You can almost hear the collective groans from defensive coordinators across the league. When the New York Giants hired John Harbaugh as their head coach, the vision was clear: New York was building a physical, ground-and-pound, run-teams-through-the-earth identity back to North Jersey to steamroll opponents into submission.
But while the football world prepares for a heavy dose of the ground game, Harbaugh is simultaneously laying the groundwork for a massive aerial assault. The blueprint came into focus the second the G-Men paired a rising star with a blockbuster free-agent acquisition.
The narrative says there aren't enough targets for Theo Johnson around after New York signed Isaiah Likely to a $40 million contract. The reality is that Harbaugh’s arrival is the exact catalyst that will launch Johnson into stardom.
Theo Johnson is set up to thrive in the Giants’ new-look offense
Harby has spent his entire coaching career proving that multi-tight end sets are the most efficient way to manipulate more modern, lightweight/smaller defenses.
By getting Big Blue into a 12-personnel offense (two tight ends), the 63-year-old will force opponents into a practically impossible dilemma. Defensive coordinators must choose between playing bigger guys to stop the run or risk staying in a smaller nickel scheme to protect against the pass.
And when teams inevitably match the G-Men with bigger bodies, Johnson becomes an instant mismatch.
His rare blend of 6-foot-6, 260-pound size and elite vertical speed allows him to expose slower defenders down the seam. Likely will garner plenty of attention as the move-tight end, operating from the slot, which naturally opens up the middle of the field for the former Penn State standout to bully smaller defensive backs.
New offensive coordinator Matt Nagy knows exactly how to weaponize Johnson's elite athletic profile. Having spent the last three years in Kansas City watching Travis Kelce become one of, if not the best, tight ends of all-time, Nagy is bringing that exact scheme -- and hopefully development plan -- to New York.
The dropped passes from his sophomore season are a clear focal point for improvement under the new coaching staff. Harbaugh demands fundamental execution, and that strict accountability will iron out the minor wrinkles in Johnson's game, which can only mean great things for the breakout star in Year 3.
Harbs has said he wants the offense to dictate terms over playing into the defense's hands. Being unpredictable with two-tight end sets is a great way to disguise the run and pass in one look. Likely’s presence won't take targets away from Johnson -- this offense needs both guys on the field at the same time to hit top gear.
Don't look now, but the staff's building a terrifying version of those unstoppable offenses Harby's been successfully throwing at defenses for 18 years. Johnson's the quiet jackpot winner in this new-look scheme. The rest of the league just isn't ready for him to take full advantage of the targets coming his way.
This offense is built to feed both of them, and Johnson’s in a prime spot to take advantage of being overlooked.
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