Roschon Johnson Blocking Praise Tempered

Rookie running back Roschon Johnson drew plenty of social media praise on his two-for-one pass block but the rest of his game failed to hit that high mark.

Rave instant reviews over Roschon Johnson's blocking exploits against the Vikings proved to be typical social media overreaction.

Johnson received great exposure for one pass block in which he took out two pass rushers, but the Bears did not come out of the game with the Vikings offering up the highest praise for the rookie.

"Roschon did a nice job, for the most part," coach Matt Eberflus said. "There was a couple hiccups in there. The one sack that we did take with the edge pressure, he's (Johnson) just got to be more inside and firm. He'll learn that as he goes.

"He's still a rookie and he's got a lot of situations that he hasn't seen yet in real time and game situations."

Johnson's whiff managed to get Justin Fields sacked on one play, muck like his block took out two players on another.

Eberflus also cited Johnson for some responsibility on one of Fields' two fumbles, the one Danielle Hunter stripped from Fields. 

"Roschon came across to block the edge," Eberflus said. "I thought (Fields) could’ve been a little more poised back there, calmer in his demeanor. He felt the pressure, and that’s really a function of the protection a little bit. Roschon needed to be firmer on that side, blocking the edge, and he stepped up right away."

Roschon Johnson picking up two double A gap blitzers is complete madness 😮‍💨🐻⬇️pic.twitter.com/rJlsb2N0PD

— JAY🤘🏽🐻⬇️ (1-1) (@Directhim) November 28, 2023

The Bears entrusted the rookie with a big responsibility because he had more playing time than any time this season with 52 plays. Khalil Herbert had only 15 plays in the game and only two plays as a pass blocker. He didn't disappoint for the most part, but his overall Pro Football Focus pass blocking grade was second lowest of his season.

It's obvious they believe in Johnson as a blocker more than Herbert or D'Onta Foreman, who was unavailable due to an ankle injury. Despite being a rookie, Johnson has as many pass blocking plays (39) as Herbert and Foreman put together in a year when all three backs have suffered injuries at some point.

Vikings rookie Ivan Pace showing off his ability to get to the passer for a big sack.

Pace times the snap, and makes fellow rookie Roschon Johnson silly on the whiff, and brings down Fields.

Pace has been one of the biggest UDFA steals this year. pic.twitter.com/2BE2k34fQK

— Seven Rounds in Heaven (@7RoundsInHeaven) November 28, 2023

It's just that Johnson's exploits in the course of the game didn't measure up to his one highlight block.

"But he's a heck of a worker, super smart, he's a tough guy and he's one of our better protectors," Eberflus said. "So he'll continue to work on that."

Pro Football Focus doesn't offer up the same overall evaluation on Bears backs as blockers this season.

Herbert has an extremely high PFF pass blocking grade on the year even though he is used less on this respect. He is graded 17th among all backs and seventh taking into account backs who have played 20% of their offense's snaps. Johnson is 54th and Foreman is 72nd overall among all backs as pass blockers.

It's possible things will change after the bye week because it's two more weeks for Herbert since coming out of an ankle injury, although Eberflus says Herbert is fine now. Herbert started playing against Detroit two weeks ago and wasn't entirely effective coming out of the ankle injury. He had only 15 plays against Minnesota, his smallest total of reps for any game he has played.

It's apparent Bears backfield usage against Minnesota was geared entirely to an opponent known for excessive blitzing and not necessarily where they rate as ball carriers or receivers.

The Bears play Detroit in the next game and the Lions blitz only about as much as the Bears. The Bears rank 18th in blitz percentage and Detroit 17th according to Sportradar.

Combine the fact Foreman could be back healthy with two weeks before another game is played because it would be three weeks since his last game, and the Bears could look entirely different in the backfield.

Still, no one could deny it's all been good experience for a rookie back from Texas who figures to continue playing more in future seasons.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven