Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus had a simple message for his team as they prepare for their longest break from now until next offseason with more than one month until they reconvene for training camp on July 20.
Rookies will return next week for a debriefing session. But the veterans are gone until camp, and Eberflus wants them to keep themselves on the right track.
Matt Eberflus? Message Leads Bears Minicamp Notebook
Matt Eberflus to Bears Veterans: ?Control What You Can Control?
Eberflus, going into his third year at the helm, has a new air about him this offseason. But he is still the same detail-oriented former defensive coordinator who brought the H.I.T.S principle with him.
So his parting message to the team was to ?control what you can control.?
?Your work ethic, your attitude, your demeanor, your devotion, your discipline, your determination, the people you hang around, all the things that you can control during this time and having a plan,? Eberflus told Clocker Sports on June 6.
?You have individual responsibility. And I always tell the guys, in the word ?win,? ?i? stands for individual responsibility. So this is that time of year that we have individual responsibility to each teammate and everybody in the building. And we’re counting on you to come back in a better way two steps up from where you are right now. So that was the main message.?
#Bears HC Matt Eberflus called today a "great day" after an admittedly light session. #DaBears pic.twitter.com/24YB4ohMio
— Josh Buckhalter (@JoshGBuck) June 6, 2024
Eberflus? optimism belies some nits that can be picked from the minicamp session.
The offense has been up and down. That is not too surprising, though, with a rookie quarterback and a new offensive system being put in.
Starting left tackle Braxton Jones was not in attendance while right guard Nate Davis showed up but did not participate. Cole Kmet was also present but on the sideline while Kyler Gordon picked up a back issue that kept him out of Day 3.
Eberflus insisted the holdouts were all out of caution.
With six weeks until the return from camp, they have plenty of time to recuperate. Their rookie OTA next week should also be light since the personnel will be limited.
T.J. Edwards Looking to ?Stack? Seasons
Linebacker T.J. Edwards noted that he has been impressed by Caleb Williams, noting the rookie moved him and fellow backer Tremaine Edmunds with his eyes on a play leaving the two ?hot? for a while after.
Edmunds got revenge, and his side of the ball could have to prove their mettle next season, at least as Williams acclimates himself to the league.
Edwards, a standout in 2023, spoke about team success when asked about his goals.
?I think all my personal goals are honestly just related to what we do as a team,? Edwards told Clocker Sports. ?I want to get back to that big one, I want to win first and foremost. But I do know at the linebacker position, man, the good ones ? the ones who are there year in and year out ? do it consistently, right? They have good ? great years consistently.
?I’ve put a couple together. But I’m ready to keep stacking and try to add on to that, for sure.?
Edwards finished last season with 91 solo tackles, the eighth most in the league. He also had eight tackles for loss, seven pass deflections, three interceptions, 2.5 sacks, two fumble recoveries, and one forced.
Edwards was close to several other splash plays last season too. He joined the chorus of defenders pointing to more turnovers as a goal for next season.
Jaquan Brisker Has Big Shoes to Fill
The Bears have touted the leadership in their locker room over the last two years. They still have multiple veterans with strong presences.
They also experienced a significant drain in that department. Both left guard Cody Whitehair and safety Eddie Jackson spent their entire careers with the Bears until getting cut this offseason. Defensive tackle Justin Jones was allowed to walk in free agency. Jackson in particular had developed into the leading voice in the secondary.
His departure means more room for Jaquan Brisker to continue to spread his wings as a leader.
?Just stepping up just by talking to young guys just about their bodies and things like that,? Brisker told Clocker Sports. ?I feel like I always been a leader and things like that. But now it’s time to be smart because we want everybody to be out there, so just make sure guys are always in the tubs and things like that.
?Just make sure we’re all good because we need everybody out there. Like, we need every single body. As y’all seen, it affects us when we’re not all out there, and we need to be out there at all times.?
Brisker said he wanted to make the offense ?hear my voice all the time.?
His underlying message was to be sure he was being more vocal and deliberate in his messaging. That was common among everyone who spoke during the three-day minicamp, two of which Clocker Sports attended. This preseason promises to bring plenty of intrigue with so much time between now and then.