Caleb Williams made a strong impression on the Cincinnati Bengals during their joint practice with the Chicago Bears on Thursday. After a slow start with an interception, he rebounded with three touchdown passes and some strong team periods despite rainy conditions. It was exactly what Bears fans had hoped to hear. However, the good news doesn’t stop there. In the mad frenzy to learn about what their young quarterback was doing, it was easy to forget other members of the draft class were on the field as well.
Matt Verderame of Sports Illustrated was in attendance for the practice, watching the Bears offense go against the Bengals defense. He confirmed that Williams looked good, but another rookie stole the show at certain moments: Rome Odunze.
“Odunze certainly looks the part at 6’3” and 215 pounds, and he handled business against the Bengals’ secondary. The Washington product consistently worked open both on quick-release and downfield routes, at one point beating Cincinnati corner Dax Hill on a slant that would have gone for huge yardage in a game setting.
In Chicago, Odunze will likely be the third target in the passing game while he learns the offense, taking a smaller target share than veterans Moore and Allen. But when he reaches his ceiling, look out.”
This is precisely the situation the Bears wanted to create. Moore and Allen gave Cincinnati problems the entire practice. As a result, Odunze was often matched up against their less-skilled defensive backs. It went as you would expect.
The Chicago Bears finally have options.
That has been one of the most consistent challenges for this organization going back decades. Sure, they’d have one really good offensive weapon at times, maybe two. They’ve rarely been able to assemble an entire group of legitimate options for their quarterback. GM Ryan Poles has finally succeeded where others failed. Moore, Allen, and Odunze are a talented and diverse trio that can win in a variety of different ways. This is before you mention Cole Kmet, who has a case for being a top-10 tight end.
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Don’t forget D’Andre Swift and Gerald Everett as well. Both are threats in the passing game if left unattended. Williams will have loads of options at his disposal, far more than any quarterback in recent Chicago Bears history. The only group close to this one is 2013-2014, with Bradon Marshall, Alshon Jeffery, Martellus Bennett, and Matt Forte. Yet this current group is probably deeper. If Odunze gets off to a fast start, the Bears won’t be somebody other teams want to play.
I’m not a “fan” (in the sense that I’ll support through good and bad). But I AM a fan of “process.” Teams that work, train, do their homework, grind and focus – I want to see them do well. I watched Williams through his first game at OU and his time at USC. I liked what I saw, but I didn’t see Riley’s creating that kind of process through his entire team. (His defenses were as bad as the Bears offense last year). Firing Getsy and the entire offensive staff was a step, but ONLY a step. But Hard Knocks… Read more »
Options and focused coaching. It is easy to see the Bears doing extremely well this year.
Watching where the defense is, it is apparent how much coaching occurred on the defensive side all last year, and then throughout the practice and preseason. I’m hoping that Eberflus’ desire to call defense, doesn’t screw up where they are right now.
As for the offense, Waldron has been catching the offense up fast. Creating options is going to stress defenses throughout the year.
Seen no team that looks as ready (and I’ve seen them all).
Who among us would claim to be unhappy with the selections (in real time) of Caleb Williams, Rome Odunze, Tory Taylor and Austin Booker (even with the clumsy trade-back, trade-up mess that Ian Cunningham had to quell)?
And then — which one of you loyal subjects of King Poles was thrilled with the pick of still-incapacitated Yale OT, Kiran Amegadjie at #75 in the 3rd. round?
Blind faith has its limits — or does it?
Uno is the real deal. I’m still amazed he fell to number 9.
BTW – has anyone heard any rave reviews of Marvin Harrison Jr? I heard that he a good practice, after that it’s all been Madden ratings and “the most expensive rookie WR in fantasy football history.”
It would be interesting to keep an eye on him considering how much he was hyped vs. Uno who was a little more low key hyped.
They already ghost this group when there are positive articles. They like to add gasoline to an inferno of negativity, when that isn’t present because of how things are progressing they stfu, and they should.