missing the first day due to the birth of his son.