We hear the Eagles players and coaches have known about defensive coordinator Jim Johnson planning to take time off for some time and that the transition to Sean McDermott, his replacement for now, has been under way for some time. McDermott started his work as an understudy to Johnson as much as two years ago, with the idea that he one day would replace Johnson. Andy Reid used a similar strategy with Brad Childress, who coached the quarterbacks for three years before replacing Rod Dowhower as offensive coordinator after Dowhower retired. Source: Pro Football Weekly
Johnson will be as involved as the treatments will let him & the Eagles will welcome him as much as possible
I don't see much of a dropoff if JJ ends up not being able to coordinate this year. If anything, the Eagles always seem to be prepared fairly early for obstacles they know could/will eventually happen (Hiring Mornhinweg before Childress left). If anything, they did it because of JJ's age. But it's a shame the conciquenses they have to do it for now.
