Ellis Johnson
Former USC defensive coordinator Ellis Johnson joined us on SportsTalk Thursday, his first interview with local media since being fired as the head coach at Southern Miss and getting the job as Auburn’s new defensive coordinator. Johnson had plenty of interesting things to say and the entire interview is worth a listen. His comments about USC defensive end Jadeveon Clowney come near the end of the interview. Just in case you are crunched on time, here are the highlights of Johnson’s comments (full audio below the notes):
- Johnson said it was his hope that Lorenzo Ward would get the job to replace him at USC and that he recommended it to Spurrier.
- He said it was crucial for Ward to keep guys like Brad Lawing on the staff and that he has done an excellent job with the defense and running the unit.
- Johnson said Jadeveon Clowney is the most dominant player he watched in high school since William Perry. He said Clowney probably could have played on third downs in the NFL as a high school senior.
- Johnson said he expects USC to get its 11th win against Michigan next week.
- Johnson said he will recruit South Carolina, but Auburn’s main base will reamain in Alabama and Georgia.
- Ellis Johnson notes Auburn has had more undefeated seasons in the past decade than every other SEC team.
- Johnson called Gus Malzahn the hottest offensive coach in football. He’s excited to work with him.
- Johnson said he was very happy in Columbia, but looked at USM as a spot to finish his career with a six to ten year tenure.
- Johnson said he refused to fire some of the guys they demanded him to fire, thus ending his tenure at USM.
- Ellis Johnson said it was “musical chairs” in terms of the leadership at USM. “Best to leave that right there” he added.
AUDIO: Ellis Johnson on SportsTalk [13:00]
Ellis Johnson should be sued for fraud. He states that the administration wouldn’t go along with changes he wanted to make or the system he wanted to implement. He stated in the news conference announcing his hire that he would keep the existing system that went 12 – 2 the year before. His quote was he might tweak it a little. Then he hires coaches that had terrible coaching records, and even a high school coach. He brings in a strength coach that had been selling real estate (forgoing the administration’s recommendation that he keep the strength coach that helped motivate the prior team’s winning record). While he blamed the inexperience of the players, ( he inherited 16 returning starters), the coach that replaces him at USM had the 5th best offense in the country with 3 new quarterbacks. Injuries? He was calling running plays out of the shot gun on 3rd and short or 4th and short, sending a freshman qb straight into defensive line creating injuries. He wouldn’t even use the best short yardage running back on the team. He refused to accept any injuries related to the strength coach, but maybe he should look up the road to Ala and Nick Saban’s philosophy on strength coaches. He messed up a senior offensive line so badly, the qb’s were scrambling for their lives and did get hurt. the prior system that won 12 games, and was the system these players were recruited to play in, had the quarterback releasing the ball in 2 – 3 seconds. Johnson and Buckley’s system that rubbed everyone the wrong way had the qb’s confused and the rest of the offense. The worst thing, imbetween series when the defense or offense was on the bench, there were no coaches there making adjustments or even encouraging, the players sat by themselves on the bench. It was a shame to see someone come in and change a winning system and now blame the possible revolving door of administration? that’s the kind of excuses he offered when his whole system was a joke. he should stick to defense. he refuses to take the blame for ruining a winning program, and has the audacity to take his $700,000 a year buy out and add to his $800,000 from auburn to be one of the highest paid coaches in the country the next 3 years. pathetic, but he and his agent can laugh all the way to the bank.