N/S Ben Johnson (2 Viewers)

[St. Widge]

It will be 2028 before we get over our Cap issues. That is a lot of seasons for a coach to be playing with other people's players, especially players that are always hurt and B level players at best. Ben Johnson or anyone like him won't come here.

It won't be that long. A few guys here already looked at it and it can be done in another two years. Most of the issues are over once Jordan, Davis, Hill, and Carr are off the books. That should be done in about 2 years.

Regardless there is always the option of kicking the can again at some point if its necessary and the solution to the depth and middle of the roster issues are in drafting better, not having more cap space. Cap space is to sign your own good player when they run out of contract. Trying to build a team is free agency doesn't really work. The best teams are built in the draft not by spending cap space in free agency so if a coach feels he needs all that cap space to build a team, then he's probably not going to be a good head coach anyway.

Very seldom does someone turn down an NFL head coach job. There are only 32 of them and only a few available each year. And they all pay huge money.

And again, every job that will be open has major issues. There will be a good candidate who will be willing to take the job. Maybe not Ben Johnson, but frankly, if he turns down all the jobs this year, maybe he just doesn't have the confidence needed to be a head coach. Not all great coordinators are cut out to be head coaches and maybe deep down inside Johnson knows he isn't.

What job do you think is really a much better situation than this one? Jacksonville? Hardly. The Jets? Certainly not. What great job do you think is going to come open?

People said the same thing about the OC job this offseason that no good candidate was going to want to come here and we would be stuck with Ronald Curry by default. And they said it for all the same reasons expressed in this thread. They wrong wrong about that and they will be wrong about this.

 

[St. Widge]

Why would any coach take a job that requires a "couple of years" to get the cap situated? Other teams are ready now.


Zero pro bowls amongst them all. Bresee in particular has been awful this year.



Sure. But the top tier candidates won't settle for them. Ben is a great example of this and stayed with the Lions.

1. Because the answer to our talent issues is the draft, not cap space and all good coaches know that's how you build a team. And frankly having cap space is more often than not a sign that your team lacks quality talent that you want to pay more than anything.

2. They are all young and have time to get better. Most young players in their 2nd year aren't in the pro-bowl. In addition, the pro-bowl is a bullshirt popularity contest so who care. And, Breese is not awful. He needs to be better against the run, but he is doing a good job getting sacks. Especially for a DT.

3. Ben Johnson is an anomaly. Most guys don't turn down NFL HC jobs and just because you don't get Ben Johnson does not mean that they can't get a good head coach.

4. What jobs do you think are so clearly better than this one?

 

[pierce2poydras]

1. Because the answer to our talent issues is the draft, not cap space and all good coaches know that's how you build a team. And frankly having cap space is more often than not a sign that your team lacks quality talent that you want to pay more than anything.

2. They are all young and have time to get better. Most young players in their 2nd year aren't in the pro-bowl. In addition, the pro-bowl is a bullshirt popularity contest so who care. And, Breese is not awful. He needs to be better against the run, but he is doing a good job getting sacks. Especially for a DT.

3. Ben Johnson is an anomaly. Most guys don't turn down NFL HC jobs and just because you don't get Ben Johnson does not mean that they can't get a good head coach.

4. What jobs do you think are so clearly better than this one?

I mean, to be honest, I think we’re likely to be the least attractive job of any open position. Our cap issues, lack of talent to build around, age, team health, etc.

AND now we’re likely looking at someone who won’t only have to come in and successfully coach from an X’s and O’s perspective, they very possibly may be trying to fix a culture that has been totally shattered where the players have been mentally beaten to a pulp, and many of them seem disgruntled. I’m aware that every coach has to instill a culture when they take over, but I would say our culture is at risk of becoming outright bad by the end of this season if it isn’t already. When commentators are making comments about playing like you want your coach fired, that can’t be a good sign no matter if he was right or wrong.

The one thing I’ll say we do have going for us is that it should be VERY clear by now that you’ll have one hell of a leash and likely don’t have to worry about getting axed after one or two subpar years, but that’s about the only positive I can think an outsider sees with us right now.

 

[solarbear88]

4. What jobs do you think are so clearly better than this one?

Jacksonville. Florida is a heck of a lot better place to live than the murder show that NOLA. While Lawrence hasn't looked good this year many coaches might find him a worthwhile project. You have a few other pieces here and there. You don't have to deal with Mickey who has no accountability. The Saints have nothing to offer.

 

[Mamba]

Put me in line for Mike Vrabel. I don’t want a play-caller. I want a Head Coach.

 

[2024InjuryApocalypse]

And the Chiefs just had a murder in the practice facility a few months before hiring Reid.
They were down bad during that time with no hope with only one playoff appearance since 06 before Reid was hired.

I also enjoy visiting KC as a city but it has one of the worst murder rates in the country, too.

 

[Saint Jack]

Saying that no one would want to take our HC job is insane. Yes, we don’t have the greatest of situations, but there are many HCs and assistants, that would love to take a position that doesn’t come along too often. Not every candidate will be “scared” as well. Most of these guys are confident in their abilities and they just want a chance.

I think there’s a misconception that jobs in the NFL are viewed as differently as West Virginia and Florida.
They’re not
Closest I I can think is Cleveland, but for the most part, if you succeed you can become a superstar coach from any market/franchise.
Payton did it in NOLA.
Dungy did it in Indy.
Reid did it in KC.

 

[SweetT]

I think there’s a misconception that jobs in the NFL are viewed as differently as West Virginia and Florida.
They’re not
Closest I I can think is Cleveland, but for the most part, if you succeed you can become a superstar coach from any market/franchise.
Payton did it in NOLA.
Dungy did it in Indy.
Reid did it in KC.

Exactly.

 

[No2DC]

Put me in line for Mike Vrabel. I don’t want a play-caller. I want a Head Coach.

Who's the OC?

 

[Saint KayBee]

Jacksonville. Florida is a heck of a lot better place to live than the murder show that NOLA.

Jacksonville was 7th in the USA in homicide rate in 2023, New Orleans didn’t make the top 10 and may have missed the top 20.

While Lawrence hasn't looked good this year many coaches might find him a worthwhile project. You have a few other pieces here and there. You don't have to deal with Mickey who has no accountability. The Saints have nothing to offer.

 

[Filaphill]

Jacksonville. Florida is a heck of a lot better place to live than the murder show that NOLA. While Lawrence hasn't looked good this year many coaches might find him a worthwhile project. You have a few other pieces here and there. You don't have to deal with Mickey who has no accountability. The Saints have nothing to offer.

Your 30 years late boomer Jacksonville surpass New Orleans in homicides.

 

[Mamba]

Who's the OC?

That would be Vrabel's choice.

 

[Saint Greg]

Put me in line for Mike Vrabel. I don’t want a play-caller. I want a Head Coach.

A mediocre head coach.

 

[Saint Greg]

Who's the OC?

Exactly why we need a head coach that we know is a great OC. Vrabel had Arthur Smith…so maybe look at that Steelers offense if you want to know what to expect. Then after Smith went to the Falcons he had Todd Downing for two years and Tim Kelly his last year. Not something I’m interested in.

 

[Cajun Chat]

I don't think Ben Johnson would come to the organization at this time. 3 years ago when we were in better shape would have been the time. The organization looks like it's lacking leadership and direction. The things we need to do won't be done.