Putting a quarterback and head coach together isn’t as easy as having a genius play caller combined with an elite talent. Plenty of pairings that looked great on paper wouldn’t have bombed if that were the case. There must be a similarity of mentality between the two. They don’t necessarily have to like each other. However, they must have the same mindset when it comes to winning. That is where the Chicago Bears might be in trouble. Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams sounded like a fun pairing at first, but two games into the regular season, there are signs the two might not be as compatible as people hoped.
First is Williams’ playing style. He still operates with that backyard style of improvisation. It can be a great weapon at times. However, relying on it can often throw off an offense’s timing. Johnson was known for being meticulous in Detroit. He wants plays run a certain way. That usually doesn’t mesh well with a quarterback who likes to make things up on the fly.
Then there is the personality clash. Quarterback expert Tim Jenkins recently said Williams and Johnson remind him a lot of Russell Wilson and Sean Payton. Everybody remembers how that duo fell apart after one season in Denver. New video footage showed an example of why Williams may not be somebody Johnson likes as the season progresses.
Caleb Williams doesn’t seem to take things seriously enough.
That was a major point of contention in some recent news columns. For all his obvious talent, the quarterback didn’t seem to have that laser-focused work ethic you see in great ones. Sure, he puts in work, but doesn’t come across as obsessed with his craft. Look at guys like Brady, Brees, Mahomes, Burrow, and Allen. They’re all built that way. Johnson is also built that way as a coach. He is a perfectionist and a workaholic. Nobody puts in more hours trying to find an edge in everything he does. Try to imagine what it feels like to have a quarterback who sometimes doesn’t seem to care. Smiling on the sideline while you’re down by 17 is not a great look.
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Maybe this is an overreaction. Maybe Williams and Johnson will find common ground as the season goes on. Then again, losing has a way of driving wedges between people. It happened to Wilson and Payton. The Bears’ schedule doesn’t get any easier moving forward. They have four more NFC North games and full swings against the NFC East and AFC North. It could get really bad. Nobody should be surprised if things get frosty between those two.
