John Johnson III Discusses What He Was Able To Learn While Out With Injury

  • To unlock all of features of Rams On Demand please take a brief moment to register. Registering is not only quick and easy, it also allows you access to additional features such as live chat, private messaging, and a host of other apps exclusive to Rams On Demand.

BonifayRam

Legend
Joined
Jan 14, 2013
Messages
13,435
Name
Vernon
John Johnson III Discusses What He Was Able To Learn While Out With Injury
Published on 02/22/2020 Author by Maximo Gonzales

1582401355560.png

Young safety John Johnson III had been one of the more notable losses for the Los Angeles Rams after his 2019 NFL season was cut short by a shoulder injury.
Johnson had been in the midst of another stellar start to the year until he was placed on injured reserve heading into Week 7. His absence left a huge void in a Rams secondary that would later experience some significant turnover prior to the trade deadline. Suffering such a major injury and being forced to watch this team struggle en route to missing the playoffs was hardly ideal for Johnson. Fortunately, it seems he managed to find the silver lining in a frustrating 2019 campaign.

Johnson feels that watching from the sidelines provided him with a different perspective on how the game is played, via Sarina Morales of the team’s official website:
I don’t think about myself. I think I learned a lot about the game just watching, seeing opportunities that you don’t normally see, being out there. This is the first time I actually like was down. When I got hurt, it wasn’t that I was hurt, I just didn’t have anything to do when I got home from rehab, even before the surgery. It was just weird to not have structure in my life.
It is certainly encouraging to see that Johnson was able to turn a negative situation into one that could potentially set the stage for a big comeback in the 2020 NFL season.The former third-round pick proved to be quite the steal by emerging as an immediate contributor on defense and being promoted to starter during his rookie year. He managed to kick things up a notch in the 2018 campaign and was considered to be one of the biggest Pro Bowl snubs after registering 119 tackles, four interceptions, and a forced fumble.

Los Angeles experimented quite a bit with their secondary this season after parting ways with cornerbacks Aqib Talib and Marcus Peters in order to make room for Jalen Ramsey. Meanwhile, the hype surrounding safety Eric Weddle‘s arrival was short-lived following an underwhelming year that has left his future with the team uncertain.

One of Weddle’s biggest concerns is being relegated to a reserve role due to the talented safety pairing of Johnson and Taylor Rapp. Regardless, having a surplus of starter talent over the top is a good problem to have as the Rams brass gets set to make some crucial decisions in the offseason.

https://ramsnation.com/rams-news-jo...le-to-learn-while-out-with-injury/2020/02/22/
 

Merlin

Damn the torpedoes
Rams On Demand Sponsor
ROD Credit | 2023 TOP Member
Joined
May 8, 2014
Messages
39,703
This is a really big year for JJ. He has enough speed to be a good single high safety in this defense and with Rapp settling into the box role it would benefit not only the Rams but JJ as well to demonstrate he can range and ballhawk over the top.

Rams will need another safety for depth and sub options if Christian walks as suspected too. And looking at this draft btw far and away most of them are better in the box than rangy/ballhawk types. So if the Rams just look to replace Christian that will be very easy to do at any point they see a guy with good value (which should be throughout the draft and maybe even UDFA).
 

So Ram

Legend
Camp Reporter
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
15,169
This is a really big year for JJ. He has enough speed to be a good single high safety in this defense and with Rapp settling into the box role it would benefit not only the Rams but JJ as well to demonstrate he can range and ballhawk over the top.

Rams will need another safety for depth and sub options if Christian walks as suspected too. And looking at this draft btw far and away most of them are better in the box than rangy/ballhawk types. So if the Rams just look to replace Christian that will be very easy to do at any point they see a guy with good value (which should be throughout the draft and maybe even UDFA).

The Rams have Gervase who is a good young safety. Nick Scout is still learning.
Of course they need depth, but 2019 draft The Rams addressed the position well. JJ becomes a FA along with an excellent draft class of McSeand 2017.
 

jap

Legend
Joined
Jan 12, 2013
Messages
6,592
With JJ & Rapp in the defensive backfield, and Jalen & Co. manning the corners, we could really have a special secondary this season. Just provide Aaron with sufficient help in the front 7 (3-4 alignment) or 6 (nickel coverage), and this defense will be truly dominant.
 

SeminoleRam

Pro Bowler
Joined
Dec 31, 2017
Messages
1,225
Name
PaceRam
With JJ & Rapp in the defensive backfield, and Jalen & Co. manning the corners, we could really have a special secondary this season. Just provide Aaron with sufficient help in the front 7 (3-4 alignment) or 6 (nickel coverage), and this defense will be truly dominant.

I know it is ONE DAY/ONE SEASON at a time BUT personally, I will feel a LOT better when (IF!) the Rams sign Ramsey to a Long Term Extension!!!
 

RamsOfCastamere

I drink things, and know nothing
Joined
Aug 10, 2013
Messages
8,066
Rapp's play verses the Cowboys and 9ers really set back my opinion of him. I hope he's better in coverage this year.
 

Memento

Your (Somewhat) Friendly Neighborhood Authoress.
Joined
Jul 30, 2010
Messages
18,361
Name
Jemma
I hope we re-sign JJ3. We really missed him in coverage, and him and Rapp should be a great duo, along with Ramsey - whom we had better re-sign if the Rams want my sanity intact.
 

So Ram

Legend
Camp Reporter
Joined
Jun 18, 2014
Messages
15,169
Rapp's play verses the Cowboys and 9ers really set back my opinion of him. I hope he's better in coverage this year.

That 9er game was freakin killer, but wtf was RAMsey thinking on 3-16 ? To have them 3-16 twice as well.

Really enjoyed the love of Brockers,Fowler,Clay, & Donald during that series. Ram fans that want to blame the young O”Line need to know how close The Rams were to making the playoffs. Dallas was an awaking call though.