The Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson to turn them into a winner after over a decade of misery. To do that, his first order of business is getting quarterback Caleb Williams to start playing at a level customary of a #1 overall pick. One of the primary issues from last season was a belief in the locker room that the Bears coaching staff wasn’t willing to drill the rookie harder on details. This was primarily leveled at former coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus. They let the little things slide way too much. Even GM Ryan Poles mentioned it.
Johnson brought a reputation with him from Detroit for being borderline obsessive about details. He doesn’t suffer people who refuse to put in the work. At his opening press conference, he even delivered a line to Williams and other Bears players: Get comfortable being uncomfortable. It seems Johnson was true to his word. Williams revealed to the Bears media on Tuesday that the head coach hatched an ambush on his quarterbacks, delivering a pop quiz to them in only the second day since returning for voluntary workouts.
Ben Johnson isn’t afraid to be the adult with Caleb Williams.
One issue with many coaches is that they’re afraid of starting off on the wrong foot with highly drafted players, especially quarterbacks. Push too hard and you could alienate them. That isn’t how it works. Players play and coaches coach. You can’t be afraid to get in a guy’s face when they’re doing something wrong. Johnson understands that if Caleb Williams wants to be great, he must be willing to do things that make him uncomfortable. Great coaches push everybody in the building, including themselves. Bill Belichick never wavered from his willingness to push Tom Brady, even after they’d won multiple championships together.
Caleb Williams asked for this. He wants to be tested. He’s a competitor. It seems Johnson understands his role. He must form a relationship with his young quarterback, one built on mutual respect. He will be Williams’ greatest ally on the sideline, but he will also be willing to lay down the law when the quarterback messes up. They don’t have to be friends, merely partners.
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