Eagles' gain, Tennessee's loss...Jim Washburn lands in Philly...

I’ve got friends in Nashville…Ted Mellencamp (brother of John “Cougar” Mellencamp) being one of ’em…and to a man, they’re plenty distressed that Titans Defensive Line coach Jim Washburn has pulled up stakes and is headed to the Eagles…

My journalist friend Andrew Strickert writes for Total Titans , and he is convinced Jim Washburn is the best defensive line coach in the NFL. As Andrew points out, who else in the modern history of the NFL ever got a full season of total effort out of Albert Haynesworth?

As Strickert writes, Jim Washburn was the “Titans coach I least wanted to lose…”

Washburn, who is now the Eagles new d-line coach, was Andrew’s favorite on the Titans coaching staff. In the years Strickert was a regular observer at Titans training camp, the D-line was the group he spent the most time with. Part of this was because it was the position group which was most accessible to Strickert, who has press/photo media credentials to cover the Titans. A larger reason for watching them more often than any other position group was because Andy really enjoyed watching Washburn coach his guys.

“Entertaining, with his unique sayings and not infrequent cursing, to be sure… But that was just part of the enjoyment of watching him up close in August. What mattered more were the results he got starting in September”, says Strickert.

We know of Washburn’s ability to take players unwanted by anyone else and make them into very productive contributors, and sometimes even stars. Kyle Vanden Bosch was the best example of that. Cast off by the Cardinals, KVB was sitting at home waiting for a call from someone, anyone, when he was picked up by the Titans and became a three-time Pro Bowler for Washburn.

Andrew Strickert continued with his take on Washburn:

“Tony Brown was another guy on the scrap heap, a street free agent who was developed by Washburn into a star. ‘Touchdown Tony’ was the Titans best D-lineman in 2009, and best defender in my opinion, and twice has had his contract extended by the team. Pretty good for a guy that wasn’t good enough to play for any other team, and you have to credit Washburn for TB’s success.”

“Jason Babin and Dave Ball are two more examples of rejects who became successful under Washburn. Babin was selected for his first Pro Bowl this year and had 12½ sacks after a journeyman career with four teams in six previous seasons. Ball, now with his third team, had seven sacks last year, which is seven more than he had in his entire time with his previous teams. “

“Washburn was also able to develop young players, such as Jevon Kearse, who had outstanding physical skills, but no experience. Kearse, a standup linebacker in college, didn’t even know how to put his hand down and get into a proper stance when he was drafted by the Titans. The Freak went on to Defensive Rookie of the Year, All-Pro and Pro Bowl honors in his first year as a defensive lineman.”

“We’ll also remember Washburn for his ability to identify talent that was unrecognized by others. Jason Jones may have been the best example of that.”

“Wash is a guy who can’t be replaced. Someone will be hired to be the new D-line coach for the Titans, but things won’t be the same.”

So why did Washburn decide to leave the Titans for the Eagles?

Andrew Strickert: “Washburn had a sign in the D-line meeting room which showed the (total) amount of money his players had earned. That number was over $100 million, I believe, even before the Redskins spent stupid money on Big Al.”

“We’ll miss Wash and I understand why he left. A three-year contract with a good team like the Eagles offers a lot more security than anything the Titans could offer him. I hope for his sake that he’s getting some big money like he helped his players make.”

Then Andrew added this “Extra point”: “There was one fan who sat every day in training camp in front of the D-line practice area, with a sign that said, “Washburn’s Warriors”. One day last summer, Washburn called a halt to his group’s practice, and they all walked over to the fan and presented him with a Titans helmet autographed by all of them. Nice…”

I’ll say. Washburn seems like a people’s champion…he’s got the credentials and he’s got soul…I’m thinking, Jim Washington could be a perfect fit in Philly… Thank you, Andrew, for the insight into a true professional of the sport. We appreciate it…

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Eagles’ gain, Tennessee’s loss…Jim Washburn lands in Philly…

Alan Draper

Alan Draper

Alan Draper

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