Throughout his first NFL sport in 2022, Jermaine Johnson registered his first profession sack in opposition to Lamar Jackson.
In hopes of containing the Ravens quarterback on this weekend’s assembly, the Jets go rusher is taking a singular strategy this week.
“I’ve been doing extra running and staying off sugary drinks, getting ready for him,” Johnson stated. “He’s a special player, but I got all the confidence in the world in all the guys in this room and in this locker room to get the job done.”
Eliminating sugary drinks the week earlier than a sport is exclusive, however Johnson stated it’s a private determination he needed to make.
“I’m chasing a lot of guys as the season goes on and I want to shed off any kind of weight that’s slowing me down,” he stated. “And switch these hurries or hits or pressures into sacks as a result of I can try this.
“Especially since this is a guy, like we’ve been talking about this week, it’s very important.”
Johnson has 14 tackles and three sacks in his return from a season-ending Achilles tear that saved him out of 15 video games final season. However this yr’s Jets protection hasn’t resembled the one Johnson was a part of the earlier three seasons.
Gone are Sauce Gardner and Quinnen Williams, who have been each dealt in separate trades earlier this month to the Colts and Cowboys, respectively.
There’s been numerous deal with the Jets’ offense this season, and for good cause. They’ve the worst passing offense within the NFL and it’s a main cause the group is 2-8 by means of 10 video games.
However the Jets’ protection deserves its share of the blame as effectively for the depressing season they’re at present having. Through the earlier three seasons, the Jets ranked within the high 5 defensively, though final yr may need been a little bit of a mirage after Robert Saleh was fired after 5 video games. However this yr’s Jets protection has struggled to cease nearly any group, together with the Patriots, in final week’s loss.
Gang Inexperienced has only one takeaway this season and 0 interceptions. As well as, the Jets additionally rank twenty seventh in sacks and, at instances, appeared outcoached and overmatched.
In opposition to New England, the Jets missed a number of tackles, together with within the purple zone, which allowed working again TreVeyon Henderson to attain two dashing touchdowns. Opposing receivers have additionally typically been broad open in protection in opposition to the Jets’ secondary.
With a brand new regime, it’s no shock there have been hardships alongside the best way with a brand new defensive scheme. Nevertheless it was by no means alleged to look this dangerous underneath Jets head coach Aaron Glenn and defensive coordinator Steve Wilks, who’ve a mixed 30+ years of teaching expertise.
“I definitely don’t want to say that the guys aren’t in position, and I don’t believe in luck,” Wilks stated. “We’ve received to create our personal luck, if you wish to say that. And one thing that we emphasize and speak about and train every day, however after we get in the middle of the sport, we now have to have nice intent so far as actually making an attempt to get the ball out, you see it on a regular basis.
“We show those things, I show those things each and every week across the league where guys are getting the ball punched out. We’ve got to do a great job of getting our hands up. I think the guy from Philly [Jordan Davis] this past week got three tips. There’s opportunities there, but again, we have to be intentional about those each and every time that we’re out there.”
After lacking Wednesday’s observe resulting from an ankle damage, there was a query about Jackson’s standing for Sunday. However he totally practiced on Thursday and seems he’ll begin in opposition to the Jets on Sunday.
Jackson missed three video games earlier this season with a hamstring damage, however he has performed previously three video games, all victories for the Ravens. Nevertheless, he was sacked 5 instances throughout Sunday’s win in opposition to the Browns, together with 4 by Myles Garrett. To prep for this weekend’s sport, Johnson watched movie of Garrett and the Browns’ go rush to see what he may take from it.
“It definitely helps a lot,” Johnson stated. “Myles is, once more, very generational. He does issues at a really elite and particular stage.
“So just being able to watch that and take that from the game, see how he approached those guys. And, yeah, you always want to take what you can from a performance like that and apply it to you.”
