Jets defensive line on life without Haason Reddick: We'll get job done

FLORHAM PARK, N.J. — Haason Reddick, the most accomplished edge rusher on the Jets’ roster, remains a no-show. But Jermaine Johnson has no doubt that the Jets’ defensive linemen will show up and make an impact even without Reddick on Monday night against the 49ers.

“We’re all waiting for him when he’s ready to get here,” Johnson said. “We’re fully confident we’re about to go do some damage, for sure.”

Reddick is in a contract dispute, and his holdout has been the one dark cloud hanging over the Jets heading into Week 1. He was acquired to strengthen a defensive line that lost 19.5 sacks from last season when the Jets moved on from Bryce Huff, John Franklin-Myers and Quinton Jefferson.

Johnson, who is filled with swagger and edge, said the club has more than enough to remain a dominant front.

“You could ask the teams we joint-practiced against and then you all will see on Monday,” Johnson said. “I think we all feel pretty good.”

Johnson will start on one edge, with Quinnen Williams and Javon Kinlaw at tackles and likely Micheal Clemons on the other side against a solid 49ers offensive line led by left tackle Trent Williams, who ended his holdout Tuesday. The Jets will rotate second-year end Will McDonald IV and Takk McKinley on the edge and Solomon Thomas on the interior.

“It’s a defensive line that adjusts and rotates every single play,” linebacker C.J. Mosley said. “As far as some people not being here and people being gone, it doesn’t really make a difference.”

The Jets rely on their front four to attack, create havoc and cause the quarterback to make mistakes. Defensive coordinator Jeff Ulbrich said they still have the personnel to do that.

”Great confidence in every guy that’s out there,” Ulbrich said. “I’m so excited for them just to get that opportunity. They are our boogeyman. They are our superpower and we’re going to lean on them like we always do.”

Reddick’s presence was expected to take some double- teams away from Williams, who said he isn’t disappointed that Reddick isn’t with the Jets and believes he eventually will join the team. Williams also believes the Jets’ defensive line will step up to the challenge.

He called Johnson “an All-Pro-caliber D-end,” expects big jumps from McDonald and Clemons and said Kinlaw is “a monster in his own way.”

“Having the dog room that we got, having the amazing room that we got, it’s unbelievable,” Williams said.

The Jets hope McDonald makes a jump similar to the one that Johnson took last year in his second season. Johnson is hungry to take an even bigger leap this season.

Johnson made the Pro Bowl as an injury replacement after finishing second on the Jets with 7.5 sacks. He also had 16 quarterback hits, 11 tackles for loss, a pick-6 and a fumble recovery.

Johnson wasn’t close to being satisfied, though.

“It was all right,” he said. “Not my standard.”

What’s his standard?

“I want to be the best edge rusher in the NFL,” Johnson said. “The best thing about the game of football is you get to go prove it. That’s my goal this year.”

That would help make up for the absence of Reddick, who recorded 50.5 sacks during the past four seasons.

Johnson studied video of himself after last season and found he had “a lot of wasted movement” off the ball in his pass rush. He described it as having choppy steps, not having a plan and showing too much indecisiveness.

That became Johnson’s focus. He worked on it, changed some things and tried his new moves out on established tackles Tyron Smith and Morgan Moses.

“That’s the beauty of being able to go against Tyron and Morgan,” Johnson said. “If that move works on them, that builds confidence in me.”

Ulbrich has noticed that Johnson has refined his pass-rushing skills, and Johnson can’t wait to unleash them.

“My switch has been waiting to be flipped,” he said. “The joint practices are fun, but at the same time, game day in the NFL is like you’re in the Roman Colosseum. It’s like bringing you back to a millennium ago. I can’t wait to get back to all of that. I know all of us can’t.”

By Al Iannazzone

al.iannazzone@newsday.comAl_Iannazzone

Al Iannazzone covers the Jets for Newsday after spending nearly two decades on the NBA beat with Knicks and Nets.