Ben Johnson Brings New Problems for the Vikings
When the Chicago Bears announced their intentions to take over the NFC North simply because they hired Matt Eberflus, it was comical.
Ben Johnson Brings New Problems for the Vikings
The franchise certainly put a strong step forward in acquiring new talent over the past year, but it was clear that Matt Eberflus was a flop of a head coach hire. Ben Johnson shouldn’t be seen in the same light.
The Detroit Lions have risen to relevancy because of their prolific offense. Ben Johnson is the architect behind that, and while his departure should hurt Dan Campbell, it will benefit Chicago. Williams needs someone who can develop him at the highest level, and his new boss is now exactly that.
It shouldn’t be expected that the Bears will immediately become some juggernaut. However, if they were destined to fall apart given previous leadership, there is now reason to question that result. Johnson is stepping into his first head coaching role, but his work with the Lions and Jared Goff speaks for itself.
Chicago has playmakers who will finally be utilized by someone who can be creative. The Vikings may have seen one opponent take a slight hit with this move, but another saw a substantial jump. This past season, it was clear that Chicago was not on the same level as the rest of the division. Johnson will work quickly to change that reality.
If Minnesota is going to substantiate the surprising 14-win season that Kevin O’Connell orchestrated with Sam Darnold, then it will be because J.J. McCarthy steps in and looks like the guy as well. The Vikings drafted their quarterback of the future and will reap salary cap benefits because of it. They must develop him and fill in holes throughout the roster to keep up with the competition.
Chicago should experience a significant culture shift going from Eberflus to Johnson. The offensive-minded guru will have a different way of doing things, but he brings a track record that should immediately get buy-in. Working with Campbell over the past few seasons, he has also seen what a certain leadership level can provide from a team-building perspective.
The Bears organization has long been plagued by a cycle of making the wrong decisions. This one appears right, which makes life tougher for Minnesota.
Ted Schwerzler is a blogger from the Twin Cities that is focused on all things Minnesota Twins and Minnesota Vikings. He’s active on Twitter and writes daily for Minnesota Sports Fan. As a former college athlete and avid sports fan, covering our pro teams with a passion has always seemed like such a natural outlet.
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