Jarret Johnson high on Redskins defensive coordinator Joe BarryJanuary, 21, 2015JAN 21
2:15
PM ET
By
John Keim | ESPN.com
The move energized
Jarret Johnson's career in a way he didn't anticipate. After nine years in the NFL, playing for a perennially-strong defense in Baltimore, Johnson was ingrained in his ways and his thoughts.
He said that changed in San Diego, playing for linebackers coach Joe Barry.
"I thought I was an educated guy and my three years with him, it was like going back to being a rookie again," Johnson said by phone. "I learned a whole different side of football and techniques and ways to play the game. It really gave me a boost in my career and another jolt of energy because he's so intense. ...It was fun to me."
The
Washington Redskins hired Barry as their new defensive coordinator Tuesday, replacing the fired Jim Haslett. Barry comes with a good reputation as a linebackers coach, but also with a blot on his resume: defenses that ranked 32nd in both total yards and points in each of his two seasons as Detroit's defensive coordinator in 2007-08. The latter season resulted in an 0-16 mark, though one coach in Detroit from that time called Barry a good coach and refused to blame him for the failures. Still, that mark leaves Redskins fans wondering if this was a wise move.
Those in San Diego believe it will be a good one for Washington.
"This is a great opportunity for a bright, young, energetic football coach. Joe is extremely detailed and organized," San Diego defensive coordinator
John Pagano said at the Senior Bowl."He's demanding on his players, pushing them to excel to their fullest capabilities. The players will love playing for Joe."
Barry has experience in the Tampa-2, 4-3 scheme and the 3-4. Johnson said that led to him using multiple fronts and schemes and blitz patterns.
"He has a ton of energy," said Johnson, who played the past three years in San Diego. "He's a hard-working guy, a late-night guy. He's going to work his ### off. He'll do everything in his power to make sure the players are as prepared as can be. A lot of coaches are super intense and all about football but sometimes that doesn't correlate and they don't get along with players. The best thing is, [barry] has a good balance of interaction with players. He's everyone's favorite coach as well as being one of the most intense on the staff."
Johnson called Barry one of his best friends in the building, saying that he balances having a demanding personality yet also being approachable.
"I've had a lot of coaches that were super intense and demanding and you didn't get along with him because they were do demanding all they wanted to talk about was football," Johnson said.
From an X's and O's perspective, Johnson said Barry's experience coaching at Southern California in 2010 also helped when game planning to stop zone-read teams (that didn't help as much vs. Washington in 2013: The Redskins had 13 zone-read carries for 94 yards in a 30-24 win. The Chargers allowed 5.71 yards per carry vs. this look in 2013 and 3.87 this past season, according to ESPN Stats & Information).
Johnson said not to judge Barry just by his Detroit days.
"I don't know a lot about that situation," Johnson said. "You can't blame it on one guy. I do know he learned a lot that year.
"I know it's an 0-16 season that people will look at. If they judge off that they'll be sorely mistaken. He's way better than that year. He'll bust his ### and do a great job. You're not getting some sly dude who will take the job and lay down and be happy. He's never satisfied."
