Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson is widely considered the best head coaching candidate during this NFL hiring cycle.
And beyond the Lions’ clear-as-day offensive dominance, now and then, we get to see something more nuanced about why teams like the Chicago Bears and Tom Brady (cough, cough) are so interested in the genius coach’s services.
For one, Johnson has managed to make trick plays with Lions offensive linemen catching passes so threatening that the opposing defense is forced to respect them as real threats. On Saturday night, right before an electric one-handed Sam LaPorta touchdown, the Washington Commanders simply had to take extra offensive lineman Dan Skipper seriously as a receiver.
So much so that linebackers Bobby Wagner and Frankie Luvu double-covered Skipper, giving LaPorta and Jared Goff a clean receiving/throwing lane. Just watch No. 54 and No. 4 run with the Lions’ No. 70 below.
It’s too funny:
https://twitter.com/Lions/status/1880800206163177797
If you wanted more obvious evidence about Johnson’s coaching credentials, you won’t come across a better play than this. Whichever team gets Johnson as its head coach soon will be very lucky.
