The Myth of Ellis Johnson-DC at Auburn

[Marshal Dillon]

I am constantly amazed at the number of sports talkers & fans who constantly say Ellis Johnson is a "good" defensive coordinator. this myth has been perpetuated, mostly by Tide fans, from his time with Coach Mike DumBose 1997-2000. Well, let's look at the facts, they tell the real story.

From 1997-2000, the Tide D gave up an average of 22.3 points per game. Who really thinks those are good numbers? In the Big 12 or WAC, he would have been considered a defensive genius, but in the SEC & Alabama, it's crummy. We won the SEC in 1999, but gave up 20 points a game, and was 10-3 on the year.

From 2004-2007 he was at Mississippi State. Those teams surrendered 24.4 points a game, not exactly the numbers of a bone-jarring D.

From 2008-2011 he was at South Carolina.  Those teams gave up 20.8 points a game. His best year was 2011 when his super D gave up 18.3 points a game.

A good defense surrenders 15 points a game. A very good D allows 12-13 points a game, a great D 10 or less.

Johnson going to Auburn is good news for us.


 

[pmull]

I always thought Johson was a fair DC. The one good year Dubose had was due to the offense. In several games we had to out score the other team. I have no idea what Johnson had to work with at Miss State. The defense at USCe has improved since he left. I don't think he is a bad DC, he just is not a good one. To be successful in the SEC you have to have a good defense. Malzahn better be ready to score a lot of points.

The barn is trying to get Tracy Rocker back as the DL coach. If they get him that will be a good hire.

[Marshal Dillon]

This myth just will not go away. Bruce Feldman said on Finebaum today that Johnson was an "elite" DC. Does no one ever check their facts before making such statements?



 




 

[BAMAWV]

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Johnson's contract terms -- he's reportedly been hired at $800,000 per year -- have not been set yet.

Seems hiring a fired, 0-12 coach would get you a break on the price? 

[hscoach]

There are many factors that go into to this.  One, how much rest does the O give the D?  Two, is the head coach an offensive or defensive guy?  I promise if he is very offensive he recruits more of those players than he does defensive players.

[Marshal Dillon]

There are many factors that go into to this.  One, how much rest does the O give the D?  Two, is the head coach an offensive or defensive guy?  I promise if he is very offensive he recruits more of those players than he does defensive players.

Sorry, I do not buy this excuse. Everywhere he has been, the pattern is the same. DumBose & Croom were defensive guys.


 

[hscoach]

There are many factors that go into to this.  One, how much rest does the O give the D?  Two, is the head coach an offensive or defensive guy?  I promise if he is very offensive he recruits more of those players than he does defensive players.

Sorry, I do not buy this excuse. Everywhere he has been, the pattern is the same. DumBose & Croom were defensive guys.


 

Not excuses, facts.  If a head coach is more offensive, many times they recruit better offensive players and will take an offensive player over a defensive player and have the defensive coach make do. 

[Marshal Dillon]

There are many factors that go into to this.  One, how much rest does the O give the D?  Two, is the head coach an offensive or defensive guy?  I promise if he is very offensive he recruits more of those players than he does defensive players.

Sorry, I do not buy this excuse. Everywhere he has been, the pattern is the same. DumBose & Croom were defensive guys.


 

Not excuses, facts.  If a head coach is more offensive, many times they recruit better offensive players and will take an offensive player over a defensive player and have the defensive coach make do. 

As I said, the pattern involving Johnson stays the same no matter where he coaches, whether it's DumBose, Croom, or Spurrier. He's overrated and the stats bear that out.


 

[pmull]

There are many factors that go into to this.  One, how much rest does the O give the D?  Two, is the head coach an offensive or defensive guy?  I promise if he is very offensive he recruits more of those players than he does defensive players.

Sorry, I do not buy this excuse. Everywhere he has been, the pattern is the same. DumBose & Croom were defensive guys.


 

Not excuses, facts.  If a head coach is more offensive, many times they recruit better offensive players and will take an offensive player over a defensive player and have the defensive coach make do. 

As I said, the pattern involving Johnson stays the same no matter where he coaches, whether it's DumBose, Croom, or Spurrier. He's overrated and the stats bear that out.


 

I am not trying to break up a good fight but for what it is worth I think you are both right.

[Marshal Dillon]

Another myth got started on Finebaum about Johnson today. One of his employees were filling in for him & he stated that yeah Johnson was winless at Southern Miss, but there were reasons for it. In other words, it wasn't his fault he took a 12-2 team & went winless.


 

[McBaman]

Well for my 2-cents, whatever the reasons, Marsh has a point about the results.

I don't get why Gus rushed out and hired this guy, and paid pretty good $$$.  Did he not have other choices?? Maybe some connection we're missing.  Somehow, I don't think this speaks well for Gus...and that's good for us.

[Marshal Dillon]

There are many factors that go into to this.  One, how much rest does the O give the D?  Two, is the head coach an offensive or defensive guy?  I promise if he is very offensive he recruits more of those players than he does defensive players.

Sorry, I do not buy this excuse. Everywhere he has been, the pattern is the same. DumBose & Croom were defensive guys.


 

Not excuses, facts.  If a head coach is more offensive, many times they recruit better offensive players and will take an offensive player over a defensive player and have the defensive coach make do. 

As I said, the pattern involving Johnson stays the same no matter where he coaches, whether it's DumBose, Croom, or Spurrier. He's overrated and the stats bear that out.


 

I am not trying to break up a good fight but for what it is worth I think you are both right.

No fight, he is talking in general terms and I am talking about one specific coach. In general I have seen what he is saying, especially in the NFL. Ellis Johnson is still an average to fair (at most) DC.


 

[hscoach]

What I am stating is not all directed at EJ.  It applies to all coaches.  If you really want to evaluate EJ's work then you would look at how the D did before he got to a certain school.  Was the D better/worse the year before EJ/a coach got there.  Also you would look at things such as did they change the scheme.   

Before I state this let me say I love Bama's defensive staff.  For the sake of discussion, did they do a better job this year or last?   

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