Not up to standard, not the norm, not in the team’s character.
That was how Jermaine Johnson described the Jets’ defensive performance in Week 1 two days after the team allowed the 49ers to run roughshod in a 32-19 victory, invoking the word “embarrassed” for good measure.
“Just wasn’t our standard. Obviously you get embarrassed, whatever, that’s out there. It is what it is,” Johnson said. “Now how are you gonna take it?”
The answer, at least for him, was very much not in stride.
Yes it is just one week, yes it was on the road against a very good 49ers team and no, nobody is hitting the panic button. But the Jets understand that coughing up eight straight scoring drives was no way to start the season.
In fact, given both the pedigree of the Jets defense and that the 49ers were missing Christian McCaffrey, it was fairly shocking, particularly the way San Francisco ran the ball, notching 180 yards on 38 carries.
“As a unit, we definitely need to get off the field on third downs,” Johnson said. “And I’d say the run game, we gotta set up edges not only on their D-line, but in the second and third levels. It was very easy to understand [the 49ers’] goal — their objective was to play the game outside the numbers with us, especially in the run game. Just get us running side to side. They did a good job of executing that.
“With that, as a defense we have to set edges, put up stop signs to turn the ball back to the rest of our defense. I feel like we as a group didn’t do a great job of that. Me, individually, they had very creative ways in capturing the edge, which I definitely should have stopped. Looking at the film, there’s definitely things I can fix.”
Though the Niners might have employed some creative solutions to get holes for Jordan Mason in the run game, Johnson noted that other teams will use the same tactics now that they are on tape, until the Jets prove they can stop it.
“It’s a little surprising ’cause we pride ourselves on discipline and doing our jobs,” coach Robert Saleh said. “Felt like we got a little out of whack in that regard. Not gonna get into specific details, [we’ll] get it fixed. At the same time, just know we’re capable of much more. Not a physical thing, it was just guys trying to do a bit too much.”
Visiting the Titans this week presents a much less daunting challenge than playing San Francisco.
Tennessee ran the ball well last week in a loss to the Bears, rushing for 140 yards on 26 carries, but Will Levis threw for just 127 yards with two interceptions and looked like a work in progress.
If the Jets don’t look better this week, it will be a whole lot harder to brush it off.
“Everything and how they were breaking those runs — credit to [the 49ers], they have very talented players on that side of the ball — all those things, those are scheme and technique things. It’s not a lack of talent — that’s why I’m confident,” Johnson said. “The character of the guys we have in that locker room, the character of myself, I get to watch film. I understand what I can fix, what I can do better to make sure that’s put to bed.”
After getting his first ever Pro Bowl nod last season, Johnson placed himself at the forefront of what needs to be better for the Jets.
“That’s something I take very seriously and that was the first thing I said [to the team]. I stood up, ‘I’m sorry y’all. I let you all down. The edges were not what they should have been in my part,’ ” Johnson said. “All I can do is be a thumb-pointer. Look at film, see how I can fix it. That’s what I’m doing and that’s what I’m pretty sure every guy in this locker room is doing.”
