The early days of Chicago Bears training camp have revolved around the ups and downs of quarterback Caleb Williams, but beneath the daily reactions lies a deeper, more calculated plan, and one that’s carefully crafted by head coach Ben Johnson. While Williams’ flashes of brilliance last season are undeniable, Johnson is opting for a long-term vision that doesn’t rush to cater to the rookie’s skill set just yet.
Instead, he’s laying the foundation built on accountability, precision, and patience, all of which should ultimately allow Williams to thrive within an offense designed around his elite tools.
Ben Johnson’s Long Game: Building Caleb Williams From the Ground Up
According to ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler, Ben Johnson wants to “throw everything at him [Williams], knowing the Bears can scale back later.”
“The feeling here is Johnson will eventually tailor his plan to accentuate Williams’ strength — mobility, throwing on the move and off-script plays,” Fowler wrote.
It’s not coddling, it’s a commitment to development so Williams can continue to move in the right direction. As general manager Ryan Poles put it, “It’s tough love, and I think he was looking for that.”
Williams has been open to the challenge, and according to veteran safety Kevin Byard, Johnson isn’t taking it easy on anyone, especially Williams.
“The way Ben Johnson coaches, if the offense gets out of the huddle and the receiver’s supposed to be plus two and he’s plus three, he’s sending everybody back,” Byard said. “So it’s not like, ‘Oh, Caleb’s not getting’ — no, it’s just how detailed he is with everything. And so like I said, I think those are going to help us out because I would personally just say last year that wasn’t happening and I think that’s what it takes to be great, and I think everybody’s doing all the necessary things to take this thing to the next level.”
That relentless attention to detail was the reason why Jared Goff turned into one of the league’s most efficient passers under Johnson, and it’s why there’s hope Williams skyrockets in Year 2.
Still, the endgame is clear. Eventually, Johnson will pivot and tailor the Bears’ offense to Williams’ strengths. But that will come only after Williams demonstrates he can operate within structure. For now, the task is to master the basics, including footwork, timing, pocket presence, and processing.
Stacking Talent Around a Star in the Making
More than just the system, it’s also about the playmakers around Caleb Williams, and he’s got plenty.
“It’s hard, I think, for defenses to kind of keep account of all of us,” second-year wideout Rome Odunze said. “So I think we’ll find ourselves often in positions of advantage going against defenses with so many playmakers.”
This collection of weapons allows Johnson to eventually unleash a more dynamic playbook, and one that mirrors the off-script creativity Williams thrived in at USC. But with this much talent, the burden on Williams to do it all is lessened. He doesn’t need to be Superman every snap.
Even with all this potential, there’s an understanding within the organization that having an explosive offense that’s firing on all cylinders will take time. Plus, it’ll be hard to master a new offense while feeding all the weapons, even for Williams.
Still, it’s clear the Bears believe they’ve found their franchise quarterback, and they’re trusting Johnson to get the most out of him, not by rushing, but by carefully constructing an environment that demands greatness and provides the tools to achieve it.
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