Rivera: McDermott needed out of Johnson's shadow

Thursday, February 24, 2011
Posted: 1 p.m.

By Reuben Frank
CSNPhilly.com
INDIANAPOLIS -- Ron Rivera studied the film and watched the defensive product the Eagles put on the field last year, and when it was time to hire a defensive coordinator, he didnt hesitate to hire Sean McDermott.

Maybe it was surprising to some that Rivera hired Sean McDermott less than two days after McDermott was fired by the Eagles. Rivera, who had just been named head coach of the Panthers, hired McDermott less than 48 hours after Eagles head coach Andy Reid fired him.

Rivera spoke Thursday for the first time about his decision to hire the 36-year-old McDermott and said he believes escaping Jim Johnsons long shadow was a necessary and important move.

We knew this was an opportunity to get Sean out of the shadow of Jim, which was a very difficult situation, Rivera said Thursday morning at the NFL Scouting Combine at Lucas Oil Stadium.

Rivera and McDermott worked together with the Eagles from 1999 through 2003, when Rivera left to become defensive coordinator of the Bears. Seven years later, McDermott was the first guy Rivera thought of when he needed a defensive coordinator of his own.

Seans somebody I worked with for five seasons and got to know very well, and we very much share the same philosophy in terms of being aggressive and attacking style of defense and it comes from being around Jim Johnson, Rivera said. I knew we shared the same philosophy, and thats one of the reasons I wanted to bring him in when I saw that he was available.

When Johnson took a leave of absence to fight cancer during the offseason after the 2008 season, McDermott became the interim defensive coordinator, and after Johnsons tragic death during training camp, McDermott took over.

I thought he handled that very well and really showed his maturity, Rivera said.

The Eagles reached the playoffs the last two years and ranked in the upper half of the NFL in defense, but the young units struggles last year -- pass coverage, red zone -- were clear to everybody.

Asked why he thinks Reid fired McDermott, Rivera answers quickly.

The expectations, he said.

But he knows what he saw on the tape.

Its not like they didnt play well last year, he said. They got to the playoffs, they did some really good things on defense. I watched some of the tape to familiarize myself with some of the opponents, and they played Indy and I thought he did a great job with the game plan, and we copied a bit of what he did.

So it was exciting to get an opportunity to work with somebody that I knew and somebody who I shared the same philosophy with, so when we were putting together a staff I thought Sean really represented that very well.

McDermott and Ravens head coach John Harbaugh both predated Reid with the Eagles, and the two worked together on Reids staff for eight years. In fact, McDermott took over for Harbaugh as defensive backs coach when the Ravens made Harbaugh their head coach before the 2008 season.

Harbaugh said he has no doubt McDermott will benefit from moving on that shadow of Jim Johnson.

Seans a great coach and he handled it with class, like you would expect, and I thought he put together a heck of a defense, Harbaugh said Thursday morning. But ... probably Sean will flourish with a chance to get out on your own a little bit, and anytime in coaching you get out on your own and get some new experiences, its going to be a positive thing.

One problem McDermott encountered during the past two years was a lack of respect from some veterans who were only a year or two younger than he was.

It was natural for them to question McDermott, who never played in the NFL and was trying to replace this legendary coaching figure.

Rivera, who played nine year for the Bears and won a Super Bowl ring on the 1985 team, said playing experience has its benefits but doesnt guarantee anything.

A lot of great coaches didnt play in the league and had success, Rivera said. Bill Belichick, look at the success hes had. Look at Andy Reid and the success hes had. So its not like you have to have played.

The only thing that playing in the league gives you is a different perspective from which to approach things. It may give you credibility in certain situations or circumstances, but it doesnt mean youre a better coach than anybody.

E-mail Reuben Frank at rfrank@comcastsportsnet.com

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