Many people were puzzled by the Chicago Bears' decision to hire Ben Johnson. They knew GM Ryan Poles' goal was to find a head coach who could get the most out of quarterback Caleb Williams. While they didn't question Johnson's play-calling aptitude, they did question the fit. It was felt he ran a system tuned to that of a quarterback like Jared Goff, who is a pure pocket passer. Williams was notorious in college for being a mobile player who thrived off improvisation. It is hard for many to imagine he could function in a system like Johnson's.
Of course, that is unless people watch the games. Nate Tice of Yahoo Sports has watched every game Williams has played since college. Yes, his scrambling ability is a superpower he enjoys. However, this notion that he has no idea how to play on time from the pocket is ridiculous. From his observations, the young quarterback would prefer to play that style. He flashed an ability to do so several times this season. Tice explained that his pairing with Johnson might actually be perfect.
Johnson will be an immediate ally for Caleb Williams.
His system was known in Detroit for being focused on a consistent ground attack, fed further by heavy doses of play action and an effective screen game. Williams had a 95.2 passer rating off play action fakes and a 99.2 rating on screens. Chicago was 3-4 when they rushed for at least 100 yards in a game and 2-8 when they didn't. Johnson knows how much of an ally the running game can be when it's effective. That is why it wasn't a coincidence he mentioned the offensive line and running back as two areas he's hoping to "augment."
The big question is whether Caleb Williams is willing to put in the work necessary to succeed. Talent is not the issue. He has more than enough. It comes down to being on top of the details that pro quarterbacks must be. There is some belief he skipped too many steps this season, which is a common issue for young players. Johnson's arrival figures to change that. He's known for being detail-oriented and a perfectionist. Williams won't be allowed to ignore the process. This will be a terrific partnership if he is up for the challenge.
