San Francisco 49ers: 5 Players Poised to Break Out in 2016
By Jerod Brown
Dontae Johnson-Cornerback
I recently wrote a piece about how cornerback Tramaine Brock may not be starting in 2016. The most realistic way for that to happen is if third-year cornerback Dontae Johnson finally stands out as a starting-caliber player.
He certainly has the length–he’s 6’2″ tall–and the 49ers need a cornerback to face the big receivers of the NFC West. The 49ers are reportedly experimenting with Jimmie Ward at cornerback, leaving Johnson to fight for the other boundary corner role. As of now, he is seeing the field in the nickel package when Ward bumps inside to play slot.
For the first time in his career, Johnson may have caught the eyes of coaches as a potential starter. As a fourth-round draft choice, it’s seemed as though Johnson struggled to get noticed. When given an opportunity to play, he has weathered the tumultuous ride of a young career.
The 49ers, in search of obvious starters at corner, should have high expectations for Johnson in the upcoming season. And he is poised to produce.
Typically, young players need time to acclimate to the league. Johnson has had his time, and the team needs his improvement to directly lead to a starting position on a defense that is young and rebuilding.
Johnson, when called upon to compete with big-bodied receivers, has done well to take the lumps of developing in the NFL. He hasn’t been a sure-fire stud from Day 1, but he’s flashed enough ability to be given a real chance to start in 2016.
That’s impressive coverage on a likely future-Hall-of-Famer in former-Detroit Lion Calvin Johnson. Dontae waits for a break and accelerates off of his back foot to make a play on the ball. Against one of the biggest and best redzone receivers in the game at the time.
If Johnson can crack the starting lineup, he could become the solid starting cornerback that the team has lacked for years. I’d put Johnson’s interception numbers somewhere around six if he is given the entire season to start.
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