Johnson's teams played with pride

Last evening, Eagles defensive coordinator Jim Johnson lost his battle with cancer, passing away at the age of 68. I can only imagine the pain his current and former players, coaches, friends and family are going through this morning as we all reflect on his life and coaching career in Philadelphia.

Now, I never met coach Johnson, but during my three seasons as a Washington Redskin, we faced the Eagles twice a season, and I can’t help but give you my take on him from an opposing player’s perspective — because I respected his work, I respected the way his defenses played and I respected the innovation he brought to the game of football.

AP

Most of the time, when we talk about the Philadelphia Eagles, the conversation drifts toward Donovan McNabb, Andy Reid and the offense that has made winning a normal occurrence out east.

But from my point of view, it was Johnson and his defense that always made the difference during my career in Washington and all the way to the NFC championship just last season.

You see, as a player it was fun to watch his defense play because you respected the passion they played with. And just imagine that for a moment — passion from an entire unit in a league that sometimes is all about individuals and contracts.

Sure, Johnson had great players to work with and great leaders like Troy Vincent and Brian Dawkins, but as a player, we all know that the leadership and the desire to succeed comes from the coaching, from the teaching and from the inspiration that some coaches — even at this level — provide.

And Johnson was one of those men.

AP

We can talk about his schemes and his ability to have his defenses attack with pressure, but what always impressed me most was the actual style of play that his players brought to the stadium on Sundays.

They played nasty. They got to the quarterback and arrived angry. They tackled well and played fundamentally correct, and when they hit, it sometimes looked like a clinic.

To put it in simple terms, they played defense and took pride in it.

I saw it from the opposing sideline, I saw it in meeting rooms and I saw it after my career was over and I watched the Eagles play — and I couldn’t get enough.

But it still comes down the man himself. I have a great relationship with Saints defensive coordinator Gregg Williams, and part of that is because of the way he coached me to play the game of football. I would bet that most of the Eagles players feel the same way about Johnson.

Pro players, contrary to popular belief, want to be coached and want to be coached hard. Because we all want to succeed as players on Sundays, and no matter how much talent you have at this level, it still takes a coach to get it done.

That’s no different than the men you play for in high school or college. These men — these great coaches — provide more than a game plan or a blitz drawn up in the sand. They provide you with that desire to succeed and win, and that usually stays with you through life. It’s something you can always call on because of the men who taught you.

Let’s be honest here. Jim Johnson was a great football coach, and he will always be remembered for the many lives he affected in positive ways.

And players always remember the great ones — even if they never played for them.

Follow me on Twitter: MattBowen41

Join me today at 3:30 EST here at the NFP for a live chat to discuss and answer your questions heading into NFC training camps.

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