So what about the defense?

There's no question that Navy's defense THIS season has been very poor. Unlike Bill Callahan and his good friend Kevin Cosgrove at Nebraska, Johnson doesn't say things like "we just have to work harder." He has been openly critical of the problems surrounding his defense since last spring. There are several things to consider though when evaluating the Midshipmen defense for this season and what the future would be for the Blackshirts under a Paul Johnson-led staff.

-Navy simply doesn't have the players or personnel year in and out but a combination of injuries and inexperience has left them extremely vulnerable this season.

-The 2o07 defense was a major concern coming into the year, as they are young and inexperienced.

-They've been decimated with injuries and have lost arguably their two best players. From the Baltimore Sun:

And nothing has changed since the season began - except that the defense has gotten younger because of injuries to safety Jeff Deliz, the defensive team captain, and linebacker Clint Sovie, who along with cornerback Rashawn King was Navy's most experienced starter.

-The Navy defenses under Johnson have never been short on effort, aggressiveness and hard hits. From the Johnson Bio:

The Mids also improved by leaps and bounds on defense. In 2004, the Mids finished 44th in total defense and 26th in scoring defense.

Not to be overlooked is the defense, which made a dramatic improvement thanks to improved speed and the switch to a 3-4 defense. The Mids' most significant improvement came against the pass, as Navy ranked 14th in the country (180.23 yards per game) after ranking 61st in 2002. The defense also made major improvements in pass efficiency defense (from 116th to 42nd), total defense (100th to 42nd) and scoring defense (108th to 34th).

Although lost at times in the glitz and glamour of Johnson's explosive offensive unit, Georgia Southern also had an excellent defense. The 2001 Georgia Southern defense ranked as one of the best at the school as it ranked in the top 10 nationally in scoring defense (fourth), total defense (sixth) and pass defense (second). The defense allowed a school-record 12 points per game.

-Another note is that PJ actually comes from a defensive background. He was first hired by the legendary Erk Russell at Georgia Southern to coach the DL.

I am not familar with Johnson's connections to top defensive coordinators in the country but I have a feeling he wouldn't bring along his current DC, Buddy Green. I believe a national search would take place to find the best possible defensive coordinator, whether that is someone with ties to PJ or not. Let me throw out some names to stir the pot:

-Dan McCarney, DL coach South Florida. If McCarney doesn't end up as the head coach of say, Colorado State, he would be an ideal candidate. His knowledge of the Big 12 and fiery demeanor are exactly what we need right now. Pairing him with a Paul Johnson offense could be a lethal combination.

-Sean McDermott, LB coach Philadelphia Eagles. McDermott was rumored to be a candidate to replace Kevin Cosgrove last season. He's an Omaha native and is on the fast track in the coaching world. If Andy Reid from Philadelphia steps down, McDermott will have no problem finding work. A DC job at a tradition-rich school like Nebraska could really give him the opportunity to shine.

-Marvin Sanders, former NU DB and secondary coach under Bo Pelini. Sanders makes the most sense because of his ties to Nebraska. He was well liked and respected during his short stint back at Nebraska several years ago. He'd likely be the fan favorite.