The NFL is a unique league compared to other professional sports. There isn't any divisiveness in the mentality a coach brings to baseball, hockey, or basketball. It doesn't matter if you're an offensive guy or a defensive guy. That is the complete opposite in football. People believe that whichever side of the ball you coached as a coordinator or assistant means you will bring a specific identity to the team. Offensive guys are analytical, aggressive, and believe in scoring points. Defensive guys are hard-nosed, disciplined, and focused on ball control and field position. When the Chicago Bears hired Ben Johnson, he was obviously expected to fit all the familiar stereotypes.
To a degree, he has. However, it turns out there are extra layers to the young head coach nobody expected. One problem guys run into is an inability to connect with players who play on the opposite side of the ball. Head coaches with offensive backgrounds don't often know how to coach defensive players. We saw how out of touch Matt Eberflus was with the offense the past three years. Yet according to Dan Wiederer and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic, Johnson has no such problem.
Players would swear he's a defensive guy at heart if not for his background.
Perhaps most impressive, Johnson’s fiery manner has resonated not just with the offense but also with a receptive group of defensive players, who have quickly come to appreciate their coach’s persistence in establishing an aggressive mindset.
“You see it every day. You feel it in the meetings,” 10th-year safety Kevin Byard said. “Most offensive coaches can be reserved, calm, don’t really connect well with a defensive mentality. But Ben, while he has a great offensive mind, goes about it with a very aggressive, defensive nature. He has a yoked mentality. He thinks like a defensive player who really knows offense.”
Ben Johnson has defensive characteristics, too.
Remember the comment about being hard-nosed and disciplined? Every player in that locker room would tell you this guy checks those boxes. Ben Johnson has been on top of every mistake guys make in practice. There are constant corrections. He expects perfection. It isn't because of some power trip. Johnson believes this is the only way to give the team the best chance to win. His honesty, while sometimes harsh, is appreciated by guys who are competitive. They want to know the head coach is serious about achieving success. Johnson has stated from day one that his primary objective is to win, and win now. He can't do that with the offense alone. His job is to coach the team, and he won't shirk his responsibilities with the defense. Everybody must do their job.
