New Strength and Conditioning Coach Promotion

[BearFan PHX]

Rusty Jones was the Bears' strength and conditioning coach from 2007 to 2012 after having been a "secret weapon" (according to Marv Levy) for the Buffalo Bills for 20 years. He retired after the 2012 season, and I remember how he emphasized flexibility and individual nutrition programs. I remember that we had fewer injuries back then, and I remember writing a post to this board back in 2013 saying that he was an unsung hero and we would miss him.

here it is - I found it
 

And surely, the Bears have been bitten by injury bugs over the years since.

Pierre Ngo has been an assistant of strength and conditioning with the bears for two stints.from 2015 to 2021, and again for the last two years. Of course as assistant, he wasnt the one to make the calls about what we would do as our program.

He worked under Jim Arthur, who comes from the Rusty Jones tree. Apparently his interview with Ben Johnson was enough to convince him to promote him rather than look elsewhere.

Of course we did have injures under Arthur, so I dont know how strong the Rusty Jones connection is, or what it means, but if he is a devotee of Jones' philosophy, then this could be very important and good news for us.

I do recall reading a lot about what we were losing when Jones retired, and writing that post here. And I did notice over the next years how much more injury prone we were than i had ever remembered, as we switched from flexibility based to raw strength based training.

I cant say anything for sure about this, but I am hopeful that this is a big move.

[Stinger226]

Olin Kreutz praises him all the time.  I think he likes the current one also. Injuries happen even under the best supervision. I think where he Jones did the best when someone was around after a couple of years. It takes that long to incorporate his advice.

[Mongo3451]

Why not both?  Strength and flexibility are a must in any program.  I personally believe we weren't injured more or less than the average NFL team.  Our biggest problems last year were concussions and ankles.  

What I want in a strength and conditioning coach, is someone to address each individual player.  In doing so, the athlete's strengths can be accentuated while concentrating on remedying their weaknesses.  How refreshing would it be to see him work with the OL coach to assess and correct Braxton Jones' anchor, through strength of body position?  It would be even cooler to get Tevin Jenkins invested in an off-season training regimen and have him reach his potential. (Unfortunately, I think that ship has sailed)

This is the first year that I have ever felt that ownership has taken the coaching staff seriously.  Been Johnson is a details guy.  Where Flus preached details, Johnson demands details.  Details matter and how they are enforced matters.  What I like about this year is that almost everyone is on notice.

 

[Stinger226]

IMO they got a great coaching staff. Now they need to work together to get results. I think we are  now in a competing mode instead of still building. Even though some of that applies. 

There is enough talent here plus assets to at least make the playoffs. 

[BearFan PHX]

13 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

Why not both?  Strength and flexibility are a must in any program.  I personally believe we weren't injured more or less than the average NFL team.  Our biggest problems last year were concussions and ankles.

For sure, but it's a balance. Some programs develop more strength at the cost of flexibility, and vice versa. Where to strike that balance is the question.

For Billings it was muscular, Davis too (although he may just be a pussy that doesnt want to play). I agree that the concussions are up around the league because of increased protocol around them, and ankles are probably not a result of conditioning either.

Still, I am optimistic that the new S&C coach could be an improvement for us?

From what we read, under Eberflus, the linemen werent really pushing themselves in the weight room, so that alone might make an improvement too?

[ASHKUM BEAR]

1 hour ago, BearFan PHX said:

From what we read, under Eberflus, the linemen werent really pushing themselves in the weight room, so that alone might make an improvement too?

I will add to this,  Flus wanted his line lighter.  From experience, it means lighter weights and more repetitions and changing body composition quickly takes it toll. 

Johnson I believe wants more beef and strength.  His preference is to attack the defense and run the ball with no hesitation into a gap.  This gives the d-line little time to control multiple gaps and give the d-backs time to play the run. 

What Johnson does here with Roshar is unknown.  The outside zone scheme has been somewhat decoded by Vic Fangio.  I assume it will be a variation of his and Roshars. 

[BearFan PHX]

28 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

I will add to this,  Flus wanted his line lighter.  From experience, it means lighter weights and more repetitions and changing body composition quickly takes it toll. 

Johnson I believe wants more beef and strength.  His preference is to attack the defense and run the ball with no hesitation into a gap.  This gives the d-line little time to control multiple gaps and give the d-backs time to play the run. 

What Johnson does here with Roshar is unknown.  The outside zone scheme has been somewhat decoded by Vic Fangio.  I assume it will be a variation of his and Roshars. 

totally agree. If we look at the Lions (and I admit that Johnson has already said he wont be running the exact same offense here) they have a powerful line, and rather than having an offensive running scheme like most teams, they ran versions of all schemes at different times. And that surely included the power game.

Like you said, the power game gives the DL less time, and it also threatens a defense that insists on running 2 deep safeties, so it opens up the passing game too.

I think Matt Eberflus has an immature idea at best of how an offense works, and Shane Waldron was an idiot.

This video game football, the same we saw with Nagy, of all the pulling and exclusively outside zone running concepts, and bubble screens is a joke. Sure all those things have their place, and we will do them, but I agree that our line will be stronger at the point of attack than we've been in many years. By scheme, by players and by conditioning.

We should not be emulating the 2022 Rams in our running game. As you say, Fangio already decoded that in Denver, dropping safeties in cover 2, and cover 4, and you saw what he did to the Chiefs too. Every defense has seen that pulling man coming across the formation. it may threaten the edges, but it doesnt influence safeties back into the box.

And Im not saying we wont do it, but it wont be ALL we do. And power running is going to be a part of what we do.

This may be unpopular, but i wonder what this might do to rehabilitate Roschon Johnson. Imagine if we'd done this already a few years ago with Montgomery...

[Stinger226]

I think last year the biggest problem was a lack of communication and lack of accountability. No huge personality to demand accountability. Olin and urlacker were best at it. We need to add that kind of toughness back in the recipe.

[BearFan PHX]

24 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

I think last year the biggest problem was a lack of communication and lack of accountability. No huge personality to demand accountability. Olin and urlacker were best at it. We need to add that kind of toughness back in the recipe.

everything matters, but youre right it ALL starts with leadership.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

20 minutes ago, BearFan PHX said:

everything matters, but youre right it ALL starts with leadership.

And a leader is what Will Campbell will bring to the line, of course in time as he has to earn it. It is also why I lean on Milum in round 2. His power and intelligence is plug in play for an attacking offense.

I want the Bears to balance how they rebuild the line.  Two in the draft and two in FA.  

I can sacrifice some defensive draft talent as long as they get the offense set.  The Bears cannot steer away from Caleb.  It might cost them contention for a year, but 2026 watch out

[BearFan PHX]

44 minutes ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

And a leader is what Will Campbell will bring to the line, of course in time as he has to earn it. It is also why I lean on Milum in round 2. His power and intelligence is plug in play for an attacking offense.

I want the Bears to balance how they rebuild the line.  Two in the draft and two in FA.  

I can sacrifice some defensive draft talent as long as they get the offense set.  The Bears cannot steer away from Caleb.  It might cost them contention for a year, but 2026 watch out

Ive been thinking for a while that as much as NO one wants to hear it right now, we are probably 2 offseasons away from being a true SB contender. So Im glad you said it.

And when I said leadership I was thinking of the coaching staff, but we need it on the line from players too.

I wish I was in a position to take a side on this player. I saw about 5 minutes of film on him and he looks like a beast. But I havent seen anyone else, and im just not ready to have any kind of informed opinion yet - and probably wont be for many weeks.

One thing is certain - we need to give Caleb a line to stand behind and read defenses, or there will be no growth. And if they open up the running game, that helps all that too. And thank god we have a coach and playcaller that finally understands that, instead of another group determined to rediscover the bubble screen without having realized we've been bleeding from it for decades over many coaching staffs.

[Stinger226]

I would totally agree with you but Washington was a bad team that made the playoffs last year. The year before Houston won a playoff game. It can be done and I would say our talent level is comparable to both those teams.

[ASHKUM BEAR]

29 minutes ago, Stinger226 said:

I would totally agree with you but Washington was a bad team that made the playoffs last year. The year before Houston won a playoff game. It can be done and I would say our talent level is comparable to both those teams.

It all depends if they can get all the pieces and they respond early enough to coaching.  I see them being one major player away, which could come as a  trade deadline addition. The hardest part is filling all the needs on both lines and the time it takes a rookie to get up to speed mentally and physically 

[BearFan PHX]

I think we can go to the playoffs this year, Im saying the roster is more than one offseason away from being a true SB contender.

[Stinger226]

I think the piece that gives us that edge is Caleb. If he reaches his ability level, that could happen this year especially with the hype of Ben Johnson. 

If we get 3 starters in free agency and add 2-3 in the draft, we are so very close. 

Detroit will be in big adjustment period, Minnesota changes over to JJ and Love continues to be mediocre. We could win the division. 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

4 hours ago, Stinger226 said:

I think the piece that gives us that edge is Caleb. If he reaches his ability level, that could happen this year especially with the hype of Ben Johnson. 

If we get 3 starters in free agency and add 2-3 in the draft, we are so very close. 

Detroit will be in big adjustment period, Minnesota changes over to JJ and Love continues to be mediocre. We could win the division. 

Like detroit going through new coordinators, so will the Bears.  I think we have some really good ones, but it does take some adaptation time. The key piece to me is the DE 2, that might not get brought in if we concentrate on fixing the offense first.  Can Booker take that step? That might be what they lean on. 

[Mongo3451]

1 hour ago, ASHKUM BEAR said:

Like detroit going through new coordinators, so will the Bears.  I think we have some really good ones, but it does take some adaptation time. The key piece to me is the DE 2, that might not get brought in if we concentrate on fixing the offense first.  Can Booker take that step? That might be what they lean on. 

I would argue that we need DE 1.  Sweat is good, but what is his best season?  We need a perineal 12 sack guy...

[BearFan PHX]

22 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

I would argue that we need DE 1.  Sweat is good, but what is his best season?  We need a perineal 12 sack guy...

I dunno if we can get everyone we need in one offseason, probably not, but im with you, I wanna see Sweat as DE2 at some point. Then with someone in the middle (maybe Dexter and Billings, maybe someone new) the defense will take off.

Fangio is a great DC with coverages, and coverages are sexy and the subject of most defensive breakdowns, but for Philly it all started on the DL. If you can consistently harass the QB, even Mahomes and Brady will look ordinary.

[DABEARSDABOMB]

Huge if they can upgrade at de and push Sweat to DE 2. 

[ASHKUM BEAR]

53 minutes ago, Mongo3451 said:

I would argue that we need DE 1.  Sweat is good, but what is his best season?  We need a perineal 12 sack guy...

True, but he is that guy right now.  We can trade for Garrett/Parsons, but it might cost multiple 1sts. They can draft one, but rookies rarely become that premiere guy for a couple years.  I feel the Bears concentrate on the offense this season and go with what they have at DE while adding a later round developmental guy and maybe a fa. 

[BearFan PHX]

49 minutes ago, DABEARSDABOMB said:

Huge if they can upgrade at de and push Sweat to DE 2. 

yup DL is the key to winning, which is why OL is the key to winning, because the QB is the key to winning LOL

[Stinger226]

5 hours ago, Mongo3451 said:

I would argue that we need DE 1.  Sweat is good, but what is his best season?  We need a perineal 12 sack guy...

This draft has a handful of those in the first and with pick 39 or 41. We can get one.