Los Angeles Rams Trumaine Johnson
(Photo by Christian Petersen/Getty Images)

New York Jets head coach Todd Bowles is very impressed with cornerback Trumaine Johnson, calling him one of the best he’s ever coached.

The New York Jets made a big splash to address their secondary, adding Trumaine Johnson in free agency. The Jets had a lot of cap space and took advantage of it to add the cornerback. While some feel the team may have overpaid, head coach Todd Bowles is not one of them.

According to Rich Cimini of ESPN, Bowles has been very impressed with Johnson. Bowles had this to say when asked where Johnson ranks amongst cornerbacks that he’s coached in his career.

“I think he’s right there at the top. I think his football IQ makes him a heck of a football player. The physical abilities speak for themselves, but his football IQ and the way he takes care of himself and approaches the game puts him right there.”

Being placed near the top of Bowles’ list is high praise considering coached an in-his-prime Patrick Peterson (and a slightly-past-his-prime Darrelle Revis). However, Bowles has clearly been impressed with what he’s seen thus far from Johnson in meetings and on the field.

Cimini, who told ESNY’s Paul Esden that Johnson is the most important defensive player on the Jets, points out that Bowles has been more aggressive blitzing with a high-end cornerback.

While Arizona’s defensive coordinator, with Peterson, Bowles blitzed 49.6 and 43.1 percent of the time. With the Jets, he had Revis playing well his first year and blitzed 43.8 percent of the time.

In 2016 with Revis playing horribly, he blitzed only 37.6 percent of the time. He blitzed at a 35.7 percent rate with no Revis in 2017. Johnson allowing Bowles to blitz more will help a pass rush that was dreadful last season.

Johnson spent his first six seasons with the Rams franchise. He’s recorded 18 interceptions, returning three of them for touchdowns. He’s picked up 67 pass defenses and has forced two fumbles, with three fumble recoveries.

Bowles would love to see him add significantly to those totals with the Jets and will need him too if the Jets want to take a step in the AFC East.

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