Winning in the NFL requires many things. Talent on the roster is the obvious place to start. Leadership at the top is another. However, the age-old truth teams can’t escape is it often requires a head coach who isn’t afraid to hold players to the highest of standards. Mike Ditka and Lovie Smith couldn’t be more different from a personality standpoint. However, they did have one thing in common. They held guys accountable. Either they did their jobs or they didn’t play. It was that simple. Declan Doyle already worked with somebody like that in Denver with Sean Payton. It appears he has encountered the same with Ben Johnson.
He spoke to the media on Thursday about how things have unfolded in the locker room. The team is far from cementing the type of offense they want to put together. However, Johnson has made one thing clear. He is the boss. Players are finding out he has a serious edge to him. The fake accountability of Matt Eberflus is long gone. Johnson is making it clear to everybody that there will be no cutting corners under his watch. Everybody is expected to be on top of the details every single day.
Declan Doyle knows what his role must be.
His experience with Payton in Denver is incredibly valuable for two reasons. He already knows how to deal with a fiery, intense, and demanding personality like Johnson. He also knows how to navigate the duties of an offensive coordinator who isn’t the primary play caller. It’s about organization and following the head coach’s lead in holding players to that high standard. No compromises. If guys aren’t willing to work hard or sacrifice for the good of the team, they probably don’t have a future on it. That is what Johnson is here to find out. He trusts Declan Doyle to convey the right message at all times. If things play out as they should, this team should be a lot more disciplined and aggressive than they were last season.
