One of the most frustrating things about previous Chicago Bears head coaches over the past 12 years is their inability to clarify what they wanted their teams to be. That was especially true with Matt Eberflus. It never felt like he had a firm grasp on any specific identity for the Bears. Outside of the defense playing well, nothing else made sense. There was nothing the team could hang their hats on. Say what you will about Mike Ditka and Lovie Smith. Those teams had clearly defined identities that every player knew and embraced. People held their breath wondering if Ben Johnson would grasp this.
Unsurprisingly, he has. As an offensive head coach, one would think he aims to build everything around the quarterback. That means a dynamite passing attack aimed at scoring points with an opportunistic defense complementing it. That is kind of what Matt Nagy tried to do. Johnson is not Nagy. He explained to Jeff Joniak on SiriusXM NFL Radio that history is the best indicator in this situation. Every successful Bears team dating back decades had the same things in common: violence, embracing the elements, and great defense.
Ben Johnson continues to demonstrate an understanding of Chicago.
The best teams always embody the city they play for. Chicago has long been a blue-collar town filled with tough, hard-working people. It isn’t a coincidence they’ve identified with teams like the 1985 Bears or 1996 Bulls. While both were great because they won, they also had similar mentalities. They were tough, defensive-minded teams who wore opponents out and broke their spirits. That is what Ben Johnson wants his squad to be moving forward. The Bears already have a quality defense in place. Next is transforming their listless offense into something more vicious. Lots of time and effort will be spent reviving the running game. Play action will become a major focus again. This team will look like a blast from the past, but with a modern approach.
