When Craig Johnson interviewed for the position of Giants running backs coach, he impressed head coach Tom Coughlin by stressing two particular areas.
“He really did an outstanding job with protections. And he talked long and hard about ball security,’’ Coughlin said. “Pass protection and ball security are both very important to me.”
Hence, Johnson — despite far more NFL experience working with quarterbacks — was hired on Wednesday as Giants running backs coach, replacing longtime Coughlin assistant and loyalist Jerald Ingram.
Ingram and tight ends coach Mike Pope were fired after the 7-9 season as part of the sweeping changes to fix what co-owner John Mara called a “broken’’ offense. Offensive coordinator Kevin Gilbride retired before he was to be dismissed, replaced by Ben McAdoo, the former Packers quarterbacks coach.
Johnson is entering his 32nd year in coaching, 15-plus in the NFL, most recently with the Vikings. Prior to working for the Vikings, Johnson was the quarterbacks coach for 10 years with the Titans, where in 2010 he was also assistant head coach and running backs coach. Now Johnson shifts over with the Giants to coach running backs, a position at which he worked at various college stops, most recently Maryland and Northwestern.
“It’s a challenge, because it’s a different spot,” Johnson said. “I broke into coaching as a running backs coach. I feel confident that I’ll be up to the task and I’ll take them where they want to go.’’
Coughlin has yet to fill the staff vacancy at tight ends coach. Pope was hired on Wednesday by NFC East rival Cowboys to work with their tight ends. With the Giants the past decade, Pope was given second- and third-level players to develop; in Dallas, he gets a steep upgrade in Jason Witten. His hiring was expected, as Cowboys head coach Jason Garrett was a Giants backup quarterback from 2000 to 2003 and got to know Pope quite well.
“Mike Pope has been one of the great coaches in this league for a long time,” Garrett said. “I had the good fortune of being around him for four years and his influence on me has been significant. He is an outstanding person and a welcome addition to our staff.’’
The Cowboys can’t find their way to the playoffs, much less advance through the postseason and secure another Lombardi Trophy. They did manage to add some championship experience, though, as Pope is the only member of the Giants organization to have his name inscribed on four Lombardi Trophies. He was an assistant of all four of the franchise’s Super Bowl-winning teams.