Bears gearing up for Dallas showdown

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 2 hours ago

CHICAGO - After playing two straight division opponents, things do not get easier as head coach Ben Johnson prepares to face the Dallas Cowboys on Sun. Sept. 21 (3:25 p.m. / FOX).

Despite how the first two games of the year have gone, Johnson’s process for preparation has not changed.

“The process never changes. It doesn’t matter if we’re winning or we’re losing … There’s good stuff on tape and there’s not good enough stuff on tape and (when) you win, those mistakes get minimized and when you lose those mistakes get magnified and it’s simple as that and so those mistakes are loud and clear right now that we’re making too much of them and they’re of the giant variety,” Johnson said. “But, our process isn’t going to change. It’s something I believe in. It’s something our staff believes in. We’re coming in. We’re getting the corrections done and then we’re turning the page. So, we can talk about last week and continue to do that. But, as far as I’m concerned, this building right now, we’re focused on how do we win our first game of the season and our next opportunity to do that is against Dallas.”

This game will be a little different from the first two. Johnson replaced Matt Eberflus after Eberflus became the first head coach in Chicago Bears history to be fired mid-season. Now, Eberflus is the defensive coordinator for the Cowboys. That makes him far more familiar than most coordinators facing quarterback Caleb Williams. With the offense already struggling, this could pose a problem for the Bears.

However, Johnson is not concerned about Eberflus. He is more concerned about how Chicago has played in all three phases of the game.

“I think our practice habits are yet to reflect a championship caliber team,” Johnson said. “We should be going to the football, finishing hard. We talk about it all the time with the offensive players that our fundamentals, our finish and our technique, they need to show up in walk through. They need to show up on the practice field. That’s how it shows up on game day. Simple things (like) how do we properly block, how do we catch the ball, how do we block after the catch, ball security and things like that. It’s the little things that you learn in youth league football that even at this level, they make a huge difference.”

On Monday Night Football, FOX broadcaster and minority owner of the Las Vegas Raiders Tom Brady was seen in the coach’s booth. While this would not turn heads for any ordinary owner, given Brady’s work with FOX, there were some concerns that Brady could be privy to insider knowledge because of broadcast meetings and giving that information to the Raiders’ coaching staff.

Brady will be one of the announcers for Chicago’s game this weekend. So, Brady will be interviewing Johnson, among others, this week.

Despite the concerns other people have, Johnson is not concerned about giving away any “trade secrets” to Brady.

“I’ve been careful with everything I’ve said since the season started. I’ve been in pure coach speak mode since we started. So, to me, it’s just business as usual. I’m just fine. I like Tom and we have a really good relationship,” Johnson said. “I’m really not worried about it. We change week-to-week in terms of what we do. Schematically, he’s going to be able to turn on the tape and see what everyone else in the world is seeing right now. Personnel-wise, really the same thing. It’s not like I’m going to sit down with him and tell, ‘Hey, don’t do this to Caleb Williams or you might get him.’ I’m not going to. There’s not going to be any trade secrets that are going to be exchanged. But, I really don’t think it’s that big of a deal to be honest with you.”

It appears Chicago will be short-handed on defense once again. Johnson did not give an exact timeline on when All-Pro cornerback Jaylon Johnson will return this season, but said that he does not expect to see Johnson play this week.