Jets player Johnson apologizes for poor performance in opening game and promises improvement

NASHVILLE, Tenn. – Jermaine Johnson was disgusted with himself and needed to get something off his chest.

The third-year edge rusher stood up at the Jets' defensive meeting and gave his opinion in front of his teammates and coaches.

He said he was sorry for not doing a good enough job in the Jets' 32-19 loss to the 49ers on Monday night. He apologized for not lining up properly and not getting the edge he needed against the 49ers, who rushed for 180 yards.

“You're embarrassed, whatever, it's out there. It is what it is. How are you going to take it now?” Johnson said. “Are you going to point the finger or the thumb? And that's something I take very seriously.”

“I stood up and said, 'I'm sorry, guys, I let you all down.' The edges weren't what they should have been on my part. And all I can do is point my fingers. Watch the film and see how I can fix it.”

Johnson wasn't the only Jets defensive lineman or lineman who didn't play well in Week 1 and is looking to make amends on Sunday against the Titans. Nor was he the only one who held himself accountable or was “a thumbs-up,” as he calls it, in that midweek meeting.

However, it was the first time Johnson had spoken his mind so openly in this environment. He has always been self-critical and harder on himself than anyone else, but Johnson's admission and remorse speak to his development into a key player, voice and leader on defense.

“That was definitely the first time I've done that on this team,” Johnson told Newsday. “There were a couple of reasons for that. I'm more of a leader and stuff, but another reason is I've just been pretty consistent, especially in the running game.”

“Setting edges? What are we talking about? Alignment? What are we talking about? That's amateur stuff that I didn't have a handle on. I had to apologize because at the end of the day, who is to blame for that? The defense gets blamed for that. The defensive coordinator. My position coach. In reality, that's on me. That's something I can change.”

Johnson, who made the Pro Bowl last season as an injured replacement, was a strong run stopper and had a tough opponent, facing future Hall of Fame left tackle Trent Williams for most of the night.

Things might have gone differently for the Jets if Haason Reddick had been on the field, but the Pro Bowl edge rusher remains an underdog. Without him, the Jets were able to generate very little pass rush. Tackle Quinnen Williams said, “You have to earn the right to pressure the passer. You have to stop the run first.”

The Jets' run defense was actually better when Johnson was in the game (4.6 yards per carry) than when he was out (5.1 yards). Neither number is good, though. The 49ers, who had Jordan Mason rush for 147 yards, destroyed the Jets with perimeter runs.

Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich thought Johnson had some good moments against Williams and believes he will “continue to grow because he pushes himself.” Ulbrich was also encouraged by how Johnson and other players took responsibility. Ulbrich called it “unique.”

“The boys recognized it, they fought back and accepted it, coaches and players alike,” he said. “This gives us a real opportunity to grow from this.”

“We have a group that points the finger at itself. Me included, every coach included. When you have that kind of culture, that kind of standard and that kind of accountability, I don't think things like that happen again.”

This is an important game for the Jets defense to re-establish themselves.

They were a top-five finisher and kept the Jets in the game for most of the last two seasons. With Aaron Rodgers at the helm, the Jets finally have an offense that can score points. The offense needs to improve as well, but the Jets scored three touchdowns for just the third time in 24 games.

Coach Robert Saleh is confident the Jets' defensive line and defense as a whole will rebound on Sunday.

“It's not the first time we've been hit in the face here on defense,” he said. “I feel like we've always responded. They're going to respond.”

The Jets believe they have corrected their mistakes and are ready if Tennessee tries to follow San Francisco's example. Titans offensive line coach Bill Callahan, long one of the best in the league, will have his own quirks, though.

Johnson will make sure he is ready.

“If I just work on my alignment a little bit more, I can stop doing this, and I have,” he said. “I'm a professional football player. I've done it at a high level and I know I can continue doing it. So just trust me and know that I'm going to get this sorted out.”

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after covering the NBA for nearly two decades with the Knicks and Nets.