Chicago Bears training camp is here, and along with seeing the players on the field, we get to hear from them plenty. Sometimes, that's even more newsworthy than any highlight we see during practice.
For safety Jaquan Brisker, that's exactly the type of moment he provided when speaking with Cassie Carlson as the team reported for camp. When asked about the new coaching staff and Ben Johnson, in particular, Brisker offered nothing but compliments to his new leadership. All the while, it seemed to shed light on what was long missing from Matt Eberflus.
“He’s just straightforward. I love that. He’s going to keep it real with us. He tells us what we’re going to do. We can play for somebody like that … especially his intensity when he comes into the meeting rooms, he matches our energy.”
Jaquan Brisker unintentionally pointed out exactly what the Bears were missing from Matt Eberflus' staff
This obviously wasn't his intent, but Brisker essentially told Carlson that Eberflus and his staff were anything but straightforward or intense.
And, it isn't hard to believe. We are talking about the coaching staff who was called out by their own players early on last season. We're talking about the coaching staff Jaylon Johnson was clearly upset with, at times, over the past year or so.
This is the head coach who committed one of the NFL's all-time blunders just last Thanksgiving, proving he could not be decisive and straightforward. Eberflus was not a coach these players wanted to play for, and fans knew it. This fan base could feel it.
On the part where Brisker said Johnson matches the players' energy ... that's another obvious and subtle shot at Eberflus. Do we really believe there were ever moments where Eberflus could match his players' energy?
There's no chance; none, whatsoever.
This team floundered under Eberflus because of a significant lack of energy, intensity and deliberate planning.
Fortunately, that seems to be just what Johnson and his staff have brought to the organization.