The Philadelphia eagles named Sean McDermott to replace Jim Johnson as the team’s defensive coordinator. Johnson took a leave of absence in May to continue cancer treatment and it is uncertain whether he will ever be able to return to the team. “First and foremost, our thoughts and prayers are with Jim Johnson and his family as they battle through this difficult time in his cancer treatments,” Eagles coach Andy Reid said, “I have been in constant communication with Jim and his wife throughout this offseason and they are thankful for all the support they have received from the Eagles organization, the fans and the entire NFL community.” The Eagles are one of the favorites in football betting odds at the sports book in 2009.McDermott was the secondary coach last season as football betting info shows and ran the defense in Johnson’s absence. “We have full confidence he can continue to lead this defense in his new role,” Reid said. “He showed great command and presence in the offseason camps and has had an opportunity to learn from the best in the business. He’s very smart, works very hard, and has a good rapport with the players and the assistant coaches. He’s ready for this and I’m confident he’ll do a great job.”
It will be next to impossible to replace Johnson though. He was considered the top coordinator in the league as football odds information shows with a defense that continually attacked. Johnson’s defenses are a big reason the Eagles have contended in football betting for the last decade. Last year, the Eagles finished third in total defense as football betting stats indicate and fourth in points allowed. Philadelphia has made the NFC Championship game in five of the last ten years as football betting stats indicate.
McDermott has said that he is not going to change much this season. “There is one thing I know, and that is that this system, it works,” McDermott said “Jim has spent a considerable amount of time in his coaching career researching and finding things that work and finding things that didn’t work, quite frankly, and I’m going to respect that and we’re going to build on that. From there we’ll add wrinkles.” It will be interesting to watch the Eagles this season from a football odds perspective at the sportsbook to see if their defense changes. McDermott understands the pressure he faces. “I’m sure that there are people out there that see the [lack of] experience factor, and I’ll acknowledge that, especially with the shoes that I’m looking to fill, being Jim’s,”