Bears training camp observations: Caleb Williams, offensive struggles on a slow day in the pads originally appeared in NBC Sports Chicago
LAKE FOREST, Ill. – Seven days into camp and Bears coach Matt Eberflus is done talking about the potential of the 2024 team. What matters now is not what could be, but what this group gets out of the effort they put in. does on the field.
“Is our squad in a better position than it was in Year 1 and Year 2? Yes. Without a doubt. We should be optimistic, but we have a lot of work to do on grass before we get to the first game,” Eberflus said after the second practice Saturday quilting at Halas Hall. “We know what our vision is, but we have to focus on our mission, and the mission is to get to the first game with the best team we can and play at a very high level – the best we can for that first game. . So we have to get better every week as we go along.
Eberflus’ reality check comes after a slow Saturday practice that saw the defense dominate rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the offense in every team period. The Bears expected these bumps, and Eberflus quickly noticed how early it was in camp.
These Bears, however, still have a long way to go to achieve that vision.
“I also told them after training: ‘Guys, the three phases have to be well played for us to be a good football team’. So there will be days when the defense struggles or the special teams struggles, but it’s going to have to be all three phases firing on all cylinders, and we’re not there yet, and of course, it’s early in training camp and I don’t expect that we are.”
Williams’ day got off to a rocky start when he threw back-to-back interceptions in a 7-on-7 job. On the first pick, Williams tried to hit the ball to tight end Gerald Everett, who was triple-covered. Safety Adrian Colbert easily jumped in front of Everett from behind. Williams tried to hit DJ Moore on a post route on the next play, but undrafted rookie cornerback Reddy Steward hit him.
Eberflus liked the way Williams responded in the remainder of practice, but the team’s full season brought more difficulties for the rookie quarterback and the first-team offense.
The Bears opened the team’s first quarter with consecutive false starts on tight end Marcedes Lewis and right tackle Darnell Wright. In total, the Bears had five false starts and two delay of game penalties on Saturday. This came after they had five false starts during Friday’s first padded practice.
Saturday’s problems were, according to Eberflus, different from Friday’s.
“I would say yesterday it was more a function of us using different cadences and today it was more a function of what the defense was doing and focusing on,” Eberflus said after Saturday’s practice.
Williams’ best play on Saturday came during his first-team period. The rookie quarterback was flushed out of the pocket to the right and threw a dart while running to Everett over the middle for a gain of the 15. One play later, rookie Rome Odunze beat cornerback Jaylon Johnson on a crossing route for a big gain to end it. the period.
The rest of the day was arduous for the offense, filled with pre-snap penalties, constant pressure on Williams and limited openings for his receivers.
The day ended with a two-minute exercise that summed up a sloppy day.
Williams and the offense — without Moore and Keenan Allen — started with the ball at their own 30 with 1:20 left and trailed by seven.
Williams opened the practice with a 7-yard completion to Odunze and a 4-yard completion to running back Roschon Johnson. Two plays later, Wiliams hit Everett over the middle to reach the 41 with 39 seconds remaining.
On first-and-10 from the 41, defensive end Montez Sweat beat Wright to the rim and knocked the ball out of Williams’ hand for a strip sack. Eberflus immediately pulled Sweat from the drill. It’s the second time this week that Sweat has made contact with Williams’ hand in his pocket.
“He knows he shouldn’t do that,” Eberflus said after practice. “I kicked him out of the drill today. So I pulled him aside and said, ‘Look, you can’t do this. You would be sick if something happened. OK?’ That’s what I told him and he understands that. And does he get there quickly and everything? Yes, he is a superior elite athlete. He’s good enough to be able to stop and walk away. be disciplined in this way and he will do so in the future.”
The defense recovered the fumble, but the Bears gave the ball back to the offense and turned it over.
On third-and-10, Williams dropped back and tried to hit Dante Pettis, but safety Jaquan Brisker closed quickly and tipped the ball away. Defensive end DeMarcus Walker sacked Williams on fourth down to end the drill.
Here are more notes from Day 7 of camp:
– Right guard Nate Davis felt “tension” during individual work on Saturday and was retained for the rest of training. With Davis out, the Bears’ first-team offensive line was Braxton Jones, Teven Jenkins, Coleman Shelton, Ryan Bates and Darnell Wright.
Davis was a limited participant during the offseason program, and his unreliability is becoming an issue for a team wanting continuity on the offensive line facing a rookie quarterback.
“Availability is everything in this league,” Eberflus said when asked about Davis’ spotty participation record. “So you have to be available to train and be able to put in a lot of effort in terms of trying better during training camp and that’s all part of preparing for the first part of the season, being able to do that. Being insensitive is your individual responsibility to the football team, and when you’re not there, guess what?
– The Bears’ defense played throughout the second day of games.
During 1-on-1 drills, cornerback Terell Smith was called upon to hold Odunze defensively, which left Johnson unhappy.
“Make him work for this shit,” Johnson yelled at the officials after the flag.
During an 11-on-11 period, Odunze caught a ball on the sideline, but cornerback Tyrique Stevenson appeared to throw a punch. The umpires awarded the catch, saying the ball went out after he left the field.
Brisker immediately ran as officers huddled together and shouted, ‘Fuck no!’
After Walker sacked Williams to end the two-minute period, Brisker ran toward the offensive sideline and performed the Steph Curry “Put Them To Sleep” celebration.
– Stevenson nearly had an interception on 11-on-11 work. Williams tried to hit Odunze on a ball but threw it slightly under. Stevenson had the opportunity to hit the pick, but jumped early and was only able to strike out.
– In individual work, Velus Jones Jr. made a beautiful over-the-shoulder touchdown catch against Jaylon Jones. Tyson Bagent delivered the blow.
Johnson passed breakups on deep balls to Allen and Odunze. Williams hit Allen, but deflected the pass slightly, and Johnson rebounded.
– Linebacker Micah Baskerville recorded an interception and a sack on Saturday.
– Gervon Dexter had an up and down day on Saturday after a good performance on Friday. He played with an inconsistent pad level, but his output continues to improve.
“I think his departure — I told him the other day I think his departure is better,” Eberflus said Saturday about Dexter. I think the way he’s using his steps working toward the quarterback — I like that. to make better use of the length. He is a long player. He has to use that length and play because I think it will put more pressure on the offensive line.
– Rookie defensive end Austin Booker shined the last two days, both in individual work and in team practices.
– Both Ja’Tyre Carter and Josh Blackwell were injured on Saturday and left practice early.
– Defensive end Jacob Martin, cornerback Kyler Gordon and wide receiver Nsimba Webster did not practice. Linebacker Noah Sewell was limited.
