It’s time for the Bears to stop talking and start working to meet expectations

It’s time for the Bears to stop talking and start working to meet expectations originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago

LAKE FOREST, Illinois – Since the end of the regular season, when it became clear that the Bears would have the opportunity to prepare Caleb Williams, we talk about the almost unbelievable sequence of events that needed to happen for the Bears to end up where they are now. From the Houston Texans’ meaningless Hail Mary and subsequent two-point conversion, to a now-obviously lopsided trade with the Carolina Panthers, to the Panthers’ complete collapse in 2023. A lot went right for the Bears to acquire not just Williams, but DJ Moore and Montez Sweat and Shane Waldron and Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze and Kevin Byard and and and.

We’ve talked a lot about the increased expectations that come with Williams and the array of talented players the Bears have placed around him. This was a 7-10 team last year and the organization will not shy away from expectations that it should win more this year despite signing a rookie quarterback. Forget that CJ Stroud’s rookie campaign with the same Texans who helped the Bears land Williams was one of the best rookie campaigns in NFL history – the precedent was set and the standards changed. This is an instant gratification league and the Bears hope to win now.

We’ve already talked a lot about a Bears defense on the rise, with Sweat boosting the pass rush and a talented secondary turning into takeaway machines. Apparently every player who took the podium during the team’s mandatory three-day minicamp referenced the “top-five” defense the Bears have. This “top five” defense will hopefully help Williams develop by challenging him on a daily basis. This “top five” defense is expected to frustrate opponents and prepare the attack in favorable situations. This “top five” defense is meant to intimidate others and set the tone for the rest of the team.

We talked and talked and talked. But the time for talking is over.

“We shouldn’t wait any longer,” said Jaquan Brisker. “It’s time to win now. Our time is now, for sure. I don’t want to talk too much about it or anything like that, but we’re going to be able to do it this year.”

The Bears were equally confident in themselves last season. It was the second year of Luke Getsy’s offense. The defense talked a lot about reaching a new level. Obviously things didn’t turn out as they expected.

Injuries took their toll, both on offense and defense. There have been numerous off-field distractions, such as the sudden departures of defensive coordinator Alan Williams and running backs coach David Walker. The team only established itself in the second half of the season and it was already too late. The defense believes it can not only pick up where it left off, but also take things to a new level.

“Last year, we were still trying to figure out the scheme a little bit, so it was a little more stagnant,” TJ Edwards said. “But I think this year we start with a lot of costumes and a lot of movement and things like that to see what we can do.”

“It’s a blessing to see how far we’ve come,” Jaylon Johnson said. “I also think that last year leaving a lot of things on the line at the start of the season and now being able to pick up where we left off last year is a good feeling. I feel like even adding Kevin (Byard), adding his veteran IQ to the game, highlighting things, is allowing us to play faster and be on the same page.”

But then again, talk is talk. This does not mean that talking is cheap. Coach Matt Eberflus doesn’t believe that. But it’s just talk.

“It all comes down to what we do on the grass, right?” Eberflus said. “It has to be shown out there. I believe in saying it and being confident and all that stuff, but it’s in the doing. It’s not about talking about it. It’s important that we understand this so that when we start performing with the pads in place, guess what? We have to be who we say we will be.”

After Thursday’s practice, the Bears’ veterans will be released for summer vacation. The rookies return for a short minicamp next week before the break. The team then returns to training camp in mid-July. It is in the training camp that the work intensifies. The pads are placed for the first time. The practice rate increases and Eberflus can incorporate “live” attacks at times – if he so chooses. There will be joint training with the Bengals and preseason games. Jobs will be gained and jobs will be lost. We’ll find out a lot more about the team at training camp than we did in the last month of minicamps.

“You can’t control what people think about you, you can’t control what they say, you can’t control where you were born, when you were born, you can’t control the entire past,” Eberflus said. “But you can control it here and now.”

It’s time for the Bears to work on realizing their potential.

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