Will Defensive Losses Destroy The Philadelphia Eagles Mojo?

You don't have to be a fan of the Philadelphia Eagles to know how important their defense is to their success. Maybe your offense was shut down all game because of the unpredictable, high intensity defensive formations Jim Johnson would throw at teams. Maybe one of your wide receivers was laid out and had to get surgery on his dislocated shoulder due to lethal hits from safety Brian Dawkins (sorry, Ike Hilliard).

But the Eagles defense has suffered bigger blows this offseason than any Weapon X ever delivered. Dawkins signed a contract on February 28 with the Denver Broncos. Surely it can't get much worse than losing your field general, right?

Wrong. In January, Jim Johnson discovered that his cancer, originally diagnosed in 2001, had returned in the form of a tumor on his spine. In May he took a leave of absence from the team, and on Tuesday Johnson lost his fight and died at age 68.

One of his proteges, Sean McDermott, was named defensive coordinator just days before his death—but it's not the same as JJ.

With the two biggest pieces of the defense gone, the Eagles are seemingly in trouble. Dawkins was the leader on the defense, and if he wouldn't speak up then JJ would.

McDermott is more than welcome to try using the same intensity that Johnson did, but without the respect that JJ commanded who knows how the players will react.

But there could be a positive spin to this situation. It's not like the defense is depleted of talent just by losing Dawkins. The D-line is held down solidly by Trent Cole, Darren Howard and Broderick Bunkley.

Stewart Bradley had a career-high 108 tackles last season at middle linebacker, and Asante Samuel and Sheldon Brown are two of the best corners in the league.

These guys know what Johnson did for the team. Just because he's gone doesn't mean he's forgotten. Something tells me the Eagles won't be discouraged by his death, but rather encouraged. McDermott already confirmed that he'll keep the high flying, hard hitting, suicide blitzing style JJ implemented.

For now the defense needs a new vocal leader. Samuel seems too quiet and Brown has been disgruntled due to his playing time. It would be ideal for Bradley to step up as the MLB typically has a lot to say on the field anyway, but it'll only be his third year and may have some reservations about that.

Trent Cole has emerged as one of the best defenders on the team, maybe he'll take the reins.

Regardless, this could be one of the best years for Johnson's defensive schemes because his intensity will no longer be on the Eagles sidelines—it'll be in their hearts.