Johnson might not be at linebacker, either, if it hadn't been for a difficult 2005 season, when injuries depleted the Ravens' secondary and led to a 6-10 record. That's when then-defensive coordinator Rex Ryan designed the Steelers package that sent Adalius Thomas to safety and Johnson to linebacker, essentially to rush the passer.
"Where I got my versatility was in practice," said Johnson, 28, a fourth-round draft pick in 2003 out of Alabama. "I started playing a lot of positions, and by doing that, I learned all the positions. I learned every position in the sub [package] and every position in the base. That's what benefited my career; that and Rex having the foresight of seeing me play there."
What Fangio likes best about Johnson are his intensity, his intelligence and his willingness to do what it takes.
"That transition [from tackle to linebacker] takes awhile," Fangio said. "The biggest thing to overcome is playing in a two-point stance rather than a three-point stance, and on every play they've got to key and diagnose whether it's a run or a pass. If it's a pass, then maybe drop backward. Whereas a defensive lineman, everything he's ever known was a three-point stance going forward. That sounds simple, but it's not."
Fangio sees a lot of the attributes in Johnson that he saw in Pro Bowl pass rusher Kevin Greene, whom he coached with the Carolina Panthers in the mid-1990s.
"Jarret's exactly where he needs to be, with his body," Fangio said. "He's much better at 265 and playing on the edge of a defense. By standing him up, too, it enables him to utilize his intelligence and instincts more because he can see more. He's good at anticipating things.
"He's the kind of player the other players really respect because he's a real team guy, he'll do the dirty work, he'll bust his [butt]. His effort is top of the line. I think Double-J's career is still on the upswing."
Q&A with ... defensive tackle Justin Bannan
After last season when he made 15 starts for the injured Kelly Gregg and finished seventh on the defense with 56 tackles, Bannan took advantage of a blissful offseason before returning to camp and an unexpected roommate.
Question:: What's the best thing you did or best place you visited during the offseason?
Answer:: "My fiancee and I went to New York City, which was fun. We're from Northern California, so we went up to Tahoe, San Francisco and Napa and just traveled around enjoying life. Just having an offseason was the best. It was a long season last year, and we were all just drained. So it was good to have a break like we had."
Q:: What's it like rooming with outside linebacker Jarret Johnson?
A:: "The truth of the matter is, I was actually able to get my own room, but Jarret wouldn't leave my room. So I still have to room with him for one more week. I don't know why he still wants to be my roommate."
- Edward Lee
TODAY
Practices at 8:45 p.m., 2 p.m. (special teams); this is last camp practice open to the public
PRESEASON GAME
Jets@Ravens, Monday, 8 p.m.
TV: Ch. 11, ESPN
Radio: 97.9 FM, 1090 AM
INSIDE
Lawrence gets chance PG 3
