If you were to rank offensive coordinators in the NFL, Ben Johnson would rank highly based on what the Detroit Lions' offense has done over the last two-plus seasons with him calling plays. Not to mention the key role he has played in the resurgence of Jared Goff.
For Lions' fans, defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn has been a far easier subject of ire. But he has largely done the best he can without a lot of high-end talent, and he's seen as a future head coach practically right alongside Johnson.
The Lions entered Week 5 with a top-10 scoring (20.5 points per game allowed) and third down (31.7 opponent conversion rate) defense in the league. As the offense has shaken off rust, worked out kinks, however you'd like to describe it, the Lions' defense has been pretty good over the first four weeks of the season.
Though things can certainly turn, good or bad, four weeks is just large enough a sample that some meaningful context can be taken.
Ben Johnson, Aaron Glenn get lofty spots in play caller rankings
Using personnel and market efficience with team talent constraints, NFL analyst/economist Steven Patton ranked NFL play callers on each side of the ball through Week 4. His methodology for quantifying the value of a play caller can be seen here.
Together, Johnson and Glenn come in second among play caller duos in Patton's ranking through the first four weeks this season. Among offensive play callers, surely bolstered by the Lions scoring 42 points on what had been a very good Seahawks' defense in Week 4, comes in at No. 5. Among defensive play callers, Glenn comes in at No. 3.
As Patton noted, two other NFC North teams (Minnesota Vikings and Green Bay Packers) have top-five play caller duos in these rankings with both individuals in the top-10 on their side of the ball.
The New Orleans Saints are close, with the No. 1 offensive play caller (Klint Kubiak) and the No. 6 defensive play caller (Dennis Allen), but the Lions are the only team with both of their play callers top-five in the rankings on their respective side of the ball.
