Ben Johnson was happy with how the game on Sunday went for the Chicago Bears. It was a blowout win just a week after the humiliating loss in Detroit. Caleb Williams played his best game to date with four touchdowns and no turnovers. Johnson’s joyous locker room speech said it all. However, the head coach didn’t stay that way for long. Once the euphoria died away, he began reviewing the game in his head. It didn’t take long to realize there is still a lot of work to do before this team is where it needs to be.
One area still has him frustrated more than any other. He alluded to it when asked about the improvement of left tackle Braxton Jones against Dallas.
“Very, very encouraged with the direction that we’re going,” Johnson said when he was asked about Jones. “There’s still some work to be done. I lump the whole offensive line together. When I look at it our rushing statistics, I think we only averaged about three yards per rush. We left a lot of meat on the bone there.
“I give a lot of credit (to the Cowboys). That is a good front. In particular, those interior players are really good players that have played at a high level in this league for a long time. We knew that. We knew we were going to have our hands full. Yet, we didn’t run the ball as effectively as we’re capable of doing. I think it starts there.”
Johnson has never masked his desire to run the football. It was part of his identity in Detroit, and so much of his playbook is built around it. The Bears haven’t been able to get it going, and blocking up front is part of the reason why. If the issues persist, it feels like a shakeup could be coming, and one player stands to benefit from it.
That is Theo Benedet.
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Ben Johnson has been watching Benedet’s progress for weeks.
Evidently, the coaching staff was intrigued when they shifted him into the left tackle competition midway through training camp. They loved his attitude, grit, and athletic profile. While he didn’t overtake Jones for the starting job, he’d done enough to earn the swing tackle position. Sunday was the first time he got to play meaningful snaps. Darnell Wright was out dealing with an elbow injury. Benedet stepped in at right tackle and played well. He earned a 71.3 run blocking grade for his efforts and didn’t allow a pressure.
These are not new things. Benedet was known up in Canada for his strength and nastiness. It was always a question of whether he could do it against NFL competition. This was the latest proof he could. If the running game continues to struggle in the next few weeks, don’t be shocked if Ben Johnson decides to give Benedet a look.
