Sometimes it is really just common sense.
Lane Johnson didn’t bash Chip Kelly or talk bad about him, he simply stated the obvious to Philly.com.
“Maybe the ego got in the way,” Johnson said. “Too much power. Control. Not being human about things; not working together, with the team, instead of being a dictator.”
When asked if Chip created a culture of fear here is what he had to say.
“To be honest, yeah,” Johnson said. “We’d tell our position coaches, but I don’t know if it ever leaves that room . . . Maybe there was an intimidation factor . . . After Shady and all those guys were (subtracted), it opened up some eyes.”
This last part is very profound and makes so much sense, you wonder why it isn’t mentioned more often. Johnson was asked why he wasn’t a fan of Kelly’s up tempo offense.
Johnson called Kelly a “brilliant coach,” but even then qualified the statement. Asking grown men from the ages of 22 to 35 to perform over 17 weeks the same way growing men from 18 to 22 perform over 13 weeks is ridiculous, Johnson said, and he hoped Kelly would finally figure that out.
He’s right, it is much easier to do that in college with bigger rosters, younger players, less games and honestly less important games.
In college a powerhouse like Oregon plays maybe 4-5 games where they aren’t blowing out their opponent. In the NFL every opponent down to the worst team in the league is dangerous over 16 games.
Hopefully, Chip takes Johnson’s words to heart.