5 matchups to watch in Redskins vs. Jets preseason Week 2
3. Redskins receivers vs. Trumaine Johnson
The Jets made Johnson one of the highest-paid players in team history after luring him away from the Los Angeles Rams in free agency. It’s possible that Johnson could be the true No. 1 corner the Jets have been lacking since the decline of Darrelle Revis, so he will certainly be a player to watch on Thursday night.
Of course, it’s also important to note that Maurice Harris has been able to get the better of Johnson during joint practice at times, and Harris had similar success against the Patriots No. 1 corner Stephon Gilmore last week. It’s possible that Johnson can be beat, and the Redskins receivers will need to do what they can to get by him.
It’s unclear exactly what the plans for the receiving corps in preseason Week 2 will be, but one would assume that the starters like Josh Doctson, Paul Richardson, and Jamison Crowder will all get some run. And on certain snaps, they will line up across from Johnson and test their skills.
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The ideal way to get separation against Johnson is to use precise route running to gain just a bit of space. He’s too quick to beat with just deep speed, and he has really good instincts. Working on route running will be critical for the Redskins receivers, as Doctson really needs to hone that skill while Crowder is already solid coming across the middle of the field.
If the receivers are able to handle Johnson, it will help them to build some confidence going into the start of the season. For a young, inexperienced group, that will be critical to develop, as pairing confidence with an accurate quarterback could be a recipe for success for the Redskins this year.