(670 The Score) ESPN analyst Matt Bowen is thoroughly impressed with how new Bears head coach Ben Johnson has assembled his staff.
Johnson has tabbed former Saints head coach Dennis Allen as his defensive coordinator, Broncos tight ends coach Declan Doyle as his offensive coordinator, Lions receivers coach Antwaan Randle El as his new assistant head coach/receivers coach, former Chiefs and Commanders offensive coordinator Eric Bieniemy as his running backs coach and Cowboys secondary coach Al Harris as his new secondary coach/defensive passing game coordinator, among other hires.
“I love the Ben Johnson hire, I do,” Bowen said on the Spiegel & Holmes Show on Monday afternoon. “But I really loved the Dennis Allen hire also. I can remember back to when I was doing the matchup show at ESPN, this was 2018, 2019, 2020, when Dennis Allen had one of the best defenses in the NFL. And what he used to do to Tom Brady when Tom Brady was in Tampa Bay (from 2020 to 2022). You’re talking about high-level scheme and high-level player deployment. That’s what you’re going to see out of this defense – a lot of multiple fronts, a lot of stunts, a lot of overload to get home to the quarterback. Your safeties have to be interchangeable in this defense. That’s a position you want to play. That’s a playmaking position in this defense. Because they’ll do a lot of two-high shells, they’ll rotate or spin down late, they’ll cut crossers, they’ll rob in the middle of the field. They’ll put their safeties in position to make plays on the ball. On the outside at the corner position, you want physical, aggressive corners that can play press, that can open and run and that can challenge consistently.
“So as much as I love Ben Johnson, I think it’s a home run hire, don’t forget about what they just did on the defensive side of the ball right here. Because they're building a coaching staff – I’m telling you right now – they are building a coaching staff that can be one of the best in the NFL, including guys like Antwaan Randle El, Al Harris. This is an outstanding coaching staff, outstanding coaching. Now granted, we all know they have to play well on Sundays. We get that. But what they’re doing right now, this is the best they can do right now. I’m telling you, they are making a statement to the league with these hires.”