Ben Johnson Found A Way To Creatively Torture His Quarterbacks

One thing about Ben Johnson is that he understands football at a fundamental level. He sees the little things far clearer than other coaches might. That is especially true at quarterback. Johnson has said the person playing that position must be a master of the details. They must absorb, retain, and process information at high speeds at all times. If things hit a buffer zone and slow down for even a brief time, the entire offensive engine breaks down. This is why so few guys can actually play quarterback in the NFL. Finding them is a challenge.

Johnson knew that if he wanted to get the most out of the Chicago Bears' quarterback room, he'd have to challenge them. Talent isn't the issue for guys like Caleb Williams, Tyson Bagent, and Case Keenum. It is how fast they can absorb and master the playbook. According to Adam Jahns of CHGO, to help speed up that process, Johnson decided to get creative.

All of that extra work mattered in the Bears’ quarterbacks room for Bagent. In the team’s version of “Stump the Schwab,” Bagent was Howie. He knew everything.

“For the most part, these guys are pretty prepared,” offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said. “There’ll be times where it’s just like something slips your mind. But usually one of us has a question, and that guy is sitting there, he’s silent, and he’s been stumped. He needs one of his buddies to bail him out.”

It could be any question the coaches have about the offense.

“‘Hey, what’s your read here? Or where do your eyes need to start?’” Doyle said. “It’s a guy not being quite comfortable enough yet with whatever we’re asking him.”

For those who don't know, "Stump The Schwab" was a notorious game show in the 2000s.

It featured multiple contestants challenging ESPN's first statistician, Howie Schwab, to a sports trivia contest. It soon became famous for Schwab's incredible breadth of knowledge. He was almost impossible to beat. Johnson used the Bears QB room as his personal game show, pitting the three quarterbacks against each other to see who could master the playbook faster. His intent wasn't hard to read.

The entire environment is designed to challenge the quarterbacks, including all the “fines” on the board. It starts with Williams but everyone else is included. Failure is essential to the process. Williams dealt with plenty throughout training camp...

...The Bears want their QBs to feel some stress in order to learn.

Ben Johnson is intelligent and also a little devious.

Using this method to push his players shows he keenly understands human psychology. You don't reach the NFL level without being a competitor. Williams is notorious for it. Bagent and Keenum are no slouches either. Having them support each other is fine, but the best way to engage their minds is by putting their pride on the line. Nobody ever wants to think they're lagging behind others. Bragging rights are a big deal in locker rooms. Imagine Williams having to know Bagent is absorbing the playbook faster than he is. That can't stand, which forces the second-year quarterback to work harder. Keenum can't afford to slack since he's supposed to be the decorated veteran. It's like pushing a boulder down a hill. Once it starts, there is no stopping it. That is precisely how Ben Johnson wants it.