Caleb Williams isn’t the only player who knew the previous coaching staff was bad. Tyson Bagent had the dubious honor of experiencing two years of Matt Eberflus & Friends. It started in 2023 as an undrafted rookie under Luke Getsy, then continued with Shane Waldron last season. While Williams endured most of the misery that came with the debacle, Bagent saw the same problems. Like everybody else, he wasn’t sure what to expect when Ben Johnson arrived as the new head coach.
Sure, he enjoyed tons of success in Detroit as their offensive coordinator. The problem was that he couldn’t bring the personnel with him. He’d face new challenges in Chicago. Was he prepared to face them? Bagent spoke with David Kaplan on REKAP to talk about the first impression Johnson has made. Night and day would be an understatement. Johnson’s attention to detail and teaching ability are on a completely different level from his predecessors. Forget what the defense is doing. Focus on your own job.
Tyson Bagent has confirmed many of the rumors about Johnson.
The young coach had a reputation in Detroit for being intense and incredibly focused. He could flip the switch on players whenever they didn’t execute plays properly. There were no excuses. If you didn’t do the work, you didn’t play. It isn’t a coincidence he gravitated to somebody like Colston Loveland in the 1st round of the draft. The tight end is known for being a technician in his approach to the game. That is what Johnson wants. Tyson Bagent, Williams, and the other quarterbacks are getting their first taste of this new reality. Get comfortable being uncomfortable. Johnson’s job isn’t to make them feel good. It’s to make them winners.
Williams seems to have already embraced the renewed grind. He’s putting in extra time at every opportunity. Johnson is on top of everything he does, as are the other coaches. It would be shocking if there isn’t a significant improvement on offense this season.
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