On the Eagles' new defensive chief...

This is my first Eagles post here, and it's about news that is all at once sad, strange and worrisome. The Eagles announced today that Sean McDermott has been named the new defensive coordinator. The move is understandable, as longtime coordinator Jim Johnson has been battling cancer since January after a tumor was discovered on his back.

What's odd is the way they announced it. They didn't say Johnson's decided to retire, although that seems likely. For a while he was continuing to work even while undergoing treatment; he even was at a minicamp in early May, using a cart to get around. Shortly after that it was announced that Johnson was taking a leave of absence. Is there some reason Johnson couldn't stay on that leave and maintain his title, with McDermott continuing to act as coordinator on an interim basis? I can't help but wonder, absent any specific statement from the team, whose decision this was. It would seem pretty classless to make this move if Johnson didn't consent to it. Then again, the Eagles occasionally have difficulty with public relations issues. I guess we'll see what happens when McDermott and head coach Andy Reid address the media.

The worrisome part of this, and considering Johnson's health status it's really a minor issue, is how this will affect the defense. Johnson's defensive playcalling -- keeping opposing quarterbacks off-balance with a dizzying array of blitzes -- has been as much a key to the team's success as the system itself. Now someone who's never been a coordinator is in charge. Is McDermott up to the challenge?