In the four-plus months we've gotten to see Ben Johnson as the Chicago Bears' head coach, many moments have proven he is not the type of coach fans are used to seeing with the team.
During the Bears' most recent OTA practice, Johnson proved it as much once again. BearReport's Zack Pearson was in attendance and included in his takeaways was this little tidbit in regards to Johnson's dissatisfaction with a series of plays.
"Ben Johnson was upset with the offense and getting settled at the line a few different times, making them go huddle up and do it again," wrote Pearson.
Ben Johnson is delivering on his initial promise to the Bears
Sure, it is only OTAs, but Johnson continues to deliver on his promise of coaching this team up the right way. It is so unorthodox compared to what the veterans have been used to under the likes of Matt Eberflus.
We could go on and on about the stories involving Bears players speaking up and wanting to be coached harder. By now, most fans are familiar with last year's debacle involving not only Eberflus, but Shane Waldron, as team leaders brought the latter into a meeting and asked him to coach the team harder.
In Eberflus' first press conference with the Bears, he came across as a level-headed but militant type of personality. His background would have spoken to that as well. But, Eberflus failed to hold his players accountable.
That's not what was promised.
Johnson, meanwhile, has continued to operate within his immediate vows. In stopping practice altogether and demanding the players engage in do-overs, he's establishing a culture right away. Johnson has made it very clear that this team is going to be coached harder than ever before, and he's following through.
For a player like Caleb Williams, this is exactly the kind of coaching he needs. Eberflus didn't seem to have that tight-knit bond with Williams built on accountability and trust. Johnson has made it a point, early on, to show he is willing to hold his players accountable while putting them in the best positions to succeed.
These are small things, here and there, in practices, but all of these add up over time. Johnson is doing this the right way.