Eagles D-Coordinator Jim Johnson Officially Out in 2009
by DavidH22 on Jul 24, 2009 1:50 PM CDT
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According to this story:
http://sports.espn.go.com/nfl/news/story?id=4353363
This was pretty much a foregone conclusion, as Johnson's cancer treament and condition precludes him from coaching again in the near future. In fact, I can't recall off the top of my head any prominent NFL coaches who have ever come back from cancer - to coach, at least. Heart attacks, sure (Ditka and Dan Reeves), but not the Big C. I am probably wrong, though. Anyway, as we've all said many times on this blog, we send our prayers and best wishes to Coach Johnson and his family. I have nothing but respect for such a successful yet low-key man.
I drew attention in a previous post as to the flat-out excellence of the Eagles defense over Johnson's 10-year tenure. The numbers bear repeating (from his Wikipedia page):
“The Eagles defense knows only one way to play and that is to attack. From 2000-07, Johnson’s units rank tied for first in the NFL with 342 sacks, second in the league in 3rd down efficiency (34.3%) and red zone touchdown percentage (43.0%), and fourth in fewest points allowed (17.6 per game).
In 2001, Johnson’s unit became the fourth team in NFL history to go all 16 games without allowing more than 21 points. Their streak of allowing 21 or fewer in 34 straight games was second longest in NFL history (Minnesota, 1968-71). In 1999, Johnson’s unit forced a NFL-best 46 turnovers, including a team-record 5 interceptions returned for TDs.
Eagles defenders have racked up 26 Pro Bowl selections in Johnson’s tenure. Brian Dawkins leads the way with seven. He’s followed by Troy Vincent (five), Jeremiah Trotter (four), Hugh Douglas (three), Lito Sheppard (two), and Trent Cole, Michael Lewis, Asante Samuel, Corey Simon, Bobby Taylor (one each)."
Uh, yeah…that’s a pretty good defense. I am torn because I am relieved that the Eagles defense will no longer be led by this defensive mastermind, but of course I never wanted it to happen this way. Never.
No mention of in today's story about our former defensive coordinator, ol' what's his name. I was kind of hoping he'd be named the new coordinator. Hopefully he will still have enough responsibilities to muck up the defensive side of the ball.
So now that's two excellent D-coordinators out of the NFC East - Johnson and the Giants' Steve Spagnuola. Jason Garrett is now a grizzled veteran going up against relative novices. No excuse for him now not to design a prolific and explosive offense.
Here's hoping Coach Johnson makes a swift recovery and is able to enjoy his retirement with family and friends.
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Major loss for the NFL
Class guy, class coach.
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
I don't recall if JJohnson
was ever seriously considered for any head coaching positions…was he too old? Or was he just very happy where he was? I know I would have loved to see him get out of the NFC East about 8 years ago…
He turned down many interviews to stay in Philly with Reid
"Well, we didn't block real good but we made up for it by not tackling."
- John McKay, the first coach of the Tampa Bay Buccaneers
He loved what he was doing and was happy doing it
It seems he realized that he was not HC material, and he didn’t cost any franchise valuable years figuring out what he already knew.
Everything's looking up, Milhouse!
by accidental innuendo on Jul 24, 2009 2:24 PM CDT up reply actions
Eagles fans are definitely crapping themselves right now
They might be in denial outwardly, but they know their defense is in serious trouble.
All you have to do is look at the Steelers’ defenses with and without Dick LeBeau, it’s literally like night and day.
In Romo we Trust
Definitely not crapping ourselves...
On the one hand, it’s a HUUUUGE concern (our biggest in my opinion), but McDermott has been with the Eagles for 11 years (so unless he’s a complete idiot he’ll know the system inside and out), and Jim Johnson is developing a Bill Walsh-esque coaching tree… Steve Spagnuolo, Leslie Frazer, John Harbaugh, etc. It won’t be the game-planning that we should be worried about. It’ll be the halftime adjustments, which Johnson was famous for. But all in all, I feel pretty confident about McDermott.
let's keep it in perspective right now.........
it’s a crude statement to say that Eagles fans are “definitely crapping themselves right now” when a man is in dire health. I think you put aside football allegiances and stop the trash talking for a minute and realize that his life is more important than football etc. I think that the NFL has lost a truly good coach and it’s sad that his career/life may be over.
I'm not so certain
seeing as Spagnualo was a Jim Johnson disciple, and he made the Giants defense fantastic overnight. It’s possible the new guy picked up a few things from Coach Johnson the last decade or so. But still, it’s always tough to replace The Original.
It's more than Spagnuolo
You guys will be amazed at how good Jim Johnson’s ex assistants have been.
Three of his ex assistants have coached defenses to superbowls… A fourth got really close this year.
Huge loss to the Eagles
Jim Johnson was a huge reason for the Eagles success in the past 10 years. I hope and pray he makes a full recovery and get to see him coach again sometime soon.
Though I am a Cowboys fan and should be glad that such a great defensive mind won’t be coaching a rival I am truly saddened by this. If we do in fact win the division this year it won’t feel the same.
+1
When he makes it back to the football field I will dislike him again but right now, my prayers go out to his family and to him to make a speedy recovery
"We play to win the game" - Herm Edwards
by nicholas.rodriguez on Jul 24, 2009 4:49 PM CDT up reply actions
Come on now
Life happens…if the Cowboys are fortunate enough to win the NFC East this year (BIG IF), I don’t think it would be cheapened by Coach Johnson not being there.
Well, if you do win the division, you want to win it
against the best. That way you don’t have to listen to excuses from the defeated. I think thats what NDCowboy8 had in mind when he said it won’t feel the same.
Garbage with or without
I don’t care if you are ranked top 5 defensively or not. Eagles still had to depend on the loss of the buccaneers and the cowboys to get into the playoffs narrowly. I think we’re still the better team even if they had Jim Johnson. Best wishes out to him and hopefully he makes a great recovery as I don’t like to see anyone have to go through this.
Tony Romo off in dat hole, Watch roll and watch him throw, Watch him lead dem cowboys to the super bowl, now watch me "yua!" crank dat cowboys, Now watch me "yua!" crank dat cowboys, Now watch me "yua!" crank dat cowboys, Now watch me "yua!" crank dat cowboys!
Narrowly?
Who cares? They got into the postseason and got the NFC title game. Who cares how they got there?
And the Eagles didn’t need to “depend” on the Cowboys losing. They needed to beat them to get in, which they did.
The Eagles made the playoffs last year because they deserved it. They got into the playoffs because they were a better team with a better record than every other team in the wildcard race. That’s a fact, that’s how it works. The standings don’t lie and you are what you’re record says you are. The Eagles were a playoff team.
The Eagles
did need to “depend” on the Buccaneers AND the Bears to lose both of their respective games. That happened and then they needed to beat the Cowboys which they did. That’s why the Eagles got into the playoffs last year. BTW, it’s really pathetic to see the Cowboys probably lose to the Eagles even if they (Eagles) were technically eliminated due to the Buccaneers or Bears winning their games.
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