Researching Lions OC Ben Johnson

[outlaw4]

Certainly a great start for Johnson and the Lions offense but we've seen this story several times already where opposing teams gather enough film to mount an appropriate defense. Not saying Johnson can't adapt but maintaining success is going to be key.

[amcoolio]

The new head coach in Miami is doing wonders with their offense. Of course, they have Waddle and Tyreek Hill so it may be a little easy. But we need someone like that.

 

[OnlyPantherFaninMaine]

Worked with Ben in Miami in 2016 when he was with the receivers. Great guy, awesome to watch him to excel as an OC and I think he’s probably destined to be a HC sooner than later. 

[Jon Snow]

Why the hell isn't he the Panthers OC right now at minimum?

[kungfoodude]

3 minutes ago, Jon Snow said:

Why the hell isn't he the Panthers OC right now at minimum?

You think he wants to work for Rhule?

You think we had to get a guy like McAdoo by accident?

[Jon Snow]

9 minutes ago, kungfoodude said:

You think he wants to work for Rhule?

You think we had to get a guy like McAdoo by accident?

What was I thinking. 

[Mr. Scot]

1 hour ago, OnlyPantherFaninMaine said:

Worked with Ben in Miami in 2016 when he was with the receivers. Great guy, awesome to watch him to excel as an OC and I think he’s probably destined to be a HC sooner than later. 

Connected to you too, eh?

Guessing he came across as pretty smart...

Edited September 28, 2022 by Mr. Scot

[rippadonn]

3 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

I'd throw this in...

Panther fans have been looking for a way to get Luke Kuechly involved in coaching for years now (general indications are he's not that interested in working with Matt Rhule and company).

There's no evidence to suggest that Johnson and Kuechly are best friends or anything, but they're likely at least acquainted from their time at BC. And both would seem to be highly intelligent.

So maybe, just maybe, Johnson could have a better shot at getting Luke aboard that train than Rhule does.

[rippadonn]

2 hours ago, outlaw4 said:

Certainly a great start for Johnson and the Lions offense but we've seen this story several times already where opposing teams gather enough film to mount an appropriate defense. Not saying Johnson can't adapt but maintaining success is going to be key.

Scot picked a nice one and I love me some NC connections but that's the only worry as you said, time needs to be given for him adapt once the NFL scouts his offense fully. If he can overcome and adapt to the adaptation you've got a damn good HC candidate. Problem is that it will take another season or so and if we don't get rid of Rhule after the season the fans will riot in front of BofA so we may miss that train.

[4Corners]

Ben is a great guy and a rising star. 

[Mr. Scot]

10 hours ago, 4Corners said:

Ben is a great guy and a rising star. 

I wasn't sure you'd be convinced

[ThPantherFan]

14 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

I'd throw this in...

Panther fans have been looking for a way to get Luke Kuechly involved in coaching for years now (general indications are he's not that interested in working with Matt Rhule and company).

There's no evidence to suggest that Johnson and Kuechly are best friends or anything, but they're likely at least acquainted from their time at BC. And both would seem to be highly intelligent.

So maybe, just maybe, Johnson could have a better shot at getting Luke aboard that train than Rhule does.

That would be nice.  Mr. Scot, thanks for all your hard work giving us Huddler's great information.

[top dawg]

At the moment, I'm still worried that Rhule ain't going anywhere, so I have to kinda project into the future, which makes this seem way closer to fantasy than reality.

[Tr3ach]

18 hours ago, Mr. Scot said:

The amazing performances put on by the Detroit offense through the first three weeks of the 2022 NFL Season are starting to draw some attention and interest to young Lions OC Ben Johnson.

Among those praising Johnson for his work…

Not bad...

To be clear, Johnson is way younger than what I normally like as a head coaching candidate (just 36) but he’s been coaching at the NFL level for as many years (since 2012) as others like Ken Dorsey and has risen through the ranks at a reasonably steady pace.

As illustrated above, Johnson is garnering high praise from numerous circles. The Athletic’s offensive analyst Ted Nguyen recently wrote a piece about how the Lions offense saw a weakness in the widespread use of defensive guru Vic Fangio’s concepts and figured out how to attack it. That approach certainly looks to be working so far.

Throw in too that if you look back at his resumé, you’ll find some pretty hefty connections to the Carolinas.

Born in Charleston, South Carolina, Johnson attended high school in Asheville, North Carolina. Upon graduating, he became a walk on quarterback for the UNC Tarheels behind both TJ Yates and current Panthers receiver coach Joe Dailey. Yates would later play for the Miami Dolphins, along with former Panther QB Matt Moore, when Johnson was an assistant there. Also while at UNC, Johnson was a teammate to Hakeem Nicks, Brandon Tate, Cameron Thomas, former (temporary) Panther Hilee Taylor and Connor Barth among others.

Looking at his college coaches, quarterback coach John Shoop had previously served on the offensive staff of the Panthers from their inaugural season through 1998. Retired former Colts coach - and Ron Rivera friend - Chuck Pagano was the Tarheels DC for one of his seasons there. Longtime NFL OL Coach (and also Rivera associate) Hal Hunter was on board for a bit as well. Hunter later coached in Cleveland alongside current Panthers ST coach Chris Tabor (Pep Hamilton was the OC at the time).

Mind you, Tabor’s not the only Panthers staffer with a connection of sorts to Johnson.

Others are, in fact a little more direct...

Let's start with original Panthers head coach Dom Capers who was a defensive assistant last season in Detroit. Among current Panther staffers besides the aforementioned Dailey, quarterback coach Sean Ryan and DL coach Paul Pasqualoni each spent time on the Lions staff with him.

Johnson even has a shirttail connection with Panthers assistant GM Dan Morgan via former Morgan colleague Joe Schoen who was in the Dolphins personnel department (as was former Panthers college scouting director Eric Stokes) for a few seasons while Johnson and now Lions head coach Dan Campbell were on the coaching staff. Said staff also included current RB coach Jeff Nixon and former Panthers player Mike Wahle.

For what some might find the most "fun" connection though, you’ve gotta go back to Johnson’s very first coaching gig..

From 2009 to 2011, Johnson was a graduate assistant and later tight ends coach for a college football program in the Northeastern US.

Specifically, Boston College.

Those three years just happened to coincide with the college career of a certain former Panther who’s best known for playing linebacker.

Yeah…that guy.

Substantive? Maybe not, but interesting / amusing.

Well...to me, aanyway, but what does it all really add up to?

Bottom Line: Unless and until Matt Rhule is fired, not a whole lot. Likewise, even if Johnson has more Carolinas connections than Kevin Bacon, he still has to finish out this season well and garner more significant head coaching interest. Mind you, there’s already some buzz around him, but not necessarily enough to make Johnson a major player on the coaching scene just yet.

That said, having researched his path to now, I definitely find him intriguing as a possibility. Johnson is getting praise for the kind of work you want to see in the guy running your team: knowledge of league trends, offensive innovation, the ability to properly evaluate and use the players you have and even maximize the positive traits of some lesser guys (Jared Goff for example, who’s looked better since Johnson started working with him) and more. Factor in also that with our current offensive line personnel stacked toward the run game, having them run plays designed by Johnson could be...interesting

Still, for the moment it’s only a “keep in the back of your mind” sort of thing.

In the crazy world of the NFL though, weirder things have happened.

To be fair I believe the Lions have the highest paid offense in the entire NFL.  Does that mean that equals being good?   No, but you would definitely hope they would be.  Not saying that to knock him down at all, just one of many things that have to be considered.