Let’s not dance around it: the Chicago Bears have finally hit on a coach who brings serious football juice. Back when Ryan Poles couldn’t even get a sniff from top-tier candidates, the air was thick with meh. But Poles flipped the script — now Ben Johnson, the hottest offensive mind in football, chose Chicago. That’s no accident — that’s destiny.
In this article, we’re going to dig deep into what makes Ben Johnson’s offenses pop. From play design and spacing to protection schemes and situational creativity, we’ll break down why this hire could be the turning point Bears fans have been waiting on for years.
Trickery That Slaps
Before we dive into route spacing and personnel groupings, let's talk about one of Ben Johnson's most tantalizing traits — his flair for creative play calls. These aren't your standard misdirections or gimmicks; they're well-orchestrated pieces of deception that make defenses look lost and fans lose their minds.
A. The Left-Pitch → Shovel Pass (20 yards, first-and-10)
- The Play: It starts as a standard pitch play to David Montgomery going left, which draws the defense that direction. But then — boom — Amon-Ra St. Brown comes screaming across the formation and Montgomery shovel passes him the rock mid-play. Meanwhile, the WRs are sealing blocks and the OL is pulling smartly to keep the misdirection clean and lethal.
- Why it works: Misdirection + OL selling block to left, pulling LG through the middle = massive cutback lane
- Film fact: Picked up 20 yards early in playoffs. If this had been drawn up in Chicago last year, the defense would've been too busy running into each other to even realize St. Brown had the ball. That’s how far removed this level of execution and misdirection is from what Bears fans are used to seeing.
B. Shovel‑Pitch Hybrid (3rd‑and‑12 vs. SF, DET)
- The Play: Amon-Ra St. Brown runs a crisp slant and catches the ball in stride. Meanwhile, Jameson Williams is running a drag route underneath. Just as the defense converges, St. Brown flips the ball back to Williams on a perfectly timed pitch.
- Why it works: It’s the ultimate bait-and-switch. The defense keys in on the slant completion, starts to swarm, and suddenly Williams has the ball in space with a convoy. It's misdirection in motion, turning a simple short gain into a house call.
- Film fact: This play blew up for over 40 yards and a touchdown — proof of Johnson’s next-level ability to layer deception into even the most basic route combos.
C. Fake Zone Pull for End-Round Sweep
- The Play: Jahmyr Gibbs lines up in the backfield and sells a trap run fake with conviction, pulling the defense’s attention to the interior. But as Goff pulls the ball back, Jameson Williams loops around the formation on an end-around sweep, takes the handoff, and flies upfield.
- Why it works: The initial trap fake freezes linebackers and draws the d-line inside, creating a clean alley for Williams once he receives the ball. The defense bites hard on Gibbs, which opens up the edge.
- Film fact: Williams ripped this one for over 20 yards, showing how Johnson layers deception into even his run game — it’s not just about clever passing, it’s about stressing every assignment on defense.
Run Game: Built Tough, Smart & Explosive
You can’t build an elite offense without a ground game that does more than chew clock. Ben Johnson's run schemes — anchored by outside zone—are the perfect marriage of physicality and finesse. His ability to mix in power, duo, and ISO ensures he’s not just running for the sake of it — he’s dictating terms to defenses.
- 70% of runs = outside zone — zone, zone, zone!
- Chicago’s right side, especially Darnell Wright, is tailor-made for this
- OL reaching DTs, climbing to second level, pushing lanes wide open
- Johnson blends in duo, ISO, power, and duo‑type pull schemes
- Rare fullback usage (19 snaps all year) — but lots of tight ends in those FB slots
- Personnel usage:
- 61% 11 personnel (1 Tight End)
- 33% 12 personnel (2 Tight End)
- 5% 13 personnel (3 Tight End)
- Roughly 97% of plays involve 1–2 tight ends. He loves his in‑line blockers.
Play-Action Heaven
Play-action isn’t just a cheat code in Ben Johnson’s system — it’s the engine. Built on the back of a strong run game, Johnson’s play-action concepts let his quarterbacks go for the jugular. These designs exploit the smallest hesitation from linebackers, often resulting in massive gains.
- Example: Yankee‑cont concept.
- Deep drag + post = strike combo
- Result: 82‑yard TD by Goff
- You'll see this design a TON — deep shot over a defense trusting the run.
Yankee Concept Deeper Dive
Johnson’s Yankee concept stretches the defense vertically by combining a deep over route with a post, essentially stacking pressure on both the safeties and linebackers. The play-action fake compounds the issue by freezing defenders just long enough to make them late in coverage. If the safety bites shallow, the post route becomes a kill shot. If the safety stays deep, the over route finds daylight behind flat-footed linebackers.
This design cleverly builds two levels of high-low reads:
- One between the over and the post
- Another between the play-action fake and the over
For the quarterback, the progression stays simple:
- Check if it’s a single-high or two-high safety shell
- Track the safety’s leverage — do they crash or stay deep?
- See if linebackers drop deep enough to bracket the over route
The concept isolates defenders and delivers clarity for the QB — exactly what every OC should aim for.
Spacing = Elite Geometry
Bad spacing kills drives. We've seen it with Chicago. Johnson fixes that by teaching route spacing like it’s sacred geometry. Every pass concept is built to create natural separation — no extra effort needed, just precision and timing.
- Example: Quick-hitch options + deep dagger = full-field coverage
- One play produced 28-yard gain on single read and another time for 31 yards
- These look clean: WRs 7–8 yards apart, crossing intermediate/deep, clear pockets for QB decisions.
Pass Protection Philosophy: 5-Man Murder
Protection schemes often dictate what your offense can realistically pull off — and Ben Johnson’s five-man protection sets are a testament to trusting your front. The upside? You get more receivers in routes. The risk? Your OL better win.
- Base protection = 5-man front
- No chipping by T‑ends or RBs — designed to give OL one job: block
- Only chip up front when elite rusher emerges (like Garrett/Parsons)
- That's why Chicago’s TBD at LT are mission-critical - Need to find out if Ozzy or Braxton wins the job FAST
- Johnson trusts his front five. If they cave, the whole offense stumbles
Coaching & Execution: Mind + Muscle Sync
A good scheme means jack if players can’t run it. That’s where Ben Johnson separates from the pack. Every player on the field knows his assignment, and more importantly, knows why it matters. Execution isn’t an afterthought — it’s baked into every rep.
- Every tight end, guard, tackle sees why they’re blocking where
- They run on time, knowing which gap they fill
- Waldron-era chaos? Not happening here. This is professional, polished, precise.
Why It Changes Everything for Chicago
This isn’t just a schematic change — it’s a full culture reset. With Johnson at the helm, the Bears can finally develop a football identity on offense that’s equal parts modern and violent. And when that identity becomes second nature? That’s when you win in January.
- HC-level install: This offense installs like it’s in year 3, not year 1
- Instant identity: Bears can instantly shift from run power to glass shots
- Tight-end advantage: Chicago’s TEs just went from role players to core pieces
- Poles + Johnson synergy: Clear roster/pick needs (LT, Center, TEs) = Obvious holes filled.
TL;DR Breakdown
If you're looking for the fast pass through this breakdown, here's the high-level cheat sheet. It’s everything that makes Ben Johnson’s scheme tick and why the Bears should be frothing at the mouth to get this going by Week 1.
| Element | What You Get in Chicago |
|---|---|
| Trick-play & misdirection | 20+ yard gash plays to keep defenses guessing |
| Zone-heavy run game | Darnell off‑tackle lanes = tough, methodical 1–4 yards |
| Play action | Deep shots open due to pounding the run |
| Spacing concepts | Simple route combos = massive YAC potential |
| 5-man protection | Bolsters OL importance; raises the bar for RT/LT/C |
| Player buy-in | WRs, TEs, OL & RBs operate like a coordinated machine |
Final Verdict
Chicago just landed the top play-caller in football. Ben Johnson didn’t just inherit an offense — he’s bringing a ready-made system regarding structure, creativity, and identity. No more guessing who’s coaching. With the right offensive line shoring up those interior spots, this thing clicks fast.
Poles did the heavy lifting — finding this coach is proof. Now Chicago’s got the structure, scheme, and swagger to actually contend. If you thought the Bears offense would be a snooze this fall… think again.
Because when this offense hits full stride, that colosseum off the lake is gonna ring loud with cheers, not crickets.
Loading comments...