ESPN analyst Matt Bowen did a hit on 670 The Score and shared some thoughts on Ben Johnson.
NFL analyst and former player Matt Bowen joined the Spiegel and Holmes show on 670 The Score Monday afternoon.
He shared some thoughts on the Senior Bowl and then on the Chicago Bears.
Here are some highlights.
On his favorite player overall he saw in Mobile.
“The number one player down there, any position down there was Grey Zabel. He can play guard, he can play center, he played on the edge during the week. Outstanding technician at the point of attack. Also, what I like, he’s an athlete.”
He went on to mention Zabel’s attitude and how he has that nasty streak you want to see. Plus, he took the coaching well, too.
Transitioning to the Johnson-Caleb Williams relationship, Bowen says he thinks Johnson will start with Williams’ poise in the pocket.
“I would start at the base floor. You are re-teaching him things because it’s a new system.”
Transitioning to the coaching staff and the defense, Bowen really sang some praises for the hires that the Bears have made.
“I love the Ben Johnson hire. I really love the Dennis Allen hire also.”
“You’re talking about high-level scheme and high-level player deployment. That’s what you’re going to see out of this defense. A lot of multiple fronts, a lot of stunts, a lot of overload fronts.”
He mentioned Allen prefers to play with two interchangeable safeties. “It’s a playmaking position. On the outside, he wants physical corners.”
And then Bowen really doubled down.
“They’re building a coaching staff that can be one of the best in the NFL. Guys like Antwaan Randle-El, Al Harris… but what they’re doing right now, this is the best they can do right now. They are making a statement to the league with these hires.”
He said the two most important position coaches are defensive backs and offensive line coaches because those units play as a group and communicate more than other positions.
And then he touched on Eric Bieniemy, who joined the Bears as a running backs coach over the weekend.
“This is someone that’s a former playcaller in the NFL that was up for head coaching interviews. You’re hiring the best of the best right now and putting them all together…he’s going to hold guys very accountable and you’re going to get that from him.”
You can hear the entire interview right here, there is a lot of good stuff.