One of the interesting things mentioned about Ben Johnson as a coach when the Chicago Bears hired him was his intensity. Those who knew him said his competitive streak put others to shame. He was also a perfectionist, meaning he didn’t accept sloppy mistakes. One person said he could get a serious case of the “red ass” at times. The stories were encouraging. Still, fans weren’t sure what to expect once he took over as the head coach. Sometimes a reputation can be embellished.
It didn’t take Johnson long to prove that isn’t the case with him.
Bears players found that out the hard way during their first practice of Organized Team Activities. The offense was going through team drills, simulating plays. During a particular sequence, guys weren’t lining up correctly pre-snap. Johnson immediately blew the whistle, stopping practice. He then tore into them, making it clear such mistakes are not and never will be acceptable. Even veterans admitted after practice that the level of intensity with him is night and day compared to Matt Eberflus.
Ben Johnson isn’t out to make friends. He’s here to win.
Whether players like him or not is immaterial. What matters is whether they play hard for him. Vince Lombardi was hardly beloved in Green Bay. The same goes for Bill Belichick in New England. Many of the great NFL head coaches were known for being nasty when players didn’t do their jobs correctly. If you let one small mistake slide, that will lead to bigger ones. Most players lack the discipline to stay on top of the details. That is where the head coach must succeed. Ben Johnson understands that. There will be no compromising under his watch. Either do it the right way or get off the field. He doesn’t care whether you like it or not. All that matters is if you get the message. Sometimes it requires the carrot. Other times, like Wednesday, it takes the stick.
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