‘It’s important for all of us’ — How Ben Johnson and the Bears coaching staff can benefit from preseason reps just like players on the roster
The entire team is ready for Sunday.
As the Chicago Bears get set for the first preseason game on Sunday against the Miami Dolphins, it’s not just the players who are looking to get their feet wet in a live game setting.
Sunday’s game is an important proving ground for the new coaching staff led by head coach Ben Johnson as well to see how he and his assistants can operate in a “real” game.
Say what you want about preseason action, but Sunday is technically Johnson’s debut outing as an NFL head coach and it’s a big opportunity to experience how things are going to work in this role.
A key person on Johnson’s side to help guide through that process is defensive coordinator Dennis Allen. Allen confirmed on Thursday that he will be on the sideline to call the defense and assist with Johnson throughout the game by bringing six years of NFL head coaching experience.
“For us, as a new staff, I think this is important. I think it’s important for all of us,” Allen told reporters on Thursday. “It’s important for me, as a defensive coordinator. It’s all dress rehearsal for the regular season. I think all of us will learn — players, coaches, everybody alike. We’ll have to make sure that we’re good on our communication from the booth down to the sideline. . . We’re excited about having our first preseason game and we’ll have to sort out some of the kinks.”
Ben Johnson is ready for his debut game as a head coach
To Johnson’s credit, he surrounded himself with a great supporting cast on the staff that can help lift some of the burdens that come with being a head coach. For example, Allen shared that director of research & analysis Harry Freid will be assisting Johnson on gamedays with game management decisions such as calling timeouts.
Every detail has already been thought out by this guy going into his first season in the head coach position. Even last Sunday, the Bears held practice at Solider Field with 23,000 fans in attendance to give the players a sample size of what to expect during a game.
“We treated it somewhat like our Preseason Zero game, if you will,” Johnson explained. “The guys, certainly, they felt it. When we go into our first preseason game, particularly the young guys, they get amped up a little bit. So, hopefully a little familiarity with the process will calm the nerves a little bit.”
Just like he preaches to his players, all of the little things matter to the team’s head coach too. He understands what winning football looks like and how a winning organization is supposed to operate.
“You can see the attention to detail and how he meticulously looks at everything no matter what it is,” special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. “He dives deep into things. Real head coaches have an eye for things when they happen and they’re able to anticipate stuff. And I’m just telling you… you guys just watch. We have a good head coach. D*mn good. He’s special.”
It’ll be exciting to finally see Johnson, the staff, and the players all take the field for the first time as a team on Sunday against the Dolphins.
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