‘This is a race now': As the Chicago Bears begin training camp, Ben Johnson is setting an urgent tone

Chicago Tribune

5 days ago

The first practice of Chicago Bears training camp begins Wednesday morning at Halas Hall — at 8:30 sharp. And for those who haven't been paying close attention to the new dynamics percolating in Lake Forest, you better believe coach Ben Johnson will mean business. Like, right away.
Even with the inevitable ramp-up nature of the first week of camp, and with the collectively bargained restrictions on how often and how long teams can practice, Johnson knows there's little time to waste.
Every drill needs to be crisp. Every practice rep matters. Every opportunity to grow and improve must be attacked.
'This is a race now,' Johnson emphasized Tuesday afternoon as his team checked into camp. 'Everything is a race. We have to get our fundamentals down. We have to get our execution down.
'This is going to be a challenge — and certainly in the first year with new systems on both sides of the ball. But that's the fun part of it too. That's the challenge we want.'
Urgency has become one of the hallmarks of Johnson's program. And that remained obvious Tuesday as players reported, with their new coach publicly vowing to keep his foot on the accelerator.
Six months ago, when Johnson walked into Halas Hall, he proclaimed that the Bears should be ready 'to win and win now.' But with that aspiration, there must be a shared mindset among every player and coach who walks onto the practice fields.
Perfection isn't expected. Johnson has reiterated that. But purpose is.
Quarterback Caleb Williams, who may feel Johnson's intensity and urgency more than anyone over the next six weeks, understands the marching orders.
The season opener is just 47 days away.
It's a division game too. Prime time against the Minnesota Vikings on 'Monday Night Football' at Soldier Field.
Photos: Chicago Bears report to training camp'Obviously you don't look too far ahead,' Williams said. 'But you do understand that you're on a time limit. And so the race is here.
'We can't pout about the long days. When those times do come, we've got to correct that and we've got to move on. And we have to find a way to get past that pouting or the anger or the complaining and understand where we're at and where we need to be.'
At the conclusion of minicamp last month, Johnson made a firm declaration about his offense's progress, explaining away a Williams turnover with an admission about the entire unit's currently clunky nature.
'We're not ready for prime time yet,' Johnson said then. 'I think that was loud and clear over the last three weeks of play. But that's to be expected as well.'
Truthfully, that overview pertains to the entire team as practice gets underway Wednesday.
Not ready for prime time yet.
But it's also fair to note that 'prime time' isn't all that far off. Save the date: Sept. 8.
And as much of a slow grind as training camp can be, the regular season always has a quick first step and will close in fast.
So what will Johnson be looking for over the next six weeks to identify evidence of legitimate progress?
'It's not linear, OK?' he said. 'There are going to be bumps. There are going to be ups and there are going to be downs. And it's easy to have a bad day or two and go ahead and get all panicky. But that's not going to be us. It's going to be a little bit more of (a roller-coaster path).'
In the early installation phase of camp, Johnson wants to see how his players are growing mentally and how they are handling all the inevitable mistakes.
When joint practices and preseason games arrive next month, a truer progress report will be taken.
For Williams specifically, Johnson already has set one statistical target, asking his quarterback to strive to complete 70% of his passes during the season.
'So you would like to think that over the course of practice that we're completing 70% or more,' Johnson said. 'Otherwise that's hard (for that benchmark) to just magically arise in a game.
'It's a lofty goal. But it's one we're going to strive for.'
As an extension of that, Williams noted three areas of emphasis he is attacking individually.
He's trying to better sync his footwork with the timing of each play. He wants to become more decisive. And learning to take what the defense is giving has become a top priority.
'(I'm) not trying to find that big play every time,' he said, 'not being that young cat and wanting to go get that big play, that big scramble play. Sometimes it's just a checkdown of the ball to the flat. Or (hitting) the second read that may not be something more than 5 yards.'
All of those things must remain a focus Wednesday morning. And again Thursday, Friday and Saturday. And then into next week and all through August.
As a team, the Bears must continue jelling to create an identity as a gritty, persistent group that's willing to grind toward success.
'It's really just pressing on when the excitement dies down,' veteran defensive tackle Grady Jarrett said. 'This first week, it's the acclimation period. It's going to be fun and exciting. Guys are going to be happy to go back to work.'
But when the dog days of camp arrive? That's when Jarrett wants to see a team that retains its edge.
'As a whole team — offense, defense, everybody involved — we've got to go through that dirt. We've got to go through that pain.'
As an accomplished veteran leader, Jarrett will be one of Johnson's tone setters. Many more will be needed.
'We're going to earn our right to win a lot of games,' Jarrett said. 'And we're going to feel good about it. Because we know, without a doubt, the work is going to be put in.'
That unrelenting urgency, though, is non-negotiable. A prerequisite for success. This is a race now. And the starter's pistol just went off.