Bears See More for Roschon Johnson than Mop-Up Duties

Since the NFL draft it's been nothing but praise heaped upon Bears fourth-round running back Roschon Johnson.

First, he runs well. Then he stuck it out as backup to Bijan Robinson instead of transferring. He catches passes, blocks and plays all forms of special teams.

He also picks up the trash, apparently, and literally.

During Friday's special teams meeting the players got up to vacate the room when it ended and left a mess.

"There were some water bottles, some guys didn't pick up their water bottles," special teams coordinator Richard Hightower said. "So he's getting ready to go to the next meeting and he asks a question, and as I'm walking out he cleans up the room, cleans up the water bottles.

"That just shows you that he (Johnson) wants things the way he wants it. He wants things tidy and he's going to hold guys accountable. So when I saw that, that's just who he is. He didn't like how the room looked."

It doesn't say much for Johnson's running but does speak to his sense of duty, also being orderly and helpful.

"You just talk about the right kind of guy," offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said. "The makeup of that guy is really cool. The interviews that we've had with him, prior to it and then now getting to know him here over the last day or two. All the different things he did at Texas, too, that's really cool.

"As you guys know, we like to have guys who can do as many different things as possible. And so he really gives us a lot of really cool flexibility, too. He's a guy who doesn't really get fazed."

What Hightower learned was Johnson isn't too proud to play on special teams.

"That's why we like him a lot," Hightower said. "He can play kickoff return, he can play upback back there and block for a guy like Velus (Jones) or (Trestan) Ebner or Khalil (Herbert).

"So, I mean, our (personnel) guys did a great job."

Johnson has played on kick coverage, as well.

"In this division, we’ve got to cover kicks because really all four teams in our division were in the top five on kickoff return," Hightower said.

Hightower said he had an idea they had a good special teams contributor after he started getting texts on draft day.

"You always know when you draft somebody, like when Ryan (Poles) picks him and you get like seven text messages from special teams coaches from around the league," Hightower said. "You know what, we made a great selection and everybody was like, 'Dang!' "

They talk about Johnson's leadership but Hightower can't overlook the ability.

"And then when you see this guy play football, he is as violent as they come," Hightower said. "He can almost be a linebacker. The way he covers some kicks are outstanding. I think he can help us in that area for sure. And he's a good running back as well."

It's not merely someone blowing smoke, Hightower points out.

"I've got a little bit more intel on this kid than I've had on any other kid in the past for obvious reasons because I know a lot of people down there," Hightower said.

As a Texas alum, he knows who to believe when they're scouting in Austin. When they tell him Johnson is real leadership material they speak the truth, and it's because the 6-foot-2, 220-pound back makes attempts to lead.

"I think it's just a product of one, gaining the respect of my teammates with how I go about my business and then on top of that kind of speaking up when things need to be said, trying to push the team toward a common goal," Johnson said.

Johnson doesn't necessarily think picking up a few empty water bottles and being opinionated alone wins respect.

"You definitely have to earn your respect," Johnson said. "That's why I say, like, by first earning the respect of my teammates. As a rookie, I have to do that. I can't just come in here and try to command things and be a leader already.

"It's something I am going to have to grow into. Ultimately, my peers will let me lead. So. Yeah. It'll take time. But ultimately, when they see how I work, I don't think it will be an issue."

Gaining yards with tough running will be another way to earn it respect. Johnson has a reputation for a physical style, one he admits has changed because he started out being a running quarterback.

"It definitely evolved a great deal," he said. "If you go back and watch my film from my freshman year up to my senior year, it's really how I use my body as a weapon and how I run through contact and just the little nuance of the position.

"I think I definitely grew into that as I progressed."

For now, he'll be limited to learning the offense and his new team. The pads don't come on until August. Then he can show how he actually runs through contact.

He doesn't like this pretend football like they do at rookie minicamp or for that matter, OTAs.

"It's just there is a lot of stuff you got to account for," Johnson said. "You can't run into somebody with no shoulder pads on, you can't stiff-arm somebody.

"Basically I just got to run and just can't use my body as a weapon. That's the worst part about it."

Well, that and picking up empty bottles for guys who are too lazy to locate a recycling recepticle.