Trench Warfare Podcast with special guest Commanders O-Line coach Bobby Johnson

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Commanders OL coach Bobby Johnson has spent the last 15 years coaching the tight end and offensive line positions in the NFL. He is coming off of a stellar season in Washington where he, along with head coach Dan Quinn and offensive coordinator Kliff Kingsbury, joined forces as recently fired coaches who had never worked together to assemble a stunningly impressive 2024 campaign. The Commanders posted a 12-5 record and appeared in the NFC Championship against the eventual Super Bowl champion Eagles.

Overview - Topics covered

The legacy of NFL coaches from Ohio

The value of being able to coach the defensive line early in his coaching career at Akron

Understanding fronts, coverages, rotations and how to think like a defensive lineman

How coaching tight ends at the collegiate and pro level furthered an understanding of coverages as it relates to blocking schemes

Unpacking the unique skill-sets of Marcedes Lewis and Lee Smith

What “tough and smart” means in a practical sense and why it is vital for the offensive line

Some epic examples of these traits from Lee Smith, Dominic Raiola, Jon Feliciana and Matt Slauson

Unpacking “Making it easy for us and difficult for them” as a coaching philosophy

Evolving as a coach and the constant pursuit of improvement

Leadership 101: Accentuating the strengths of your players and minimizing the weaknesses

Specific examples of how coach Johnson has done that during his career

Diving into coach Johnson’s affinity and proximity to players with legendary toughness and their value to the room

Coach Johnson’s strategy for communication to the players in Washington that helped lead to them developing cohesion and chemistry throughout the season

Drawing on prior experiences and relationships to coach each playe