We all agree Mike McDaniel has done a pretty good job in Miami, right? If Ben Johnson is the next McDaniel, sign me up for a year or two of growing pains.
McDaniel has looked good but how much of his success is due to having an arsenal of offensive talent?
the success rate for top coordinators becoming good coaches is extremely low. Even if McDaniel continues to succeed and can actually coach Miami to a title, he’d be an exception (like McVey was)
if Ben Johnson + good defensive coordinator + good GM + arsenal of weapons and franchise QB can be found, that sounds like a shot worth taking
but the list of failed coordinators is a mile long. How is Ben Johnson any different than say Charlie Weis, Josh McDaniels, Bill O’Brien? Or going outside of New England, how is Johnson different than Norv Turner, Ben McAdoo, Marty Mornhigweg, Nathaniel Hackett, Scott Linehan, Brad Childress and a host of others.
I think when it comes to OC becoming coaches, they really only thrive as head coaches if they either inherit a talent laden team which needs an offensive spark or get given elite offensive talent. Sirriani and Shanahan look great when they have premium talent to work with. That’s why they got head coaching gigs in the first place. I’m not sure if either of those guys (or McDaniel) would succeed in a talent starved situation. I think Pats fans know better than anyone other than Falcons fans that Shanahan’s actual in game coaching strategy can be questionable given the focus of big plays his offense relies upon.
If the Pats go for an unknown like Johnson, they need to absolutely nail the GM, QB and defensive coordinator spot (which I doubt would be Mayo or Steve B) because the only thing Johnson has proven is that he can run a good offense with a top 5 OL, an elite WR, dynamic RB and good QB. And even then, Lions fans seem to have issues with his playcalling at times. It’s a lot of moving pieces Kraft will have to find to set up a Johnson type for success.
Josh McDaniels looked great with Brady (and I think he’s a very good offensive mind). His in game decision making as HC when he didn’t have premium talent is…questionable at best. Kevin O’Connell is a bright offensive mind but he hasn’t exactly been able to keep Minnesota’s offense afloat without Cousins.