Ben Johnson showed in Detroit that he loves running the football. It is only natural to expect he planned to do the same with the Chicago Bears, even if his primary goal was to get the most out of Caleb Williams. A good run game can often be the best friend of a quarterback. Jared Goff proved that over the past three years. What isn't entirely known is what type of system Johnson will put in place. He comes from an eclectic background that saw experience with several different types of schemes. What he used in Detroit may not be the plan for Chicago.
Thankfully, offensive line coach Dan Roushar provided details on this front. He explained to Tom Thayer on Bears Weekly that his NFL experience came from New Orleans, where former Saints coach Sean Payton utilized a wide-zone rushing scheme. Johnson aims to do the same in Chicago, which is a big reason why he sought out Roushar to take over that position group. If this is true, it means the Bears are returning to the scheme that worked so well for them in 2022 and 2023 under Luke Getsy before Shane Waldron switched to inside-zone last season.
This Ben Johnson decision explains the offensive line moves.
If you're going to run an outside-zone attack, you need one thing above all else: athletic offensive linemen. They must be able to get out in space to block guys. That won't be an issue for guys like Joe Thuney and Drew Dalman, who thrive in such circumstances. Jonah Jackson isn't known for his athletic chops, but he already showed he could play under Ben Johnson for two years. Then, he was signed by the Los Angeles Rams in 2024, one of the top outside-zone teams in the NFL. Clearly, coaches have no concerns about if he can handle it. There is one lingering issue. A good wide-zone attack requires a running back with good vision and decisiveness. While D'Andre Swift and Roschon Johnson have value, neither is known for those traits. That is why it is more likely than ever that Chicago will draft a running back next month.
