Jim Johnson Was The Only Coordinator To Make Michael Vick Doubt Himself

All professional athletes feed on their own confidence. As it builds, the guys plays better. If it fades, he fades. Bottom line is that if you don't believe that you can win a game or make a play... you can't. And for a guy like Michael Vick, who has been great at every level he's ever played at, you'd have to assume that he has a level of confidence that most players don't.

So for him to say this about the late, great Jim Johnson is perhaps the highest respect a player can give someone.

"I can't think of another defensive coordinator that I went into the game knowing it was going to be a hell of a game. On my end, I had to be on top of my p's and q's and know what was happening, but I didn't know what to expect. I knew I was going to get blitzes from everywhere, and people walking all around. He was probably the only defensive coordinator, I can honestly say that and I'm not lying because I've played against some good ones and I played great against them, that I ever faced that I ever had a tad bit of doubt in my abilities. It speaks volumes, and it's the truth. It's the first time I've ever been asked about facing Jim. I told a lot of guys that, ‘Man, he's a great coach.' He did a lot of things I had never seen before."

That's a fantastic compliment and certainly seemed true on the field. In that 2004 NFC title game, JJ had Vick completely figured out. Every time Vick wanted to throw somewhere, roll out to a side, run somewhere... there was an Eagle waiting. It was a master class and it's great to hear Vick talk about it.