Weeks into Ben Johnson’s tenure in Chicago, the biggest question facing the Bears’ offense isn’t about talent. Indeed, it’s about timing. Known for elaborate designs like Detroit’s “stumble bum,” Johnson’s system demands discipline and cohesion. These two things are still clearly in short supply at Halas Hall. The installation process has revealed a young offense still searching for its rhythm. While Johnson remains confident in his long-term vision, early practices have been anything but smooth. And now, the Bears are experiencing those growing pains—Caleb Williams included—in full public view.

A now-infamous training camp clip shows DJ Moore awkwardly lobbing a pass back to Williams, who fails to bring it in as the offense collapses around him. The footage sparked a media frenzy, with NFL aggregator Dov Kleiman putting it bluntly: “Trending: The Bears have gone viral for looking like a ‘JV football team’ trying to execute Ben Johnson’s trick plays.” At this point, fans and analysts aren’t just mocking a bad play—they’re questioning the whole setup.

They are questioning whether Chicago’s roster, still trying to master the basics, could handle Johnson’s famously complex system imported from Detroit. Bleacher Nation wasn’t kind either, as they said, “It is nearly impossible to trust players with trick plays when they can’t get the little things right.” The scrutiny has landed on two people, i.e., Ben Johnson and Caleb Williams.

Johnson’s trick plays aren’t just creative. Indeed, he calculates and designs them deliberately. His ‘stumble bum’ against the Bears in 2024 was so theatrical, it bordered on absurdity. Jared Goff pretended to trip, and Jahmyr Gibbs dove on a fake fumble. While the entire Lions sideline yelled “Ball,” TE Sam LaPorta waltzed in for a touchdown.

Gibbs’s selling the dive was the key. And it worked, because the defense bought all of it. Another gem was a high-stakes hook-and-ladder against the 49ers as Goff hit Amon-Ra St. Brown, who pitched to Jameson Williams for a 42-yard TD.

Now in Chicago, Johnson’s trickplay philosophy is running into the harshest spotlight. But Johnson has different plans for the team, as he revealed previously back in January. “All the bells and whistles, those are fun… But none of it can be done unless the fundamentals are really hammered home,” he told reporters. “We only do this once a year. It’s an evaluation.” The goal is to see who can handle the mental and technical weight of gadget plays.

But for Williams, it is another steep ask in an already pressure-packed offseason. Johnson laid it bare, “There really isn’t a ton of carryover from what he was asked to do… We’re asking him to be a little bit more structured… There’s a lot more going on mentally than probably there’s ever been for him.” Johnson’s philosophy is to take things as far as the players are willing to take them.

That mindset earned him a head coaching gig. But now, with a rookie QB and a roster still finding its identity, the magic won’t come easy. If the offense continues to look like a disoriented JV squad, the blame and the fix start with this duo, as per the fans.

Fans vehemently oppose Johnson’s trick plays

Fans on X didn’t hold back as they reacted to the Chicago Bears’ failed attempt at executing Johnson’s trick plays. Some tried to keep things in perspective—“Not a Bears fan by any means, but that’s why it’s called practice, right?” However, many others were far less forgiving. One frustrated viewer declared, “This isn’t gonna work. They need physicality.” Well, they’ll definitely need to be better once the season kicks off.

Another fan put it bluntly: “The offense was literally playing at half speed today on passing plays. They’re still installing the offense…” Yet for many, even that didn’t feel like a strong enough defense. Fans shifted the tone fast. “Bears are cooked” and “Boy made the wrong choice.” Fans aimed much of their backlash squarely at both Ben Johnson and Williams.

Critics took shots at Johnson’s ambitious play-calling, with one post quipping, “Bears trying trick plays is like asking a toaster to solve a Rubik’s cube.” Another zeroed in on the basics, writing, “Ben Johnson will suck as a coach. Teach Caleb how to go through progressions first.” While a few tried to keep things in perspective—“It’s only the 4th day of camp 😂😂”—the overall mood was one of growing impatience.

So, can the Bears handle Ben Johnson’s trick plays? Not yet—not fully. But the pieces are there, the foundation is being laid, and if they can lock in on the details, the magic will come.