Mike Johnson Headed to UCLA
With the hiring of Jim Harbaugh it was unrealistic to think that a majority of 49ers coaches who served under former head coach Mike Singletary would remain on staff. Harbaugh retained some of the coaches, in my opinion the best ones, but most of them were let go under the new regime. Singletary signed on to coach the Vikings linebackers and will be an assistant head coach to Leslie Frazier. Former defensive coordinator Greg Manusky interviewed with the Cowboys, Panthers and Chargers and is now the new defensive play caller for the Bolts.
Another former 49ers coach is headed to a new team but to the college ranks. Former offensive coordinator Mike Johnson was hired to the same position with the UCLA Bruins. Johnson will also coach the wide receivers. The Bruins ran an offense called the Pistol last season which helped the running game average 175 yards a game. The Bruins passing offense however was ranked 116 out of 120 college teams. Johnson said he will involve the Pistol in his new offense but wants to make “defenses defend the whole field.”
Johnson should be a good fit for the Bruins and college football. Johnson did all he could filling in for fired offensive coordinator Jimmy Raye. With the 49ers Johnson talked a lot about running the spread offense but could not open up the playbook with the 49ers or install his own version of the offense because he took over at the beginning of the regular season and because of Singletary.
Original Story:
http://ninernoise.com/2011/01/27/form...
