Although the Philadelphia Eagles are currently in the midst of a four-game winning streak, the team is looking anything but pretty in pursuit of the NFC East crown, with some fans, experts and even players like Lane Johnson questioning some of the decisions. directed by head coach Nick Sirianni.
On paper, it’s never good to see a player question a team’s choices, as Johnson did earlier in the year with his comments about the team’s misuse of the game clockbut, during his media session on Monday, Sirianni actually took things the other way.
That’s right, discussing Johnson becoming louder in 2024 than in previous years, Sirianni noted that he appreciates it, because he knows the right tackle is one of his most important players on the field and in the locker rooms.
“First of all, [T] way [Johnson] played well yesterday against one – I think [Jaguars DE Travon Walker] #44 from Jacksonville is a phenomenal football player. I thought Lane did a tremendous job against a very good player. It was great to see a good player against a good player. I have so much confidence in Lane. He’s a special, special, special player.
“Her play speaks for itself, and that’s what it did.” I’ve always seen him from afar, and in the four years I’ve been here, he’s always been one of our best players. Lane does a great job leading by example. I always admire that Lane always highlights the players on the scout team, how much they help him improve and how much they help us improve as a team.
“You hire different people, you always do different things like that, but I always admire that about Lane. How he knew how to encourage these guys. I think every time Lane leaves the field, he knows very well in the game when to make suggestions and why you make them.
Interesting stuff, right? Well, wait, it gets even more interesting, because Sirianni had a lot more to say on the subject, including how the Oklahoma product helped ease Mehki Becton’s transition from Jets tackle to post right guard for the Eagles.
Nick Sirianni is proud to have Lane Johnson on the Eagles
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Continuing his comments about Johnson, Sirianni celebrated what his right tackle did on and off the field, remaining one of the Eagles’ most important players a decade into his career.
“You can go back. There are a lot of different things being said on the sidelines, but Lane has a very good impression. You can see it in Lane’s eyes, like, hey, here we go now, let’s go. I want this or that piece. He and [G/T] Mehki [Becton] I had combination blocks yesterday which were amazing. It was really exciting. Mehki also played a very good match. You feel that from Lane. And then you talk to him, and he has some great suggestions for you. And they are the ones playing the game. They are the ones feeling it,” Sirianni told reporters.
“We can curate a piece based on a certain technique or a certain look or whatever, but you don’t have an exact idea of what that is for them. Lane is great at this. He’s been great at this every year I’ve been here. And I think so even more today, as his leadership continues to grow. Again, Lane has been a good leader and captain since I’ve been here. I see a tremendous leader who continues to improve in his profession as a tackle and in his profession as a leader of this football team.
After some initially questioned the decision to draft Johnson fourth overall in a draft that also featured one of Chip Kelly’s star players at Oregon, Dion Jordan – who thankfully left the board one pick earlier – Johnson has been a revelation on the right side for the Eagles. over the last decade. With a spot in the Eagles Hall of Fame at least in his future, it’s encouraging to see Johnson taking a hands-on approach to Philadelphia’s future as his own career comes to a close.
