Johnson views veteran tight end Cole Kmet as a versatile weapon who can line up all over the field.
“He’s a little bit of a unicorn,” Johnson said. “You can put him all over the place. Inline to outside the numbers, slot, I think you can move him around quite a bit.
“I think the beauty of having him outside the numbers is if you get him matched up on a safety or a linebacker, then that’s going to be a favor for us. That’s going to be a good thing. He’s going to be able to win those matchups on a consistent basis. He’s such a large target that if you put it somewhere close to him, he’ll find a way to come down with it.”
Johnson is thrilled with the work being done by his assistant coaches.
“I have a high level of confidence in the entire coaching staff,” Johnson said. “I told them last night they’re doing just a phenomenal job across the board. They’re bringing energy to every practice, they’re coaching up the little things, their guys are ready to play and compete every day we go out there.”
No assistant has been more impressive than veteran defensive coordinator Dennis Allen.
“The defense has had the upper hand on the offense for the most part in camp, and he’s a guy who’s not going to show any mercy,” Johnson said. “He’s keeping his foot on the pedal and wants to keep installing and bringing the noise. So I appreciate that. His mentality is rubbing off on our players, certainly on the defensive side. Even this morning, I go into his office, and he gives me some tips here and there about being a head coach. So that’s invaluable.”
Johnson was asked what advice he received from Allen, who spent six seasons as an NFL head coach with the Raiders (2012-14) and Saints (2022-24).
“He said, ‘When you’re in that seat, I’ve got to come into work every morning and say there are going to be four or five things that come across my desk that I’m not anticipating,'” Johnson said. “If you think that it’s going to be smooth sailing, you’re going to be disappointed. But if you come in with that expectation, you’re going to be just fine.”
Former Bears kicker Robbie Gould, who is the head football coach at St. Viator High School in suburban Arlington Heights, brought his squad to watch practice Thursday. St. Viator is the alma mater of Kmet as well as Jarrett Payton, the son of legendary Bears Hall of Famer Walter Payton.
Source link
