‘This worries me’ – Fans afraid new Bears coach will hurt Caleb Williams and repeat NFL Draft blunder
Ben Johnson is the man tasked with unleashing Caleb Williams’ full potential. The former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator built a high-powered unit around Los Angeles Rams castaway Jared Goff. Johnson has some big decisions to make in ChicagoGetty And he will now have the No.1 pick from last year’s draft at quarterback after taking over as Chicago Bears head coach, looking to build on an underwhelming rookie season that showed glimpses of promise. Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times this season. Some of those can be put on the 23-year-old playing hero ball and hanging on too long. But a porous offensive line didn’t help the young signal-caller. In the 2024 NFL Draft Chicago opted to draft wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth pick. He is a brilliant player and has a bright future but in hindsight, standout New Orleans Saints left tackle Taliese Fuaga, who was selected five spots later, could have worked wonders for Williams‘ blindside. That is all in the past and Johnson has a clean slate heading into April’s Draft, where he has a great chance to provide support for Williams with the No.10 pick. As teams scramble for the best quarterbacks, receivers and edge rushers, there should be plenty of talented offensive line prospects available when Chicago is on the clock. But fans think Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles will go another route after running back sensation Ashton Jeanty was pictured alongside Williams. Johnson’s Lions reaped the rewards of ignoring the conventional wisdom on positional value and selecting Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th pick in 2024. And he could be tempted to repeat the move after Jeanty fell just 28 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season NCAA rushing record. Jeanty (right) could link up with Williams (center) in ChicagoInstagram @deuce.2x__ Bears fans are afraid that lightning doesn’t strike twice and urged Johnson to focus on protecting Williams – Goff enjoyed having one of the best unit’s in football ahead of him. “This worries me. CW needs to surround himself with really good lineman,” one posted on X. “We should not be spending a top 10 pick on an rb when we need people to block for any rb that is on the roster,” added another. A third said: “O-line. Only O-line. I love Jeanty, but get that thought out your head!!” “Look man i’m all for it, but I would rather prefer us getting some offensive linemen. I mean, Jeanty wouldn’t really do much with this current offensive line,” a fourth agreed. “If we address the trenches in free agency, I’m down to pick him up at 10,” was a more positive take. Williams was infamously tricked by some teenagers into believing he was speaking to Johnson days before the announcement. He took the prank call in good faith – blaming it on Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown. The QB has talked up Johnson’s scheme before and will be delighted at the Bears’ hire. “Strong minded. A leader of men,” Williams said when asked what he wanted in a head coach. “I think that’s a cool thing about what ya’ll got over there in Detroit [in head coach Dan Campbell]. “Selfishly, I want an offensive-minded guy so I can build with him and be with that coach for the next 19, 17, 15 years.” Wish granted. Now it’s time to get down to work. Follow talkSPORT NFL on Facebook Follow our talkSPORT NFL page on Facebook for the latest breaking NFL news, exclusive video interviews, and the biggest talking points from around the league. Our dedicated NFL YouTube channel ‘End Zone’ will also keep you across the very latest NFL news with exclusive access and our weekly ‘Rundown’ review show.
Ben Johnson is the man tasked with unleashing Caleb Williams’ full potential.
The former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator built a high-powered unit around Los Angeles Rams castaway Jared Goff.
And he will now have the No.1 pick from last year’s draft at quarterback after taking over as Chicago Bears head coach, looking to build on an underwhelming rookie season that showed glimpses of promise.
Williams was sacked a league-high 68 times this season. Some of those can be put on the 23-year-old playing hero ball and hanging on too long.
But a porous offensive line didn’t help the young signal-caller.
In the 2024 NFL Draft Chicago opted to draft wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth pick.
He is a brilliant player and has a bright future but in hindsight, standout New Orleans Saints left tackle Taliese Fuaga, who was selected five spots later, could have worked wonders for Williams‘ blindside.
That is all in the past and Johnson has a clean slate heading into April’s Draft, where he has a great chance to provide support for Williams with the No.10 pick.
As teams scramble for the best quarterbacks, receivers and edge rushers, there should be plenty of talented offensive line prospects available when Chicago is on the clock.
But fans think Johnson and general manager Ryan Poles will go another route after running back sensation Ashton Jeanty was pictured alongside Williams.
Johnson’s Lions reaped the rewards of ignoring the conventional wisdom on positional value and selecting Jahmyr Gibbs with the 12th pick in 2024.
And he could be tempted to repeat the move after Jeanty fell just 28 yards shy of breaking Barry Sanders’ single-season NCAA rushing record.
Bears fans are afraid that lightning doesn’t strike twice and urged Johnson to focus on protecting Williams – Goff enjoyed having one of the best unit’s in football ahead of him.
“This worries me. CW needs to surround himself with really good lineman,” one posted on X.
“We should not be spending a top 10 pick on an rb when we need people to block for any rb that is on the roster,” added another.
A third said: “O-line. Only O-line. I love Jeanty, but get that thought out your head!!”
“Look man i’m all for it, but I would rather prefer us getting some offensive linemen. I mean, Jeanty wouldn’t really do much with this current offensive line,” a fourth agreed.
“If we address the trenches in free agency, I’m down to pick him up at 10,” was a more positive take.
Williams was infamously tricked by some teenagers into believing he was speaking to Johnson days before the announcement.
He took the prank call in good faith – blaming it on Lions wideout Amon-Ra St. Brown.
The QB has talked up Johnson’s scheme before and will be delighted at the Bears’ hire.
“Strong minded. A leader of men,” Williams said when asked what he wanted in a head coach. “I think that’s a cool thing about what ya’ll got over there in Detroit [in head coach Dan Campbell].
“Selfishly, I want an offensive-minded guy so I can build with him and be with that coach for the next 19, 17, 15 years.”
Wish granted. Now it’s time to get down to work.
Follow talkSPORT NFL on Facebook
Follow our talkSPORT NFL page on Facebook for the latest breaking NFL news, exclusive video interviews, and the biggest talking points from around the league.
Our dedicated NFL YouTube channel ‘End Zone’ will also keep you across the very latest NFL news with exclusive access and our weekly ‘Rundown’ review show.
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