Rest in Peace Jim Johnson

I was actually just about to publish my first post for the 2009 season when it was announced that Jim Johnson has passed away at age 68, after a struggle with melanoma that had spread to his spine . Johnson was a class act, a brilliant football mind, and an epic worker. Johnson was brusque but candid and wore a near-constant scowl that did nothing to belie his kind heart but everything to demonstrate the seriousness with which he approached defensive football, demanded excellence, and loved the game. Johnson, even as the oldest guy on the staff was consistently the last one to leave the NovaCare building, even during the early offseason when a coach should normally, one would imagine, be less busy than the personnel department. The Eagles, the NFL, and the Philadelphia community lose a lot with the passing of Johnson. He was renowned for blitzing aggressively and creatively. He was especially a proponent of overload blitzing and he executed incredibly successful blitzing defenses with a multitude of different personnel. From his disguising blitzes by using Jevon Kearse as a joker during the Super Bowl run, to his rare but effective use of a double corner blitz in the days of Bobby Taylor, Troy Vincent, and Al Harris, to his skill at accentuating an aging Brian Dawkins's strengths and masking his weaknesses over the last two seasons, Jim Johnson was always looking for new tricks and wrinkles to confuse opposing coaches, quarterbacks, and offensive linemen. A nice analysis of Johnson by a non-partisan observer can be found in an unfortunately too prescient Washington Post article about the strengths and flaws of Johnson's strategy as applied by his January 2009 team as they approached their NFC championship game in Phoenix. See http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/content/article/2009/01/16/AR2009011603627.html.



Nonetheless, Johnson as much as Andy Reid deserves credit for the success this team has had this decade, especially early in McNabb's career when the offense often consisted of little more than slants to Chad Lewis and timely Donovan scrambles. Johnson will surely be missed and never forgotten.



Look for my intended post in the next couple days.



Pasted below is the team's official statement on Johnson's passing (courtesy of Philadelphiaeagles.com):



July 28, 2009
The Philadelphia Eagles are saddened to announce Jim Johnson has passed away Tuesday afternoon at the age of 68 after a courageous battle with cancer.A veteran of 22 years as an NFL assistant, Johnson is regarded as one of the top defensive masterminds in National Football League history. Over the last decade, he gained a great deal of praise as the orchestrator of the renowned Eagles defense. His aggressive style kept Philadelphia at or near the top of the NFL in nearly every major defensive category since joining Andy Reid's staff on January 22, 1999.


Jim Johnson was beloved by his colleagues, players.



From 2000-08, Johnson's units ranked second in the NFL in sacks (390), 3rd down efficiency (34.0%) and red zone touchdown percentage (43.9%), and fourth in fewest points allowed (17.7 per game). During his 10-year tenure in Philadelphia, the Eagles earned seven playoff berths, five trips to the NFC Championship game and one Super Bowl appearance (following the 2004 season).



As the Eagles' defensive chief, Johnson's defense has produced 26 Pro Bowl selections: Brian Dawkins (7), Troy Vincent (5), Jeremiah Trotter (4), Hugh Douglas (3), Lito Sheppard (2), Asante Samuel (1), Trent Cole (1), Michael Lewis (1), Corey Simon (1), and Bobby Taylor (1).



Four of his defensive assistants have gone on to successful careers with other NFL franchises: Steve Spagnuolo (head coach of the St. Louis Rams), John Harbaugh (head coach of the Baltimore Ravens), Ron Rivera (defensive coordinator of the San Diego Chargers) and Leslie Frazier (defensive coordinator of the Minnesota Vikings).



Prior to his tenure in Philadelphia, Johnson served as the linebackers coach with Seattle in 1998. That year, Johnson helped the Seahawks register 10 touchdowns on defense, including eight interceptions returned for scores, second-most in NFL history. He arrived in Seattle after a four-year stint in Indianapolis, the last two as defensive coordinator. While with the Colts, Johnson helped them secure a berth in the AFC Championship game at Pittsburgh in 1995.Johnson spent eight seasons with the Arizona Cardinals (1986-93). After overseeing the Cards defensive line for four seasons, Johnson excelled as their secondary coach, helping Aeneas Williams become the first rookie cornerback to lead the league in interceptions (6) since 1981.



Johnson began his coaching career as head coach at Missouri Southern (1967-68), before serving four-year tenures at Drake and Indiana. From 1977-83, Johnson served as defensive coordinator and assistant head coach at Notre Dame, a stint that included a national championship in 1977.An all-conference quarterback himself at Missouri (where he played in the same backfield with long-time NFL executive Bill Tobin), Johnson went on to spend two seasons with Buffalo as a tight end (1963-64).A native of Maywood, IL, Johnson (born 5/26/41) earned a bachelor's degree in education and a master's degree in physical education from Missouri.



Johnson is survived by his wife, Vicky, two children, Scott and Michelle, and four grandchildren, Katie, Justin, Brandon, and Jax.