Most observers would consider last year a breakout season for Jermaine Johnson.
He was selected to the Pro Bowl as an alternate after producing 7.5 sacks, 55 tackles, seven passes defended, 11 tackles for loss and an interception.
But it wasn’t to his standard.
“I had a lot of wasted movement off the ball in terms of pass rush,” Johnson said Friday as the Jets continued to prepare for Monday night’s opener against the 49ers in the Bay Area. “A lot of times, I came off the ball with no plan, no counter move if my primary [move] didn’t work.”
In fact, Johnson didn’t view it as a great season for himself. The third-year pro saw things on film that bothered him about his performance.
He spent this offseason working on improving his overall skill set, building confidence in his secondary moves and his motor.
For him, the most important aspect of the coming season is to eliminate overthinking the game.
“I got to get to the quarterback as fast as possible,” Johnson said. “I can’t be indecisive. I can’t be not confident in my moves.”
“I want to be the best edge rusher in the NFL. The best thing about the game of football is you get to go prove it. So that’s my goal this year.”
After spending the first four years of his career with the 49ers, Javon Kinlaw’s first regular-season game with the Jets will come against that very same team.
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“It’s going to be amazing, man. Get to see some old faces, some old friends,” the defensive tackle said. “I’m going to laugh about it. It’s crazy. I’m just excited about the opportunity.”
As the 14th overall pick in the 2020 NFL Draft, Kinlaw didn’t live up to expectations with the 49ers. But he played well last year in a limited role, producing 3.5 sacks, 25 tackles and four tackles for loss. The Jets have high hopes for him.
“Monster in his own way,” is how Quinnen Williams described Kinlaw. “I’m super excited [to play with him]. Just being at practice, seeing how dominant he is and he’s not going at 100 percent, he’s sometimes going at 50 to 75 percent, and he’s just wrecking plays and being dominant and destroying different offensive lineman and being unblockable.”
Offensive coordinator Nathaniel Hackett will call plays from the sideline this year so he can have direct communication with Aaron Rodgers.
Hackett called plays upstairs last season following Rodgers’ season-ending injury in Week 1.
OL Wes Schweitzer (hand) and LB Zaire Barnes (ankle) didn’t practice for the Jets on Friday.
Star 49ers RB Christian McCaffrey (Achilles/calf) was limited for the second straight day but is expected to be active Monday.
