Unpopular coaching opinion

As a Lions fan, I don't understand the hype surrounding Ben Johnson. The trick plays are fun and all, and no disrespect to the Commanders, but that's a game where you don't need it one bit.

The Lions were averaging nearly 12 yards per rush attempt at halftime and were losing 31-21. EVERYONE knew coming in the Lions were trotting out a defense that would probably get torched by the better college teams. There's just not many NFL caliber guys and no depth. I cannot understand why they felt getting into a track meet was a good idea - it was literally Washingtons only chance. 

The play I can't get over is the call to throw it on 3rd and 1. Lions likely could go up 14-3 and that's a completely different game imo. Instead they call a passing play and Goff gets hit & fumbles. Washington goes down and scores and the game completely changes. 

Cool play designer. Ability to manage an offense/call a game is questionable at best imo. The matchup on the ground could not have favored the Lions any heavier & they absolutely needed that to give their injury riddled D another week to maybe get some guys back. Yet the offensive game plan was.... whatever we just watched. 

IMO that guy can't be hired quickly enough by someone else. 

@HockeyNight11

Totally agree 

@HockeyNight11

 That 3rd and 1 play your referring to was a horrible call especially the way they were running the ball. 

He’s not the only OC that abandons the run when it’s working well. IMHO it’s because coaches don’t look like geniuses when running the rock. The RB gets the glory right? Look at Saquan and Henry, both dominated their conference and nobody is talking about their OC’s as potential HC candidates. I think Monken learned his lesson last year trying to throw it against KC. The past 6 weeks they have rushed more times than passed and eclipsed 200 yards in all but 1 of those games I think. 

100%.  I add the putrid defensive coordinator too.  This clown is a head coaching candidate?  The defense has been a shit show all year, no adjustments at all.  Lions have been an arrogant and somewhat disrespectful group all year  and just what the hell have they won? Yes, Nada.  

Lastly QB showed is true colors (see Sam Darnold)

My blood pressure just rose after you mentioned our Raiders lol. One step forward, 5 steps backwards. And to think Daniels wanted to play for us. We fukked up that chance as well. 

@sirrobinhood

 Your forgetting about all the key injuries they had the 2nd half of the season, no team could even come close to replacing the guys they lost. 

@sirrobinhood

Well that's not accurate. The defense was pretty solid when they weren't down the majority of their starters and several backups. Glenn was legit coaching a scab group that has no business starting an NFL playoff game outside of like 4 guys. Hard to blame him, which is why I'm saying the game plan offensively was absurd. It was the perfect matchup to control the clock and keep those guys off the field. Coaching malpractice imo. 

Not sure what you mean about the Lions being disrespectful all year. Outside of J-Mo there's not one show boat on that field haha

@NONEED4LUCK

 Thought that too. Prime time game and it looks like Ben Johnson is trying to show off for potential suiters. Now he looks like a guy who can't manage an offense let alone a full team. Keep it simple and the Lions probably win that game by 3 scores. Bet he'll be the Lions OC again next year... bummer.

Tough one 

Still have to give credit where credit is due. They scored 564 points this year.

One bad game with a couple questionable play calls happens. No one is perfect. Shit happens.

And don't give me the argument that "they wouldn't be that good if they didn't have the players on the roster". He was most likely a big part in scouting/drafting the players he has. For example, every expert gave them shit for drafting Jahmyr Gibbs. Some experts gave them a D draft grades that year. So he knows good talent, it's an important part of being a HC.

Is there another OC more qualified?

Dan Campbell make bone head decisions every single game.  He's Brandon Staley on roids.   Literally.  Their depth of talent often masks many of his stupid decisions but it will catch up with him as it did last night.  

Feel free to send him to me in NY ....Jets need a miracle at this point!!!

@scroggintx

 That's the funny part. It never even got to a point where DC had to make a decision that left you scratching your head last night. 

@undermysac

 He's a great play designer. Awesome offensive mind. Not taking that away. I'm saying the play selection was comical. Everyone on planet earth knows the Lions have 700 defensive players on IR. The matchup vs the Commanders was perfect because they can't stop the run. Could have held on to the ball for 40 minutes last night and instead the play calling led to what happened imo. The offensive game plan was one of the more laughable things I've seen in this franchises miserable history. 

@HockeyNight11

 You couldnt be more correct. Being an Eagles fan, I surely wanted the lions to lose. That was the play that changed everything. Gibbs was the best player on the field and got 14 carries. Absurd. Wash cannot stop the run. Haven't all year.

Both offense and defense weren’t up to standard last night. If Dan Quinn runs circles around you in the playoffs then you know you are in a bad place. 

@gcowboy

 Coaching malpractice man. Appalling that he only touched it 14 times. Even more comical that Monty got 7 touches - he could barely get up when he was getting tackled. Cleared to play but im sure we will hear about him having surgery on the knee in the next week. Good luck today! Rams are sneaky sneaky good imo but the snow should work in favor of the Eagles and the run game. 

@HockeyNight11

 I understand what your saying. He probably should of ran more. He could of done this or that, hindsight is always 20/20.

But by that token, is just this one game saying that he is not qualified for anything else?

You also said "he can't be hired by someone else quick enough"

Is that really what Lions fans want? Do you think that anyone can lead their offense to the most points again in 2025? Also with the hopes of a non fucked up game plan in a possible future playoff game?

BTW, I don't think that your statement is an unpopular opinion. 

Evidently everyone here has responded with agreement. 

@Polar_Bear

 With the history of the Raiders coaching and drafting, you'd probably want Ben Johnson. 

@undermysac

 Yes that is what this one Lions fan is saying haha. Just my opinion man but the matchup on the field couldn't have been any easier for the Lions given their defensive issues right now and it was just a brain dead plan. I'll take someone who puts up 400 points, goes 11-6 and understands its a playoff game where you just need to win and move on & plan around the biggest mismatch you might ever see in an NFL playoff game. There was no answer for Gibbs & the run.

The Jets, just like the Bears, thought the answer was firing coaches left n right because they thought that their qb was not the problem. 

What they were left with were the same shit qb's and now looking for an entire coaching staff with years of rebuilding ahead.

@HockeyNight11

 Ben Johnson is most likely leaving the Lions. He'll be a head coach.

But in the event that he doesn't want another job and stays with Detroit, do you really think that's a bad thing?

I would think he learns from this game, and Detroit moves on for the better next year. They are a very well knit group.