When he talked to reporters last Thursday, Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson had to address questions about his head coaching future for the first time this season (with a Chicago-based reporter in attendance at Allen Park, apparently). He was more open than he's ever been about that, confirming (obviously) that he wants to be a head coach one day and saying he feels more prepared for the process now.
"I'd say I'm much more prepared than I was the last two years", Johnson said....."Now that I've been through the ringer a couple times, had some interviews, I certainly do feel more prepared, just from a big-picture standpoint."
There has been plenty of reporting and general buzz attaching Johnson to the Chicago Bears' head coaching job, including (not coincidentally) reports before and after last Sunday's game that he is "intrigued" by the job and is expected to interview for it when the time comes.
Ben Johnson is better prepared for the interview process this time around
John Maakaron of SI.com has passed along some insight he got about a specific area where Johnson is more prepared as he entertains head coaching opportunities again.
"Speaking to those with familiarity of the situation, Johnson is much more prepared to discuss how he could potentially fill out a coaching staff than he was last year."
The easy tentacles of Johnson being more prepared to discuss how he'd fill out a coaching staff is how that might look in terms of coaches he'd want to take with him if he took a head coaching job, and who who would replace him as the Lions' offensive coordinator.
Maakaron gathered some insight there too.
"Lions passing game coordinator Tanner Engstrand could potentially depart with Johnson to become his offensive coordinator. The options at defensive coordinator are more expansive, as the creative play-caller could also wait until talented defensive coaches he is more familiar with are dismissed from other NFL teams."
