LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Before the Bears took the field for their first team drills Wednesday morning, veteran safety Kevin Byard joined his teammates on defense for 40 up-downs.
It’s a mandate from new Bears defensive coordinator Dennis Allen, who wanted his players to “pay the toll.” Not even a player like the 31-year-old Byard, who's in his 10th NFL training camp, is excused from that drill.
“It kind of took me back to high school,” Byard said.
Byard and the Bears are starting anew this training camp. Head coach Ben Johnson took over a team that endured miserable struggles in going 5-12 last season, and Johnson is setting high standards.
For a veteran like Byard, there’s an understanding that what the coaches are preaching goes well beyond just the present.
"Ben Johnson wants to build a dynasty,” Byard said. “We want to be that dynasty. We want to be the guys that get that thing started. Myself, we want to be the guys that build the foundation for Ben and continue to go as long as we possibly can. That's the goal. But we got a long way to go to accomplish that."
Johnson’s first offseason program offered a glimpse at the stylings to expect. The start of training camp brings it in earnest.
Early in the Bears’ first practice Wednesday, Johnson pulled the first-team offense from the line of scrimmage. He instead turned to reserve quarterback Case Keenum and the second-string unit.
“We got to be on our Ps and our Qs,” Johnson said of that decision. “And every minute, every rep is really valuable.”
On Wednesday, the Bears ran 90 plays in practice. They increased that to 105 plays Thursday. Johnson and his staff design every minute of practice to have a purpose. That's the case with any NFL training camp. The difference at Halas Hall from years past is how Johnson is enforcing it.
Bears running back D’Andre Swift experienced that with Johnson while he played for him in Detroit, where Johnson was the Lions’ offensive coordinator.
“That’s kind of what we need,” Swift said. “And you want that from the head man. You can’t let nothing slide by the wayside and let things kind of go on without addressing them. You aren’t going to win that way.”
When he’s outside the lines of the football field, Johnson has a welcoming presence. His intelligence and demeanor shine through, but there’s no mistaking what he hopes to accomplish.
Johnson is making a strong impression, and his players are looking to follow suit.
“He breathes competition,” Byard said. “You can just tell – the intensity. He just wants the best for everybody. And I think that type of energy raises the level of everybody on the team.
“We’re trying to win the Super Bowl.”
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.