What to Expect from Ben Johnson and the Bears
I grew up a Chicago Bears fan. When I heard Ben Johnson was hired, it was the first time I was genuinely excited since the 2019 home opener loss to Green Bay (10-3).
As I get older and more involved in the NFL world, I have lost some of my fan/rooting spirit. Either that, or the Bears have been killing it off…
As the season approaches, I feel it returning. I have studied Ben Johnson’s offenses extensively, and I believe he is a top 5 designer AND play caller (two different things!) in the NFL.
What is Ben Johnson’s offense all about? I want this article to provide a quick overview on his offense, and how it has changed over the last three seasons. If you want more details on specifics, you will really enjoy my two books on his offense:
Run Game
Having cutup every snap of Ben Johnson’s offense the last three years, it allows me a good look at how the focus has shifted over time. Here is an overview of the main run game categories each season.
After the 2022 season, Johnson and the Lions staff decided to go all-in on Outside Zone as the foundation of their offense. Johnson hasn’t worked for one of the typical Outside Zone coaching trees (Shanahan and McVay), but he determined that the benefits of committing to it helped the Lions take their productivity to the next level.
Simply put, Outside Zone asks the offensive line to “reach” block. This requires the offensive line to aim for the play side shoulder of the defender in their “covered/play side” gap in order to try and seal them inside. They have rules and calls that help them determine the combination blocks, double teams to get up to the linebackers. The running back will aim for the tight end’s outside shoulder. There is flexibility on where the ball will hit. The running back will cut off the first successful reach block/combination and get vertical.
The image below shows a common single back variation of Outside Zone.
The video below is what I call an Outside Zone Sizzle Reel. Some of Detroit’s best from the 2024 season.
It makes sense to build the rest of the offense around it. It is more all-purpose than the other run game categories shown in the table. You can build a multiple play action protection family off it too.
I expect this to be the starting point for the Bears. Roughly 15%-20% of their play calls could very well be part of the Outside Zone family.
Within each of the categories listed above, there are many variations of each run. These are opponent specific, typically tied to how the defense lines up their front and how they want to “fit” the run.
The next few images show some of my favorite run variations from the 2023 season. Each one is designed to perfection, and explained in detail in Game Planning with the 2023 Detroit Lions. There are subtle adjustments within each one to put his players in better leverage.
Tackle Trap
Duo
Pin Pull
Counter Solid w/Influence
Pass Game
Dagger
Johnson’s tenure with the Lions saw many pass concepts come and go, but Dagger variations have been a staple each year (2022/2023/2024). How Johnson evolved his usage of it in 2024 is what I find interesting.
Dagger is a hi-low on the hook area of the field. This is the area between the hash and the numbers, to the formation strength.
In 2022, Johnson and the Lions had a ton of success with Dagger. Off play action and drop back, the Lions created big plays down the field consistently. Their 3rd down success rate with it was remarkable, converting 64% which many of them were long yardage situations.
PA Dagger
Dagger (Drop Back)
The next image shows one of their base variations in the drop back category. This version creates a split field read, working away from the weak safety / weak hook defender. The 2022 Detroit Lions Complete Offensive Manual goes into further detail.
This is a 7-step pass concept, looking to push the ball down the field. At the same time, if the defense takes it away, the quarterback has to get to the hook control route on time. The image shows a Grab route as the hook control route, from the “Y” tight end. The Curl-Flat on the weak side is where the ball should go if the defense pushes a weak hook/weak safety to the Dagger side.
This is an all-purpose play, and it allows the quarterback proper spacing and timing to find an open receiver regardless of coverage.
In 2023, Johnson adapted the concept. They adjusted the release patterns, added new protections to pair with it, and added more variety with check downs. Game Planning with the 2023 Detroit Lions goes into further detail on these!
Johnson even tinkered with the timing of it. The Lions added quick-hitting, 5-step variations.
A neat 5-step variation that stood out to me was the one shown below, from week 13 against the Saints.
The Saints play a single high coverage. The seam/flat player gets cleared out with the Thru from the on-ball receiver. The strong hook player gets occupied with the Snag route, opening up a nice window for the Dig.
This version, while attacking the same landmarks on the field, counters how defenses want to take it away. Using the motion through the stack creates free releases for all, keeping the timing of the play intact. It also creates natural inside leverage for the Dig, with the route coming from a tighter split.
In 2024, Johnson continued to evolve the Dagger concept. Cornerback’s have gotten real good at matching the stem of the Dig route from both a big split or a condensed split. The adjustment is to run it off the Nickel defender instead, using the final #2 receiver as the Dig runner. The new #1 will run a Rail route, flushing the flat defender out of the picture to create a clean hi-low over the hook window.
The play is rounded out with a Bender/Special/Diagonal from the #3 receiver. This route is an alert against man coverage. The X receiver chipping and then working over the ball is the second check down if the Mike or weak hook player pushes and gets into the Dig window.
The 2024 Lions put on an absolute CLINIC with this concept in 2024. Goff hit every receiver in the progression over the course of the season. This does not happen often for a team, and it shows complete mastery of the design of the play. The video below shows this. The Dig route in the Green Bay clip is something I could watch on repeat for days…
Cross
Ben Johnson has shown mastery of the Hi Cross family of concepts in recent years. Both of the 2022 and 2023 books go into detail on how it works, and how Johnson has made it his own.
In short, Hi Cross creates a three level vertical stretch on the sideline. The image below shows a common variation. 7-man pass protection, three level stretch with a front side Post route as the vertical element.
The development that took off in 2024 that I believe a lot of teams will start to copy is the use of an Over-The-Ball route for further Hook/Mike control. This was called a few times in 2023, but really took off in 2024.
This route has some freedom to find the open space between the hashes, and also to separate against man coverage. This route is shown from the F receiver in the diagram below.
This variation uses two front side clear outs, another adjustment to the Cross concept to adjust to how modern defenses want to defend it.
The ball was thrown to this Over-The-Ball route quite frequently in 2024. An easy 10 yards for the offense.
(click “Watch on Youtube” if the video shows as unavailable)
In the video, you can see the added conflict for #51. Without the underneath route, he can get under the Cross easily and force the quarterback to run around.
Keepers
Ben Johnson got Jared Goff some clean looks out on the edge with some beautiful Keeper designs. With Caleb Williams, I expect to see even more of these.
Here is one example from 2023. Johnson calls a version of Keeper-Flash. The Flash tag refers to the first in the flat. This is usually the on-ball tight end.
This version of Keepers are great against wide-9 defensive ends.
Keeper-Flash is usually paired with a Counter action away. The gap action gives the Flash route more time to sell his block. It also makes the block look more like a squeeze hinge block too. The pulling guard incentivizes the linebackers to flow more too.
Pressure Answers
Between Johnson’s deep bag of protection calls and robust screens, he has plenty answers for pressures. The example below shows a simple perimeter screen against the vogue Mug fronts that Brian Flores is popularizing. A simple solution to a complex problem.
With all of the defenders on the line of scrimmage, the defense has a hard time reacting to motion across the formation. There is also no second level pursuit.
Conclusions
I can’t fit all of my thoughts into his article (hence why I have written two books on Johnson!), but hopefully you catch my drift. Every aspect/concept in his offense has the qualities that I showed above. I didn’t even mention my love for his Screen game!
At the end of the day, his offense is characterized by two things:
Attention to the detailed coaching points/technique to make the diagram show up on the field
Constant evolution to always have the chalk last. He has continued to stay ahead of defenses.
I am really excited to see how he continues to evolve his offense, especially with new personnel.
I have complete season cutups for my favorite concepts in Ben Johnson’s offense. You can find them easiest by scrolling the Cutup Library linked below.
I am still adding to this list for the 2024 season, those screen cutups are coming! Make sure you are subscribed to get them directly in your inbox.
