Ben Johnson on C.J. Gardner-Johnson, preparing for Bengals | Press Conference

Ben Johnson on C.J. Gardner-Johnson, preparing for Bengals | Press Conference

All right. Uh, focus solely on on Cincinnati now. You know, you kind of look at how their season’s gone for them and and of course they’ve gone through the the quarterback carousel, but uh, since Flaco’s been there, they they’ve looked like a different team. They’re scoring points. Uh, their running game’s come alive over the last couple weeks. Uh, and and really it hasn’t mattered who’s started at quarterback form. They’ve played really well at home. They’ve scored over 30 points a game at home. Um, and so we know how dangerous this team can be and and uh like a lot of teams this time of year, you know, you’re kind of you’re pushing to stay alive and and so this is a big game for them. It’s a big game for us as well. So, um, with that being said, I’ll go ahead and open it up. What went into the decision to sign CJ? Well, we, as you can tell, we’ve we’ve had some uh some injuries over the course of the last few weeks. You know, the our injury report last week was pretty healthy and then this week, same thing. We we had a lot of uh you know, we’ve got we got guys dinged up and in and out and so we have an opportunity um and and he was available. He’s a good football player. Uh you know, there’s there’s a number of us that have been with him in the past and uh so it’s a good fit. I imagine I imagine his versatility is probably pretty enticing. Do you envision him like starting in a specific place, slot corner with Kyler out or how do you see that going? Yeah, we we’ll put him we’ll lock him in one spot and have him learn the learn the defense. you know, obviously he’s been with DA and so, uh, he’s he’s should has some familiarity, but he’s also bounced around to to a few different other systems over the last few years. And so, we’ll see how quickly it comes back to him and and whether he’ll be ready to go this week or not. Between the lines, he has a reputation of being a pest, I guess. What was he like outside of the lines when he went to Detroit? Yeah, he, you know, he he ended up going on IR there for a long time and so, um, all I know is he’s he’s a competitive player. Uh, you know, I felt that during training camp that year that I was with him, um, early in the season and then when he came back late in the season, it’s the same thing. He’s he he loves being on the grass and and playing football. And so, um, we’ll, uh, we’ll make sure that that, uh, we have a good support system for him. you know, it’s he’s got a family, he’s got kids that are important to him, and so we just want to make sure that that we support him the best we can off the field. With what you’re trying to build inside your locker room, how do you assure that he adheres to to the standards there, he has a reputation as being a little bit sirly and at times combustible? Yeah, well, we we’ve got a very strong locker room. We’ve got uh a positive veteran influence in there. Uh I feel very strongly about that group and nothing’s more important than our locker room to be clear with you. So, um, that that’s certainly first and foremost of any decision we make of who we bring in or who we let go and, uh, and so I think we’re all aware of, um, how important that is and and the fit that he has with that locker room. And this is this correlates to Kyler Gordon’s injury. What is the realistic expectation of how long he’ll be out? Yeah, you know, we’re hopeful it’s on the short shortterm variety and that we’ll be be able to get him back here um you know, four weeks or so. Ben, uh when we talked on Monday, you said you hadn’t met about that last play of the game, the throw to DJ that went through the back of the end zone. Uh what did you end up deciding there on maybe what should have happened for them to connect? And also on top of that, just how do you feel right now about the chemistry between Caleb and DJ? DJ, is it where you want it to be? Uh, I think for all of our players to to go on the second half of that question, that’s always a work in progress. That’s why the a week of of work is so important for us. Um, I think the passing game, it’s it’s a it’s a continual evolution. Um, you get new routes in each week, maybe some that you haven’t thrown uh since early in the season or training camp. And and so you got to make sure you stay on it so that you know where everyone’s going to be and and you build that trust and rapport with each other. And so, um, you know, for that particular play, uh, he’s running the backline. He does have the ability to shut it down in in an open window. Um, you know, it’s a unique look where there happens to be a second level defender in the area that he shut it down. Do I wish he would have stayed on the move? Sure. But I also know at this level that that that’s open and and we have two really good players right there and we can we can find a way to hook up. Ben, uh, Cincinnati ranks 30th in red zone defense, I believe. Uh, most red zone touchdowns allowed. Do you see things that you can exploit on film um for your red zone? I I haven’t quite made it to red zone yet. That’ll be that’ll be Friday that uh I can turn my attention there. We’re, you know, first and second down on Wednesday, third down on Thursday, and then red zone on Friday um is usually how how we handle it. And so I’m not quite there yet. Here’s what I’ll say about their defense, though, is it’s full of a bunch of young players that continue to get better. You know, they have two young linebackers, rookie linebackers that you can tell are super athletic and uh you know, I think the world of Al Golden, I I’ve been with him in the past. I know he’s a phenomenal teacher. Um and and they’re doing things schematically that can that can make it hard on an offense. And so, um the more reps that those young players have on on their defense, they’re going to continue to get better. We’ve seen the chemistry that Caleb has had with Rome so far this season. Is there any danger at all of Caleb locking into Rome too much when he’s making his return? No, I I think Caleb has been pretty true to um trust in the progression. And so, you know, we we vary who is the primary on all of our concepts. And that’s where, you know, as a play caller and you have this many weapons, you want to make sure that uh you’ve got all your your weapons primary a certain number of times on the call sheet. And then when you call that play, it kind of coverage dictates whether the ball can go there or not. But um it’s just been one of those things that the the ones where Rome has been primary. He’s he’s been open quite a bit. And so um yeah, it’s it’s good to see that they they do have that connection and that rapport and you know, I think he’s got that with the rest of the guys as well. We just got to make sure that we’re getting them in that primary spot enough. You said you wanted to to lock Gardner Johnson into into one spot. Pardon me if I heard didn’t hear this correctly. Did you say it was going to be inside or the slot or you guys still working on that? It’ll be inside for now. Yep. What were some of those conversations with DA like just in terms of deciding if it wasn’t? Yeah. So, I mean DA knew him when he was a young player. Um, he hasn’t been with him for a number of years and then I had a short little crossover period with him. Uh, we did due diligence. We talked to people that he’s been around recently. Um, and so it was one of those moves that that we felt comfortable with where we’re at as a team right now. Uh, where CJ’s at in his career that that it’s a good fit. And as you seek answers to to slow down Jamar Chase, when you see both his talent and the target share that he’s getting, what what strikes you with how he’s playing right now? Yeah, I mean, you talk about a, you know, a complete problem. He he is that he’s just I don’t I don’t know how much he can slow him down with for a guy that uh I don’t know anything he doesn’t do well. I mean, I’m turning on the run tape last night before I left and and he’s down there blocking down the field for the runners. So, um yeah, I think he’s a complete receiver. I think it’s all hands on deck to try to slow him down. Um I think we’ve got to do a great job marrying up our rush and our coverage and uh you know, ma making things as difficult as we possibly can for for this offense. seen with how quickly he and Flaco have developed obviously. Yeah. Yeah. I mean, it’s it’s pretty impressive. Um, you know, Flaco’s done a I mean, he’s he’s had an incredible career so far and um you know, it’s still still going on now and uh to see him pick it up and, you know, get thrown in the fire that first week after he was acquired and then uh he just has gotten better as these weeks have gone on, more comfortable in that offense. it really fits him well with with what Zach and that crew they’re they’re asking him to do. Um and then when you when you have the weapons like that on the outside, I think it it makes his life a lot easier and he he just knows he can throw it up and they’ll come down and make a play for him. So, um yeah, it’s pretty impressive how quickly it’s clicked. And are there with throws over the middle in the red zone, are there certain things that you have to teach Caleb about like the dangers of certain throws there of just like identifying things coverage-wise that might lead him to a different option just because the the windows are tighter and Yeah. Yeah, I mean, we’re always very very uh cognizant of what coverages we’re we’re looking to face down there. Um, you know, last week in particular, we knew that inside the five it was it was usually uh cover zero variety and that there wasn’t usually somebody in the back half of the end zone and so we felt pretty comfortable about those backline throws. And when you when you look at you guys pass rush, what isn’t happening? What isn’t firing right in that? Yeah. Uh there there’s I mean that’s a that’s a deep question. Um we’ve got to we’ve got to capitalize on the opportunities when guys get one-on-one um on a tackle or on a guard. And that that’s really what it comes down to. If it’s a play action, uh then we got to transition to to rushers fast. Um you know, last week in particular, we we didn’t build a lead on that team. we we allowed them to keep the running game going. We had a strong emphasis going into the game of stopping that running game. And so as that game went on, they they were able to live in that that movement and and play action world, which makes it makes the pass rush a lot more challenging uh all in all. And so, um, I do think, uh, when you look at our third down numbers, I do think that’s indicative of how how our pass rush, maybe not from a sack perspective, but from a pressure perspective, has been able to influence the quarterback and and affect him. Um, you know, not everyone agrees with this statement, but the the hits and the pressures are are equally important to me as the sacks are. And so, um, I would love to have be leading the league in sacks right now, but affecting the quarterback is is really important for us. And and when I look at those true drop back situations, um, that’s what I’m looking at more than anything is how much are we affecting the quarterback? You mentioned winning the one-on- ons uh, against how are the top your top two defensive ends, Sweat and Odango, doing at that? I think uh, I think Sweat has started to ascend over the last few games. I’m I’m pretty pleased with how he’s playing. Um uh Dio has been really good as an interior rusher. Um and I thought he played a really strong game last week in the run game. It was his best game yet this season, but on the edge. We’re still working on that. Thank you. Two.

Head coach Ben Johnson addresses the media Wednesday at Halas Hall.

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