00:00The Chicago Bears are about to unleash a new-look offense in 2025, and at the center of it all,
00:06Caleb Williams, the number one overall pick from USC, is stepping into a system
00:11tailor-made to maximize his skills. And the architect of this offense, Ben Johnson,
00:16is bringing a serious play-action game to Chicago.
00:20Play-action passing is one of the best cheat codes in the NFL, and guess what?
00:25It works whether you have an elite running game or not. People still believe you need
00:29to pound the rock effectively for play-action to work, but the numbers say otherwise.
00:34Play-action isn't about scaring defenses with a dominant rushing attack.
00:38It's about deception, misdirection, and catching defenders off guard.
00:42And in Ben Johnson's system, play-action is the engine that makes everything go.
00:47When Johnson was the offensive coordinator in Detroit,
00:49he turned Jarrett Goff into a top-tier quarterback in the league.
00:52Goff led the NFL in play-action attempts in 2023 and 2024, and the results were undeniable.
00:59His yards-per-attempt skyrocketed, his efficiency improved, and the Lions'
01:04offense was one of the most explosive in the league.
01:06Now, imagine what Johnson can do with a dynamic talent like Caleb Williams.
01:13Williams is a completely different kind of quarterback than Goff.
01:16He's not just a pocket passer, he's a playmaker. He can extend plays,
01:20throw on the run, and make off-palter throws that most quarterbacks in the league can only dream of.
01:26That makes him a perfect fit for Johnson's offense, which thrives on moving the pocket,
01:31creating throwing lanes, and confusing defenses with play-action concepts.
01:37Let's break it down. What makes play-action so deadly?
01:40First, it freezes linebackers. Defenders have to respect the run,
01:45even if your team isn't running the ball well.
01:47The moment they take that one false step forward, passing lanes open up behind them.
01:51That's where Caleb Williams can go to work.
01:53He has the arm strength and accuracy to hit deep shots over the middle,
01:57sideline throws, and even scramble if the play breaks down.
02:02And here's the kicker. Last season, even in an inconsistent offensive system,
02:06Caleb Williams saw a massive 27% boost in yards per attempt when using play-action.
02:13That's with an offensive line that struggled,
02:15and a running game that wasn't exactly lighting up the league.
02:19Imagine what happens when Johnson implements his scheme, tightens up protection,
02:24and gives Williams more designed rollouts and bootlegs.
02:28Defenses are going to be in serious trouble.
02:30Look at what Johnson did in Detroit. He tailored the offense around golf's strengths,
02:36maximizing his efficiency and putting him in a position to succeed.
02:39But now, he has a quarterback who isn't just a good decision-maker,
02:43but a playmaker who can turn nothing into something.
02:46That's the difference between a system quarterback and a franchise-changing talent.
02:50And let's be honest, Caleb Williams is a franchise-changing talent.
02:56So what can we expect from the Bears offense in 2025?
03:00More play-action, more movement, more explosive plays.
03:04With DJ Moore stretching the field, Cole Komet working the seams,
03:07and a potential new WR addition from free agency or the draft,
03:11Williams is going to have plenty of weapons at his disposal.
03:14And with Johnson designing the scheme,
03:16we're going to see an offense that keeps defenses guessing
03:19and creates high-percentage throws for Williams.
03:23The best part? Play-action makes life easier for the offensive line.
03:26Instead of straight dropbacks where defensive linemen can pin their ears back and rush,
03:31play-action slows them down.
03:33It forces them to hesitate, giving Williams that extra half-second to make the right read.
03:38That's a game-changer, especially for a young quarterback adjusting to the NFL speed.
03:43Of course, it's not all sunshine and rainbows.
03:46The Bears still need to shore up their offensive line.
03:48They need a true WR2 to complement DJ Moore.
03:52And they need to develop chemistry between Williams and his playmakers.
03:56But the foundation is there.
03:58The philosophy is sound.
04:00And if history tells us anything,
04:02Ben Johnson knows exactly how to craft an elite offense.
04:07Let's dive even deeper into the numbers.
04:09Play-action passing is not just about creating explosive plays.
04:14It's also about efficiency.
04:15According to Analytics, quarterbacks across the league see an average increase of 15-20%
04:22in yards per attempt when using play-action.
04:24That's a huge jump, especially for a young quarterback still learning to read NFL defenses.
04:30Williams already showed an impressive ability to process information quickly in college.
04:35And in a well-designed play-action system,
04:37his decision-making will only get faster and more precise.
04:42Another key element is how play-action passing helps neutralize aggressive defenses.
04:47Defensive coordinators love to send pressure, especially against young quarterbacks.
04:51But play-action slows that down.
04:53When linebackers and safeties bite on a fake handoff,
04:55they lose precious time to react.
04:57And that split-second delay gives Williams a cleaner pocket to operate.
05:02This will be crucial, especially against elite pass-rushing teams
05:06like the Packers and Bucks.
05:08Who the Bears will face twice a year.
05:11And let's not forget about how this benefits the running game itself.
05:14While the success of play-action doesn't necessarily depend on a dominant rushing attack,
05:19the opposite is true.
05:20A good play-action scheme helps open up the ground game.
05:23By keeping defenders off-balance, running backs get better rushing lanes and fewer stacked boxes.
05:29This means the Bears' backs, whether it's Khalil Herbert, Roshan Johnson, or a new addition,
05:34will have more room to operate and make plays.
05:37Balance is key, and Johnson's system thrives on keeping defenses guessing.
05:42Now, how does this compare to other great play-action offenses?
05:46Look at what Kyle Shanahan has done in San Francisco.
05:49His offenses have consistently ranked among the league's best in play-action efficiency,
05:54and it's a major reason why the 49ers have been a perennial contender.
05:58The same goes for Sean McVay's Rams and Kevin O'Connell's Vikings.
06:03Ben Johnson studied these systems,
06:05incorporated elements into his own philosophy, and now brings that knowledge to the Bears.
06:10This isn't just guesswork.
06:12There's a proven track record of success with this approach.
06:16The final piece of the puzzle is Williams' ability to throw on the move.
06:20Unlike traditional pocket passers, he thrives when rolling out and improvising.
06:24Johnson will design plays that take advantage of this,
06:27whether it's bootlegs, designed rollouts, or even RPOs, run-pass options,
06:33that give Williams the freedom to make quick reads.
06:36Expect to see more of these concepts in 2025,
06:40making the Bears' offense more dynamic and unpredictable.
06:44So, to sum it all up, more play-action, more efficiency, more explosive plays,
06:51a system tailored to Caleb Williams' strengths,
06:54the pieces are coming together, and Bears fans should be excited.
06:58The future of the franchise is in good hands,
07:00and 2025 could be the year the Bears finally put together an elite offense.
07:06Bear down!
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