Ben Johnson- Meet the Candidate- Part 3 of 12

[ProcessBlue2]

We continue today with the most popular choice among fans...

Ben Johnson, OC- Detroit Lions

The 37-year-old play caller seems to be the fan favorite- but is also one of the top candidates in a cycle that Adam Schefter reports there could be 7-10 HC openings. After the article from The Athletic, I imagine there will be much more desirable places that contain much less “dysfunction” than Carolina. It is argued that Johnson who was born in Charleston, SC and raised in Asheville, NC may elect to return home. Johnson was a walk on QB at UNC before becoming a graduate Assistant for Boston College. Personally, I don’t find that argument that strong for a guy so early in his career. I don’t think he would turn down a better organization with a better roster and front office leadership to come back “home”. He has obviously not cared about living in Miami and Detroit as he has built his career thus far.

After his time at Boston College he was hired by the Miami Dolphins in 2012 as analyst. He would serve in many different position coach roles under HC Joe Philbin, Interim HC Dan Campbell, and HC Adam Gase. He would not be retained in Miami after Gase’s staff was let go in 2018. The following year he would be brought into Detroit by Matt Patricia as a QC Coach. He would be retained by Dan Campbell in 2021 as Passing Game Coordinator after Patricia’s firing. In 2022, he would officially become the Offensive Coordinator. In 2022, Detroit would finish 4^th in total offense and are currently 3^rd in the NFL in total offense as of Week 15.

              Personally, I think Johnson would be a perfect fit somewhere like LA or Seattle (should Caroll retire). Both have rosters that have many key pieces that are lacking in Carolina. Neither owner is known for being impatient and the same can’t be said for the owner of the football team in Charlotte. I think Johnson has a bright future and he knows that. He will have plenty of options this offseason and I don’t see Carolina near the top of his list.

Is Johnson all hype or is he the real deal?

[mrcompletely11]

I get he is the hot name and will have his choice of jobs.  However I am a bit uncomfortable with Teppers fixation on him starting last year.  

Fire Fitt, hire a new GM and let him do the legwork.  If he lands on Johnson then so be it, figure out how to lure him here, until then just stay the fug out of the way dave and nicole.

[07579394]

He will be Kyle Shanahan 2.0,got him

[Tbe]

The odds say none of this year’s hot OC’s work out regardless of what team they go to.

Tepper’s first choice is a huge red flag.

Whoever he doesn’t want (hi Steichen), is who we should want.

[Ricky Spanish]

At a glance, The Chargers are one of the most enticing available jobs this offseason, however their owner has a bad reputation in his own right, not that unlike our own, but for different reasons.

Spanos is a dick and incredibly, ridiculously cheap. Also the Chargers are currently 52 million or so over the cap next season and will not be able to retain all of their talent. They have the potential to be what the Saints have been the past 3 or so years - good enough to compete for a wildcard spot but significantly hampered by their cap situation.

Having said all that it's still a more enticing landing spot than us, especially if we retain Fitterer's dumbass.

Is there any potential guy we can poach from detroit's FO? They've been building a damn good team up there the past 3 years.

[Bear Hands]

13 hours ago, Ricky Spanish said:

At a glance, The Chargers are one of the most enticing available jobs this offseason, however their owner has a bad reputation in his own right, not that unlike our own, but for different reasons.

Spanos is a dick and incredibly, ridiculously cheap. Also the Chargers are currently 52 million or so over the cap next season and will not be able to retain all of their talent. They have the potential to be what the Saints have been the past 3 or so years - good enough to compete for a wildcard spot but significantly hampered by their cap situation.

Having said all that it's still a more enticing landing spot than us, especially if we retain Fitterer's dumbass.

Is there any potential guy we can poach from detroit's FO? They've been building a damn good team up there the past 3 years.

Yeah Herbert alone will make them appealing for an OC type like Johnson (I'd imagine)

Although, the rest of the offense is in a bit of a pickle.  Zion underperformed this year.  Slater is about the only sure thing on their OL.  Ekeler is on the downturn/lost a step, there's no real RBs in house to take over (Kelley is bad).   Everett is getting older and their best TE.  QJ has struggled mightily and Mike Williams is gone.  

Defensively, they have Derwin.  Stud.  Mack (getting older) and Bosa (always injured). Two really promising young guys in Ken Murray and Tuli (one of my fave rookie pass rushers), but the rest is kind of a mixed bag.  

Detroit wise - I guess it would be Ray Agnew (former player) after scoping things out.  He's 56 y/o, interestingly enough, went to NC State, played ball for them in the 90s, from Winston Salem.  

Was the Rams director of Pro Personnel from 2017-2020.

https://sidelionreport.com/posts/detroit-lions-assistant-general-manager-ray-agnew-is-a-legit-candidate-for-chargers-gm-job

 

[Bear Hands]

So theoretically, could get 2 Carolina guys in a Ray Agnew + Ben Johnson GM/HC combo.  

Or maybe those two are a package that goes to LA instead.  

[4Corners]

13 hours ago, Ricky Spanish said:

At a glance, The Chargers are one of the most enticing available jobs this offseason, however their owner has a bad reputation in his own right, not that unlike our own, but for different reasons.

Spanos is a dick and incredibly, ridiculously cheap. Also the Chargers are currently 52 million or so over the cap next season and will not be able to retain all of their talent. They have the potential to be what the Saints have been the past 3 or so years - good enough to compete for a wildcard spot but significantly hampered by their cap situation.

Having said all that it's still a more enticing landing spot than us, especially if we retain Fitterer's dumbass.

Is there any potential guy we can poach from detroit's FO? They've been building a damn good team up there the past 3 years.

How is an owner cheap and then 52 million dollars over the cap 

[Martin]

6 minutes ago, 4Corners said:

How is an owner cheap and then 52 million dollars over the cap 

I think he’s known for not spending a dime outside of mandatory player salaries. 

[Tbe]

18 minutes ago, 4Corners said:

How is an owner cheap and then 52 million dollars over the cap 

There’s a reason Eli Manning refused to play there.

[4Corners]

14 minutes ago, Martin said:

I think he’s known for not spending a dime outside of mandatory player salaries. 

Gotcha. I don’t much ab him. When I think of “cheap” I think of Dave Gettleman. 

[Ricky Spanish]

1 hour ago, Martin said:

I think he’s known for not spending a dime outside of mandatory player salaries. 

This, and the fact they have to pay so much guaranteed money is one of the reasons their GM got canned.

Dude moved the Chargers from SD to LA when no one wanted them because the city of SD refused to buckle to his demands to finance a new stadium. He used the opportunity to move to LA to avoid having to pay for a new stadium (among other asshole reasons).

 

[onmyown]

15 hours ago, Tbe said:

The odds say none of this year’s hot OC’s work out regardless of what team they go to.

Tepper’s first choice is a huge red flag.

Whoever he doesn’t want (hi Steichen), is who we should want.

Odds say that no HC coaches ever work out, ever.

But you give the shot to the one that looks the best.

[Paa Langfart]

23 hours ago, ProcessBlue2 said:

We continue today with the most popular choice among fans...

I appreciate the write up - as a suggestion could you link the previous write ups you did in every new write up as you go along for those of us who might miss one or two ?