The Chicago Bears didn't get off to the start of the season they hoped for, and head coach Ben Johnson will be the first to say that. Following the loss, he admitted that he made several crucial mistakes against the Minnesota Vikings.
However, that doesn't mean the Detroit Lions will overlook him. If anything, it's the entire opposite. When asked about Johnson's strengths as a playcaller, Lions defensive coordinator Kelvin Sheppard simply replied, "Everything. Next question."
Still, he's pretty familiar with what Johnson brings to the table. Talking to the media, Sheppard said that what Johnson did in Week 1 was more of the same he did in his three years in Detroit. He also recalled the similarities in Dennis Allen's and Aaron Glenn's defensive systems, so he knows what to expect.
Lions Coach Sounds Confident Ahead of Bears Matchup
"First thing I told the guys, 'It's going to be training camp practice, guys. It's training camp day.' D.A. (Dennis Allen) I know them a while. A.G. came from that system. So, it's all the same, not only offensively, but defensively," Sheppard said. "You turn the tape over and look at it deeper. It's a lot of the same. I told the guys, 'This is training camp.'"
Last week, Coach Johnson hinted at having something special up his sleeve for his former team. Sheppard and the Lions won't look past him, but they know what they can control to take some of Johnson's trickery and deception away:
"Don't go chasing ghosts. Don't go worrying about if he brings in an eligible, and he's at receiver. And listen, we all understand and respect Ben Johnson as a person, more importantly. But also as a play-caller. It's why he got afforded the opportunity he's in, and we all understand this," said Sheppard. "But I clearly want to make this about the players. They're the ones going to play. Ben will tell you the same thing. They're the ones going to play and execute all these things we're drawing up."
Johnson made a name for himself as one of the most creative play-designers and playcallers in the game during his three years with the Lions. Also, in the same way Sheppard and Dan Campbell are familiar with him, he knows how they think, what they do, and how they prepare every single day of the week.
Both teams will be looking to bounce back after a disappointing start to the campaign, more so knowing that overcoming a 0-2 start to the season is way easier said than done.
The offense flashed glimpses of strong play in the opener, and while it won't be easy to beat Sheppard's physical defense, Coach Johnson should have a couple of tricks left in his bag.