It didn’t take Ben Johnson long to realize that the Chicago Bears had problems. They didn’t go 5-12 by accident. One of the things he noticed right away was how they practiced. It was bad. Really bad. Players tended to coast and cut corners, leading to mental mistakes. This was something veterans like Cole Kmet complained about last season. Well, Johnson wasn’t having any of that. He set the tone from the moment minicamps and OTAs began. Any time a player made a mistake, from not lining up properly to not breaking the huddle the right way, he jumped all over them.
People were taken aback by his intensity. There were stories about Johnson being a hardass in practices with Detroit, but it was another thing to see it in person. The head coach was asked about it during his recent press conference. His answer was far more thoughtful than you would’ve thought. He made it clear that players are expected to do things a certain way. There should be a purpose in everything. Guys are expected to carry themselves the same way in practice as they would in games. He doesn’t care if they’re tired. Exhaustion is not an excuse for skipping the details.
Ben Johnson knows he must set the standard early.
Players are insanely talented at this level. However, they still easily fall prey to cutting corners. It is in their nature. Hard work isn’t fun. It’s the complete opposite of fun. Humans are predisposed to hate it. Ben Johnson knows it’s his responsibility to force them into it every single day. If that makes him a villain sometimes, so be it. The head coach isn’t meant to be loved and adored. They’re meant to be respected. Johnson was hired to win a championship. To do that, he needs talented players who can execute plays at a high level for four quarters every Sunday. That takes mental and physical toughness. Whether they like it or not doesn’t matter. This is what the new Bears are doing. Either accept it or get out.
I’m just glad to make my presence known, if not understood, on this site.
I might teach a course entitled, Philosophy of American Football. Sign up if you dare.
Dang, that Sallie dude is seriously retarded. That has got to be the dumbest comment I’ve ever read on this site next to all of that chick TGena’s posts.
Either accept it or GTFO!
No one knows what human nature is. Most people though prefer to live rather than die. In all probability, most human activity as forms of escapism are healthy ways to stop thinking about the inevitable consequences leading to death. But the irony is that overly worked, regimented, threatened, humiliated, enslaved, or tortured people might be more conducive to accepting an earlier death. Committing suicide would become the ultimate irony.
As related to football, some players might prefer to go to another club or even retire early from the sport.
We are going to learn a Lot about several players on this roster this season. Are they team players or selfish players? I’m talking about DJ, and Sweat Kmet, Stevenson and Edmunds. Kmet is one of the fake rah-rah guys that talks a lot, yet he is the guy that got called twice in the same game last year for a pick-play. Ben will bench him quickly! I was not a Ditka guy at the end of his run but when he arrived he told them to get in line or they were gone!! Ben seems like that guy as… Read more »