I talked about rookies like Jeremy Maclin, LeSean McCoy, and Macho Harris growing into their roles, they have but I think defensive coordinator Sean McDermott has also done a tremendous job of growing into his job.
He took over from his mentor Jim Johnson who died of cancer just prior to the start of training camp. Jim took McDermott under his wing and taught him everything he knew.
You can see that McDermott did a good job of listening and observing everything Johson was showing and telling him.
Think about all the players who have been used on the defensive side of the ball this season.
He has shuffled personnel on the defensive line. Jason Babin won himself a job in the preseason and McDermott has found a role for him.
Big defensive tackle Antonio Dixon has made some great plays in his role. Do you remember the key field goal block he had against the Bears?
Think about all of the linebackers they’ve used this year. They traded for Will Witherspoon and McDermott has done a great job of utilizing his strength.
Witherspoon is one of the better athletes playing the linebacker position in the league and he’s very bright. McDermott has moved him back and forth from outside linebacker to middle linebacker and back.
Speedy Tracy White was picked up and has done a tremendous job. You’ve got to give McDermott a lot of credit for that.
Rookie Moise Fokou started a game or two and McDermott has him on a path to be a quality starter.
He’s done the same thing in the secondary. McDermott found a way to use Dmitri Patterson in place of Joselio Hanson.
