The Chicago Bears are coming off of maybe their most impressive preseason showing in a decade, and while that might sound silly, it's the truth. Much can be attributed to head coach Ben Johnson and the job he's done with this team in only his first year.
In an interview with NFL personality Kay Adams, wide receivers Rome Odunze and DJ Moore were asked about Johnson and the impact he's had on this team, specifically after watching the Bears dismantle the Buffalo Bills on Sunday night.
"He came in with a mindset and he hasn't shifted from it since. We've all fed off that and he's got us going in the right direction," Odunze said.
For any die-hard Bears fan, moments like this might bring up past trauma. Specifically, thinking back to Matt Eberflus' opening press conference and hearing the former head coach talk about establishing a culture of discipline, running hard and implementing his HIITS principle, this quote from Odunze sheds light on how far the Bears have come.
Ben Johnson continues to prove he's not like the other coaches
Eberflus didn't even come close to changing the culture in Chicago. He and his staff were basically begged to coach the players harder ... by the players themselves. And now, we're hearing about just how hard Johnson is coaching his team. It's a breath of fresh air.
DJ Moore was alongside Odunze and only reiterated the point. Except, he called his shot and told fans to start preparing for some wins.
"It feels different within the building. It's going to trickle out to the fans real soon when we start putting up some wins. It starts with Ben Johnson," Moore chimed in.
The energy surrounding Halas Hall and emanating from the players is palpable. It is abundantly clear that Johnson has done a masterful job, thus far, in changing things. We've heard plenty about Johnson coaching his team hard, yes, but specifically the quarterback.
Hearing that Johnson coaches Caleb Williams hard is a breath of fresh air. By all accounts, that's what Williams wants -- and it's what he needs.
Read more: Ben Johnson says exactly what all Bears fans thought about Caleb Williams
The culture has officially shifted; something Eberflus only talked about doing.