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“They’re building a coaching staff that can be one of the best in the NFL,” ESPN’s Matt Bowen said about the group of coaches Ben Johnson has been assembling.
The only moves announced thus far are the three coordinator positions, but the reported assistants have a mix of experience and scheme that should make for a good sounding board for Johnson and the staff.
The lead voice for each phase will be Declan Doyle, Dennis Allen, and Richard Hightower.
Sure, Johnson is the offensive play caller, but offensive coordinator Doyle has a critical job in grinding film and prepping the game plan for Johnson while he’s taking care of big-picture stuff early in the week. Doyle also watched as Joe Lombardi in Denver and Pete Carmichael in New Orleans provided support as offensive coordinators for head coach and play caller Sean Payton.
Defensive coordinator Allen brings a more aggressive scheme with a track record of success. Whereas the previous Chicago defense needed playmakers to be effective, Allen’s defense isn’t afraid to blitz or stunt to make an offense uncomfortable.
Special teams coordinator Hightower is one of the few returning coaches, and considering his group played hard all season long, his return was warranted. The numbers back that up, as his units finished with a sixth overall ranking per this five-category breakdown and was fifth in DVOA.
What is your letter grade for the three coordination hires?
Allen is an obvious A, and based on familiarity and past success, Hightower is also an A.
Declan is the big unknown, but considering Sean Payton hired him twice, and he’s stepping into a role he watched Lombardi and Carmichael do for the last six years, I have to give him the benefit of the doubt with a B.
“This is an outstanding coaching staff,” Bowen said.
So, collectively, I’m giving the coordinators an A.