Dave Birkett | Detroit Free Press

Detroit Free Press

Kirthmon F. Dozier, Detroit Free Press

George Johnson played at 270 pounds during his two seasons with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, about 10 pounds heavier than he was during his career year with the Detroit Lions in 2014.

When Johnson worked out for the Lions after the Bucs released him earlier this month, the team asked him to slim back down to its preferred playing weight of 260 pounds.

So for the past few weeks, Johnson has followed the every-man approach to weight loss. He woke up early and went for a run or walked his dog. He ate smaller meals with more vegetables.

And Wednesday, a trimmer Johnson signed a one-year deal to return to the Lions and provide pass-rush help.

"Even though you can have more muscle, but it’s still you’re carrying more (weight)," Johnson said. "When you’re carrying less, it’s like you’re not dragging a sled behind you so you’re playing a little bit more quicker. Your movements are more precise."

Johnson had six sacks for the Lions in his only season with the team in 2014, then was traded to the Buccaneers after signing a restricted free agent offer sheet the following spring.

Johnson said leaving the Lions was "something I didn’t want to do," and he said his weight gain affected his play with the Buccaneers.

Johnson had 23 tackles and no sacks in 11 games with the Bucs in 2015, then missed all of last season with an injury.

"Just wasn’t as precise as I used to be," he said. "When I was here, I was more precise with a lot of things I did. I was honed into my technique and things like that, but when I got away, I got away from it. I started feeling like there was a lot of things I can get away with and I also got away from the things I do best. So it kind of just offset, I didn’t get the sacks that I needed."

The Lions hope Johnson can be part of their defensive end rotation behind Ziggy Ansah, Anthony Zettel and Cornelius Washington, and Johnson said he's excited to reunite with head coach Jim Caldwell and defensive line coach Kris Kocurek.

"They just want you to go," he said. "They don’t care about anything else, they just want you to go. They don’t want you to think, they don’t want you to read, they just want you to attack. If you’re attacking then you’re not reacting, you’re just going after it."

Study guide: The Atlanta Falcons led the NFL in scoring last season (33.8 points per game) and had one of the most dynamic offenses in recent history.

They were so good that Lions offensive coordinator Jim Bob Cooter said he studied the offense this off-season in hopes of improving his own team.

"They scored a bunch of points," Cooter said. "They showed up all over different cut-ups if you’re watching touchdowns or whatever. So yeah, they had a really good, really successful year last year, and I think a lot of offensive guys in the league are going to watch a team like that, that has a productive, successful year and did a lot of things well."

So what did Cooter learn from his film review?

"I'll keep that to myself," he said.

Contact Dave Birkett: dbirkett@freepress.com. Follow him on Twitter @davebirkett.

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