It didn’t take [Ben Johnson](https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=RVBPpXXd08E&ab_channel=ChicagoBears) long to realize that the Chicago Bears had problems. They didn’t go 5-12 by accident. One of the things he noticed right away was how they practiced. It was bad. Really bad. Players tended to coast and cut corners, leading to mental mistakes. This was something veterans like Cole Kmet complained about last season. Well, Johnson wasn’t having any of that. He set the tone from the moment minicamps and OTAs began. Any time a player made a mistake, from not lining up properly to not breaking the huddle the right way, he jumped all over them.
People were taken aback by his intensity. There were stories about Johnson being a hardass in practices with Detroit, but it was another thing to see it in person. The head coach was asked about it during his recent press conference. His answer was far more thoughtful than you would’ve thought. He made it clear that players are expected to do things a certain way. There should be a purpose in everything. Guys are expected to carry themselves the same way in practice as they would in games. He doesn’t care if they’re tired. Exhaustion is not an excuse for skipping the details.
Players are insanely talented at this level. However, they still easily fall prey to cutting corners. It is in their nature. Hard work isn’t fun. It’s the complete opposite of fun. Humans are predisposed to hate it. Ben Johnson knows it’s his responsibility to force them into it every single day. If that makes him a villain sometimes, so be it. The head coach isn’t meant to be loved and adored. They’re meant to be respected. Johnson was hired to win a championship. To do that, he needs talented players who can execute plays at a high level for four quarters every Sunday. That takes mental and physical toughness. Whether they like it or not doesn’t matter. This is what the new Bears are doing. Either accept it or get out.
