\u201cI definitely feel good about it,\u201d Johnson said Friday when asked about being a foundational player<\/a> for the new regime. \u201cIt\u2019s not really pressure for me. I love expectations. I love high expectations. I hold myself to those.\u201d<\/p>\n The expectations piece is in part linked to the history of coach Jeff Hafley. Before his days with the Green Bay Packers, before Boston College and before Ohio State, Hafley got his start as a defensive backs coach. That Johnson was Hafley\u2019s first selection in the secondary means he will not only be asked to contribute early but will surely have his coach\u2019s attention from the onset.<\/p>\n \u201cHe can win at all three\u201d levels, Hafley said, referring to a valued piece of insight he previously shared<\/a> about how he evaluates cornerbacks. \u201cAnd he can take the ball away, and he tackles, and he\u2019s aggressive, and I love his play style and he can play inside. This was one of my favorite guys in the draft that when we started talking about him, and it came time to pick him, I would not have been surprised if he was taken earlier than we took him. So he can win at those levels. I\u2019m excited to coach him. He was here yesterday. He\u2019s got good size to him. He\u2019s got length to him. He\u2019s a great person. He loves football.\u201d<\/p>\n Despite the lofty expectations placed on him before he even steps onto the field, Johnson doesn\u2019t want to overlook the process. In some ways, the grind from rookie minicamp to OTAs to training camp somewhat mirrors his own journey. A two-year starter who spent his entire career with the Aztecs, a rarity in today\u2019s college football landscape, Johnson isn\u2019t afraid of the work.<\/p>\n \u201cMy dad always preached me that if you\u2019re talented enough,\u201d Johnson said of his decision to stay at SDSU, \u201cthey\u2019re going to come find you. So I put my head down and just worked, man, and stayed there, and I feel like I have no regrets, man. Exactly what me and my dad preached, I feel like it came to life for sure.\u201d<\/p>\n Added Johnson: \u201cThe process is the important part. I can\u2019t skip ahead to Week 1. I\u2019m brand new here. I\u2019m a rookie. I got to earn everybody\u2019s respect the same way as if I was undrafted or drafted in the seventh round. It\u2019s all the same \u2014 we are here to work.\u201d<\/p>\n With the Dolphins\u2019 cornerback room lacking premiere talent, Johnson should be a shoo-in to start assuming he performs well once the veterans get added to the mix. If he can replicate the same production<\/a> that he had his last two years in San Diego \u2014 four forced fumbles, 13 pass breakups and five interceptions, two of which he returned for touchdowns \u2014 then he\u2019ll certainly endear himself to Dolphins faithful, a group that has waited since 2016 for Miami<\/a> draft another shutdown corner.<\/p>\n If Johnson can reach the heights that Hafley expects, the Dolphins could have their guy on the outside for a long, long time.<\/p>\n \u201cI want the Dolphins to remember me as a great player, someone that came in, did what they had tot do to get ton the field and help the franchise,\u201d Johnson said.<\/p>\n
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