Bears Minicamp Takeways: Ben Johnson’s obsession for details comes to Halas Hall

Lake Forest, ill. – Two weeks ago, Chicago wears a tight winger Cole Kmet felt the anger of the new head coach Ben Johnson in front of his teammates, coaches, media members and even special guests who look from the Walter Payton Center balcony during organized team activities.

What happened?

“This is probably a thing of alignment,” said Kmet.

He assumed that he was probably badly aligned by just a courtyard, and he laughed when he said it. Kmet obtains it, however. He likes it. The most beautiful details count for Johnson – a lot.

“This is just an example of Ben not to leave these things and make sure everyone is on the details,” Kmet said on Tuesday after the first day of the compulsory mini-camp at Halas Hall. “It’s funny, on this game with alignment, I am somewhat mistaken to take out the ball as I was aligned. So, afterwards, it is kidding. … I mean, he does not only shout you because he doesn’t love you.

Kmet is only in his sixth season of the NFL, but he is an graying veteran with regard to the training of changes in Halas Hall. Johnson is Kmet’s third head coach. He heard Matt Nagy’s game calls, Bill Lazor, Luke Getsy, Shane Waldron, Thomas Brown and now Johnson.

“I think what stands (with) well and these staff … is how much they are towards details,” said Kmet. “You can feel that during meetings; they are relentless on details. I think it is something that can be a little unique of what I have had in the past. Not saying that other coaches were not detailed, but it is like an obsession for details. … He just can’t let him go. You feel that.

Johnson’s ardent personality has been an early scenario this spring. He should continue in the training camp. Fans will be able to see it then – how Johnson trains on the field and during meetings. Players seem to answer it. Many said it was necessary after last season.

“It’s every day, and it’s relentless,” said Kmet. “He has definitely launched us a lot in this short period of time here in the spring, but I think he wants to challenge us as a group to see what we can manage. I think we have done a very good job so far. There have certainly been ups and downs, but I think that is the kind of method of madness so far.”

Feel connected again

The intensity of Johnson did not surprise the ball carrier of Andre Swift. He played for Johnson in Detroit. But Swift quickly learned that Johnson reached a new level after taking control of the Bears.

“It is more serious because it must be,” said Swift. “He did a hell of a job. Seeing him just go from where I was before, just seeing his growth as a coach and as a man, (I am) excited to play for him.”

Swift totaled 931 melee yards and scored eight affected in 14 games during the 2022 season, which was Johnson’s first as an offensive coordinator of the Lions.

“As we install, things are starting to come back a little more,” said Swift. “But the offensive we have, all the concepts, the racing game and all the different things he does, (Johnson) one of the most intelligent football spirits that I am there. He is really intelligent. It is a lot.”

And this is an excellent opportunity for Swift at this stage of his career. He knows it. In 2023, the Lions signed David Montgomery in a free agency and wrote Jahmyr Gibbs before exchanging it.

The Bears were linked to Ashton Jeanty, Treveyon Henderson and other runners before the NFL draft. But the team waited for the final round to write Kyle Monangai. Swift is the top of the back of the Bears.

“I look at him somehow as they were going to do, my state of mind was not going to change,” said Swift. “If they have brought someone, if they do it, they don’t, my state of mind is:” Go work and be undeniable. “”

Recording in the left tackle

Rotation in the left tackle continued on the first day of the mini-camp. Kiran Amegadjie played with the starters. Last week, the Ozzy Trapilo recruit was with the first team during open practice.

“The two guys are in turn, and they take advantage of their opportunities,” said Johnson. “I think the head always turns for almost everyone in attack, but certainly in the room (offensive). We have had a lot of new things that we are launching them. ”

Johnson credited the Offensive Line Coach Dan Roushar and the assistants Kyle Devan and Zach Cable for having stayed on the offensive line throughout the training.

“What’s cool to see is Ozzy, for a guy who is a young player, he is really polite in terms of mental aspect of the game,” said Johnson. “We seek to grasp certain things, to accelerate his steps, to his process of identification. And Kiran did a good job just for the little song we also had, just the growth prospects. So far, everything is fine. “

The competition will intensify in the camp with the pads. Braxton Jones should also be back on the ground as he recovers from the left ankle surgery. Johnson also pointed out how one of the plated on the left can be distinguished.

“Work n ° 1 of an offensive tackle, does not matter to the right or left, is to pass the protection,” said Johnson. “And so you have to be able to block their best rusher with ahead of a tête-à-t-tête. For me, it is work n ° 1, and all that we can get out of the racing game will be the sauce in addition. But we must find out who is the best passing protector, the most coherent protector of Pass is, and really, it is for the five guys in advance.”

Help young people

Kmet and the DJ Moore receiver spoke for the first time since the recourse of the Bears of the winger tight COLSTON LOVELAND around 1 and the LUTHER BURDEN III receiver in turn 2. KMET said that he had received a reassuring telephone call from Johnson after the Bears took Loveland at No. 10.

“At first, you are a little surprised,” said Kmet. “But Ben was great about it in terms of calling me right away and explaining the decision. From there, you are all on board and you somehow understand their vision. You understand that there will be areas where we will complement each other, and there are obviously – like any position room – there will be areas that we compete for things.

“It’s football, and that’s how it should be. So I am excited about it, not only to push it and for him to push me, and we will improve.

The Bears have selected two receivers – Rome Odunze (n ° 9 last year) and Burden (n ° 39 this year) – in the first two laps since the trade for Moore.

“Their role, they keep me young even if I am not so old in the room,” said Moore, who is 28 years old. “Rome has just been 23 years old today. Happy birthday for him. But (it’s) just by seeing them behind my lead and growing from there. Rome took a step this year. I can already say.

But Burden suffered a soft tissue injury during the Recruit Minicamp and did not return.

“Unfortunately, he is not there right now, but I know he is watching,” said Moore. “He asked a lot of questions, so I helped him this way.”

Moore also wins Johnson every day.

“What we have seen the last six, seven weeks is a very motivated guy,” said Johnson. “He wants to be as complete with a receiver as possible, and he is ready to do everything you need to get there.”

Speak a different language

Moore’s body language has become a subject of discussion last season while the frustrating losses and shortcomings on the field were addressed. This year should be different because of Johnson.

Similar to the quarter Caleb Williams, Johnson discussed with the receiver of the importance of body language.

“Don’t do it,” said Moore. “Keep it inside. Talk later. Do not put it on the film. Do not put it on television. So you can’t run with it.” It’s like that. “

Moore learned how seriously Johnson is recently during training.

“To be honest, at the moment and we are not going to talk about it. I did it once and we smothered it in the egg, and that never happened,” said Moore.

The attendance ratio

Johnson said that all of his players were “in the building” for the first day of the compulsory mini-camp. Some injured players remained without action, notably Loveland, Burden, Nickelback Kyler Gordon and the second TJ Edwards. Coin half Jaylon Johnson participated in training but sat during team exercises.

(Top Photo: Michael Reaves / Getty Images)