Johnson looking for a bigger role this season
On paper, Army’s defensive unit has tremendous promise with a combination of veteran leaders such as captain Jeremy Timpf, Andrew King, Xavier Moss, the return of Josh Jenkins at the field corner spot, which will provide a boost this season. Then there are ‘seasoned-youngsters’ like Kenneth Brinson and Brandon Jackson, a rising sophomore corner who will be looking to lock down the starting position at the boundary.
As such, one of the areas of strength for the Black Knights is the secondary and more specifically at the cornerback positions.
No, Jenkins, Jackson & Johnson is not a New York based high powered law firm. However, what it does represent is Army’s solid trio of cornerbacks, who if you listen to first CB coach ShaDon Brown .... they have tremendous upside.
“Josh Jenkins, who I think is a NFL corner,” shared Brown in our ‘Army CB Coach ShaDon Brown, ready for the Big Stage’ introduction article 3-weeks ago on the coach’s arrival to the academy, who offered this analysis on Jackson as well. “Brandon Jackson who played last year as a freshman, who was a really physical young man and who brings a lot of physicality and link to the table,” added Brown.
But it was senior cornerback, Steven Johnson who caught our attention, along the attention of Coach Brown during the Black Knights’ first spring practice last Friday.
"Really good," Johnson said to GoBlackKnights.com after the team's first spring practice when asked how did he felt the corners did in practice. "Steve Johnson stood out the most."
This was a point reiterated by defensive coordinator Jay Bateman, who placed an emphasis on the fact that each starting position at cornerback has to be earned.
“There is no one is No. 1 or 2 and they better come to work every day,” shared Bateman in his conversation with GBK after Monday’s practice, as he turned his attention to Johnson. “Steve is super talented and I'm expecting a great senior year from him. He's off to a great start.”
Johnson, who actually started the first two games of the 2015 season, before giving way to then frosh Jackson ... himself realizes that he is in a very unique position, whereby he has Jenkins returning at one corner spot, with Jackson looking to lock down the other spot. But listening to the Newburgh (NY) native, you don’t walk away sensing that he feels like the odd guy out.
“I really think it’s just the guys to my left and right and regardless of the ups and downs throughout my time here ... I’ve always been a great position to just try to help the team wherever I’m needed,” explained Johnson, when asked what is and has been his motivation over the past 4-years to play some role on the defense and special teams. “Regardless of where I’m at, I’m always coming in to compete and make the team better, because as an individual and the more that I can make myself better, the more I can contribute to this team wherever I’m need and I think the competition is great. I wouldn’t like it any other way to have guys to compete with every day and that makes everyone better.”
The cornerback crew has a new position coach in ShaDon Brown, and according to Johnson, Brown’s style and is noticeably different relative to his approach to coaching up the cornerbacks.
“Yeah, he’s really up tempo and it’s great to the practice environment,” said Johnson. “He’s a really fiery coach, he gets on us for every little detail and he’s not going to let anything slide. If he didn’t see it on the field, he’ll see it on the film and he’s going to get on it. His visibility is great and great to have that pair of eyes that is looking to making you better on every snap regardless of it being an individual drill or if it’s a team drill, he’s always looking to make every corner better regardless of the situation. It’s great to have that for my last season here.”
There is a lot of optimism around the team, but especially the defense. Even during the winter S&C, there been a sense that this could be a special defense for 2016.
“There are some great players on the defense this year and the special thing about it is that we are returning pretty much everyone,” declared Johnson, as he shared his thoughts regarding the returning personnel and the potential defensively.
“We’ve got nine returners. we are getting Josh Jenkins back when he’s ready to go and you got Brandon Jackson, who came in and had a great freshman campaign. So, I think there’s a lot of promise.”
Here’s what the 6-foot-0, 190 pound corner had to say when asked to describe the final scene of a movie where he was the director and the movie was titled, “Army Football 2016”,
“I think the final scene of that movie would obviously have to be the Army-Navy game where it’s a tight game like it always is every season,” he stated. “But this year, we have that effort and execute like we talk about and push through and get that win to put that seal on a great winning season. Then go into a bowl game and that would be a great finale for that movie.”
NOTABLES: Bateman indicated that he is happy with the recall from the freshmen class, but also caution, by saying ... “let’s put the on and see”. Meaning it’s way to early to truly say who is really standing out thus far until the pads come on.
Another group on defense that has looked good so far has been the quartet of Alex Aukerman, Gibby Gibson, Kenneth Brinson and James Nachtigal.
The Black Knights resume practice on Wednesday (4/6) for the 3rd session this spring. So, keep it right here on GoBlackKnights.com as we continue to bring you inside Army football spring practice with our comprehensive coverage.
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