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31 May 2009

Former Cowboys DC to Join Eagles

Cats and Dogs! Well, sort of. The Eagles are expected to hire former Cowboys defensive coordinator Brian Stewart to add experience to the defensive coaching staff as Jim Johnson gets cancer treatment. Current secondary coach Sean McDermott is subbing for Johnson, and Stewart might replace McDermott there. Stewart was stripped of play-calling duties halfway through the 2008 season, for good reason and with decisive results - Dallas' Defensive DVOA went from 26th to fourth in the second half of the season after Wade Phillips took over the calls. Stewart and Andy Reid go back to their days at Northern Arizona in the 1980s.

Posted by: Doug Farrar on 31 May 2009

9 comments, Last at 01 Jun 2009, 12:49pm by Jimmy

Comments

1
by Danish Denver-Fan :: Sun, 05/31/2009 - 3:52pm

McDermott. Thats it - i gotta go watch Rounders again...

2
by DavidL :: Sun, 05/31/2009 - 6:56pm

They're making themselves worse and the Cowboys better? Well that's all kinds of depressing.

3
by Kevin :: Sun, 05/31/2009 - 8:49pm

Well since he's the former DC I doubt they're making the Cowboys better

4
by Xeynon (not verified) :: Sun, 05/31/2009 - 9:11pm

Well since he's the former DC I doubt they're making the Cowboys better

It's also pretty dubious to assert that they're making themselves worse. Even setting aside the advantages to be gleaned from having inside knowledge of one of your primary opponent's schemes, it's quite possible that Stewart is highly competent as a position coach (the role for which he's being hired), even if he's a poor coordinator. The roles really do not have that much in common.

7
by pouringlizards (not verified) :: Mon, 06/01/2009 - 7:26am

I said something similar on the Eagles' boards. It's not that surprising that someone who took a step up that they maybe shouldn't have, would be good again having gone back to the position that they excelled at. After all, he wouldn't have got the Co-ordinator job if he hadn't been a good position coach.

It reminds me of the way that Mornhinweg got picked up by the Eagles after flaming out as Lions HC. He's been put in a position to succeed.

And if I can second the thoughts about Jim Johnson below; he's been a big part of the Eagles' success over the last decade, seems to be genuinely loved by his players, and comes across as a really nice guy whenever he talks to the media. I wish him and his family nothing but the best.

5
by Jimmy :: Sun, 05/31/2009 - 9:23pm

I don't know if this is the place to post this but I really hope that Jim Johnson pulls through his battle with melanoma and its complications. Watching him school the league's lesser defensive coordinators on how to defend a pass happy attack like he did against the Patriots juggernaught in '06 was fantastic. I know they lost the game but staying in it until the last Eagles drive was a brilliant spectacle when juxtaposed against most other DC's soft deep zones aproach. If he has to leave the game I will severely miss his presence. It would be a loss to all true fans of the game.

6
by Karma Coma :: Mon, 06/01/2009 - 5:39am

"...how to defend a pass happy attack like he did against the Patriots juggernaught in '06 was fantastic."

2007. It was a competitive game, but i'm not sure how giving up 380 passing yards is schooling anybody on the subject of pass defense. What kept them in that game was not Jim Johnson's exotic schemes, it was AJ Feely and his receivers playing out of their minds between Asante Samuel's two interceptions.

That being said, i have tremendous respect for Jim Johnson and his body of work, and i echo your sentiments regarding his melanoma. I hope for a return to full health. This would be a lesser league without him.

9
by Jimmy :: Mon, 06/01/2009 - 12:49pm

The Pats might have had 370 yards in the air but it was a breath of fresh air as fat as I was concerned to finally see a team challenging Moss of the line and pressuring Brady instead of playing safeties over the top in super soft zones like Fewell tried for Buffalo and Williams tried for the Skins. At least with Johnson's approach there was a question over whether or not the Pats were just going to score every time. Having spent the first half dozen or so games of the year screaming at the TV that you simply cannot let Moss release cleanly downfield it was good to see someone finally make him work to get deep.

8
by Temo :: Mon, 06/01/2009 - 11:50am

Meh, I didn't think he did a great job in that game. I thought the Ravens and the wind in the meadowlands were greater hindrances to that offense than the Eagles' D.

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