From the moment he was chosen by the Jets in the primary round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Jermaine Johnson has burned to do for the Jets what he did in his final 12 months of school at Florida State.
Lead.
It’s taken a bit of little bit of time, however the Jets edge rusher appears to have arrived at that place: As a team leader.
In the event you hearken to what Mike Norvell, Johnson’s coach at Florida State, told The Post the day after he was drafted, all of it makes more sense now.
“When he got here here, we talked and I told him I didn’t want this to be just a spot for him to enhance his draft status, that it was a possibility to make an impact,’’ Norvell said. “He embraced that. He desired to make a difference.’’
Those words from Norvell have resonated as Johnson has begun to construct his NFL profession and what the Jets hope is a legacy as a game-wrecking force on their formidable front seven.
Johnson wasn’t ready to steer his rookie 12 months, during which his snap count wasn’t high, which kept his production down. In 14 games, he made no starts, and recorded just 2 ½ sacks, three tackles for loss and five quarterback hits.
“My rookie 12 months wasn’t the perfect, because I felt — and still feel the identical way — that I can exit on the sector and alter games,’’ Johnson said Monday after practice. “But that’s all right. God’s timing is the perfect timing. It’s worked out the best way it was speculated to, and I’m just glad I’m where I’m.’’
The jump from 2022 to last season was dramatic. It included 17 starts, 7 ½ sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an INT returned for a TD (more on that in a moment).
That jump in playing time and production has emboldened Johnson to do what he believes he does well, which is lead.
“I’m just an enormous guy on you’ve got to earn your keep and your role on the team through what you do,’’ Johnson said.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a coach on the sector on offense (and sometimes even on defense), is the unquestioned leader of the team.
Linebacker C.J. Mosley is the veteran leader on the defense, but Mosley is a quiet, lead-by-example leader, not the vocal type.
That is where Johnson fills a void, and he embraces it.
“I felt like I had an honest 12 months last 12 months and there are some guys which can be trying to me a bit of more as a frontrunner,’’ he said. “It’s my job. It’s my duty for them. I definitely take that as an honor.’’
Mature words for a 25-year-old in his third NFL season.
One in all the players Johnson helps is second-year edge rusher Will McDonald, who, like Johnson in his rookie 12 months, had limited snaps and production (three sacks, a forced fumble, 4 tackles for loss, and five quarterback hits).
Like Johnson was as a rookie, McDonald is a raw, untapped talent.
“One in all the things I tell him is, ‘Don’t compare yourself to me. You’re your personal man. You’re running your personal race,’ ’’ Johnson said. “We’re two different players. Will is running his race and he’s running it thoroughly. He understands his time is coming. That’s one in every of the things I say to him on a regular basis: ‘Your time is coming. Just be certain you’re ready.’ ’’
Johnson was ready last 12 months when his snap count increased.
Essentially the most dynamic play he made all 12 months was when he batted a Joe Flacco pass within the air on a pass rush, picked it off and returned it 37 yards for a TD.
But, when asked on Monday what the favourite play he made all last season was, Johnson referred to forcing Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts right into a critical INT in a 20-14 Jets upset with Gang Green trailing unbeaten Philly 14-12.
“Change of possession is every little thing, [so] that was one in every of my favorite plays I made for the team,’’ he said. “I didn’t really get a crazy stat on that play, however it was a play that helped change the momentum in that game and helped us take that victory.’’
When reminded that he got multiple stats — an INT and a TD — on that highlight-reel play against Flacco and the Browns in a 37-20 loss in Week 17, Johnson said, “Yeah, but we didn’t win, so … ’’
Mature answer.
“Last 12 months, I believed he really took a jump due to his mindset, the best way he attacked on daily basis and the best way he played every play prefer it was going to be his last,’’ Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Monday. “If he maintains that very same mindset, he’ll naturally get well simply because his skill level will increase, but he’s a man that everyone looks to for leadership. He’s an incredible presence on this football team.’’
From the moment he was chosen by the Jets in the primary round of the 2022 NFL Draft, Jermaine Johnson has burned to do for the Jets what he did in his final 12 months of school at Florida State.
Lead.
It’s taken a bit of little bit of time, however the Jets edge rusher appears to have arrived at that place: As a team leader.
In the event you hearken to what Mike Norvell, Johnson’s coach at Florida State, told The Post the day after he was drafted, all of it makes more sense now.
“When he got here here, we talked and I told him I didn’t want this to be just a spot for him to enhance his draft status, that it was a possibility to make an impact,’’ Norvell said. “He embraced that. He desired to make a difference.’’
Those words from Norvell have resonated as Johnson has begun to construct his NFL profession and what the Jets hope is a legacy as a game-wrecking force on their formidable front seven.
Johnson wasn’t ready to steer his rookie 12 months, during which his snap count wasn’t high, which kept his production down. In 14 games, he made no starts, and recorded just 2 ½ sacks, three tackles for loss and five quarterback hits.
“My rookie 12 months wasn’t the perfect, because I felt — and still feel the identical way — that I can exit on the sector and alter games,’’ Johnson said Monday after practice. “But that’s all right. God’s timing is the perfect timing. It’s worked out the best way it was speculated to, and I’m just glad I’m where I’m.’’
The jump from 2022 to last season was dramatic. It included 17 starts, 7 ½ sacks, 11 tackles for loss, 16 quarterback hits, a forced fumble, a fumble recovery and an INT returned for a TD (more on that in a moment).
That jump in playing time and production has emboldened Johnson to do what he believes he does well, which is lead.
“I’m just an enormous guy on you’ve got to earn your keep and your role on the team through what you do,’’ Johnson said.
Quarterback Aaron Rodgers, a coach on the sector on offense (and sometimes even on defense), is the unquestioned leader of the team.
Linebacker C.J. Mosley is the veteran leader on the defense, but Mosley is a quiet, lead-by-example leader, not the vocal type.
That is where Johnson fills a void, and he embraces it.
“I felt like I had an honest 12 months last 12 months and there are some guys which can be trying to me a bit of more as a frontrunner,’’ he said. “It’s my job. It’s my duty for them. I definitely take that as an honor.’’
Mature words for a 25-year-old in his third NFL season.
One in all the players Johnson helps is second-year edge rusher Will McDonald, who, like Johnson in his rookie 12 months, had limited snaps and production (three sacks, a forced fumble, 4 tackles for loss, and five quarterback hits).
Like Johnson was as a rookie, McDonald is a raw, untapped talent.
“One in all the things I tell him is, ‘Don’t compare yourself to me. You’re your personal man. You’re running your personal race,’ ’’ Johnson said. “We’re two different players. Will is running his race and he’s running it thoroughly. He understands his time is coming. That’s one in every of the things I say to him on a regular basis: ‘Your time is coming. Just be certain you’re ready.’ ’’
Johnson was ready last 12 months when his snap count increased.
Essentially the most dynamic play he made all 12 months was when he batted a Joe Flacco pass within the air on a pass rush, picked it off and returned it 37 yards for a TD.
But, when asked on Monday what the favourite play he made all last season was, Johnson referred to forcing Eagles quarterback Jalen Hurts right into a critical INT in a 20-14 Jets upset with Gang Green trailing unbeaten Philly 14-12.
“Change of possession is every little thing, [so] that was one in every of my favorite plays I made for the team,’’ he said. “I didn’t really get a crazy stat on that play, however it was a play that helped change the momentum in that game and helped us take that victory.’’
When reminded that he got multiple stats — an INT and a TD — on that highlight-reel play against Flacco and the Browns in a 37-20 loss in Week 17, Johnson said, “Yeah, but we didn’t win, so … ’’
Mature answer.
“Last 12 months, I believed he really took a jump due to his mindset, the best way he attacked on daily basis and the best way he played every play prefer it was going to be his last,’’ Jets head coach Robert Saleh said Monday. “If he maintains that very same mindset, he’ll naturally get well simply because his skill level will increase, but he’s a man that everyone looks to for leadership. He’s an incredible presence on this football team.’’
