Ben Johnson will coach with 'different personality styles' to push Bears through offseason program
LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) – Bears head coach Ben Johnson is aware of the reputation he carries. Many have called him an offensive savant, but he's more than just a play-caller drawing up designs in his office.
Easygoing and quick-witted off the field, Johnson is a different person once his team takes the field. As rookie minicamp opened Friday, the Bears are now discovering that.
"Varies," Johnson said with a wry smile. "It varies based on what we're seeing. A little bit of a counterbalance and a pendulum. As things go one direction, I like to try to keep things centered to a degree. I think you'll see a lot of different personality styles come out, not just with me but with the rest of the coaching staff as well, as we work to get to know our players a little bit better and what they need to be pushed."
A first-time head coach, Johnson came to Chicago from Detroit, where those who know him well often referenced his demanding nature. Johnson was officially hired on Jan. 21, a couple months after the Bears fired head coach Matt Eberflus in late November amid a 5-12 season that included a 10-game losing streak.
The Bears held their first practice of rookie minicamp Friday at Halas Hall. Forty-seven players are on this rookie roster – including 23 tryout players – and the focus was purely on fundamentals and technique.
Johnson and his coaches made their voices heard throughout practice. For them, rookie minicamp offers a trial run before OTAs, veteran minicamp and training camp with the full squad.
"I'm a big fan," Bears rookie tight end Colston Loveland said of Johnson. "I love his spirit, his energy. He's super determined. He's ready to go. He's ready to take this thing to the top. He's no nice guy.
"I've seen him getting on people's butts. Fired up too, super excited. I'm loving how he coaches. It's early, but I'm excited to play for him."
Johnson's staff includes a handful of coaches he has history with, including assistant head coach/wide receivers coach Antwaan Randle El, but he also proudly stated in February that he didn't just hire his friends. He also hired coaches, such as new running backs coach Eric Bieniemy, whose demanding style mimics his own.
"I feel like it's going to bring the best out of me," Bears rookie receiver Luther Burden III said of Randle El. "I've seen his past history. He's a guy who's been in my shoes, so he knows what to expect and you know, different ways how to handle me. I'm grateful to have a great coach like him."
The Bears will hold their first of nine practices for OTAs on May 20 at Halas Hall. Though none of that work will be in full pads, the roster will get a sense of how Johnson operates as a head coach.
Johnson has reminded the Bears that this is all part of the growth process. He's ready to demand the most out of them later on. First, they must take the initial steps together.
"We're going to make a lot of mistakes," Johnson said. "I think I've been pretty open and honest about that since I came into the building here. We encourage that. We need that. That's how we grow, and so those mistakes are going to happen and we'll make the corrections here this afternoon and then we'll have our walk-through to clean all that up. So, that's really the progression."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
