Lorenzo Mauldin

Lorenzo Mauldin is entering his second NFL season. (AP Photo | Bill Wippert)

FLORHAM PARK -- It is still early in Jets training camp, as they'll hold their fifth practice Tuesday. And while one outside linebacker spot is uncertain (with rookie Jordan Jenkins as the early favorite to start), the other job belongs to Lorenzo Mauldin, who was a pass rushing specialist as a rookie last season.

Mauldin, a former third-round draft pick, did a couple things this offseason to make sure he'd be a solid run defender and edge setter in 2016, when the Jets start fresh at both outside linebacker spots. It remains to be seen how this preparation will pay off, but Mauldin feels confident after putting in the work.

First, he gained weight. He entered last season at 252 pounds, and was between 250 and 255 all year. The Jets' coaches wanted him to gain about 10 pounds in the winter, so he began spring practices at 265, which remains his current weight.

"Now, I feel like I'm more stout in the run game," he told NJ Advance Media. "I still feel the same with my speed, fast enough to cover a tight end, cover a running back, slot receiver."

Even though Mauldin has minimal game experience dropping into pass coverage, he has no doubt that he'll be able to do it.

"I feel much more comfortable now," he said. "I know all the plays. It's second nature to me now. Being able to drop into coverage is easy. The coverage stuff is easy now."

Last season, when he primarily played in second-and-long and third-down situations, he knew teams likely would pass the ball. So he just had to worry about rushing the quarterback. He finished the year with four sacks.

"I would come out and I would always have to just go straight," he said. "I only dropped probably once or twice."

Something else he didn't have to do often -- stop the run and set the edge. That involves reading pre-snap run/pass keys.

"One of the things I had to work on in the spring was to read run first, instead of just dropping back, because if I drop back, then the edge is gone," Mauldin said. "I worked hard on that. I've learned to do that."

During the break between June minicamp and training camp, Mauldin said he focused his training on reading run/pass keys and setting the edge. He knew this was something he absolutely had to work on.

Before the snap, an outside linebacker like Mauldin must watch how the backfield is set up, and also watch the offensive linemen in their stances (including right after the snap), in order to diagnose if a play is a run or pass.

These are the split-second decisions -- and the ability to physically react to them -- that separate great outside linebackers from average ones.

Mauldin's goals for 2016, as he debuts as a full-time starter?

"Just work my butt off and hope for a Pro Bowl," he said.

Darryl Slater may be reached at dslater@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @DarrylSlater. Find NJ.com Jets on Facebook.