It was far from a banner day for the Chicago Bears offense in the seventh practice of 2024 training camp. The ball found its way onto the ground and, even worse, into the hands of the defense far too often. Head Coach Matt Eberflus called out the team?s focus in the session. He said they have to be solid in all three phases to be successful.
Saturday also marked the first day of practicing the new kickoff format at near-full speed.
Bears Training Camp Notes: Braxton Jones & the Bull Rush
Braxton Jones Still Working to Handle Bull Rush Consistently
Braxton Jones #70 of the Chicago Bears. Mandatory credit: Clocker Sports
Bears players were anticipating putting the pads on, spending their first five practice sessions in shells at the most. The linemen on both sides were particularly interested in padding up, knowing they could be a little more physical. For left tackle Braxton Jones, it is a time to work on his biggest bugaboo: the bull rush.
A fifth-round pick in 2023, Jones has never shied away from speaking on the issue.
?I just got to get better; plain and simple,? Jones told Clocker Sports Saturday. ?I know what it is. It’s year three of the same bull rush and I think it’s just got to translate. It’s got to be something that I see go from the individuals to 1-on-1s to team [drills], and it’s kind of taking a break right in the middle of there and 1-on-1s and stuff like that.
?This just goes back to drilling it over and over again and just knowing that’s what I’m getting with some guys. I just got to be better technically and being more mindful as well and that’s and that situation with my technique.?
Jones has been upfront with his efforts to improve in against the bull rush. The simple answer would be for the 6-foot-5, 310-pound Jones to get stronger.
That may only come with more time on the field and in the weight room. The question for the Bears is how long before Jones puts it all together. He was durable as a rookie (and in college). But Jones missed six games with a neck injury in 2023, and he has been limited in the early going of training camp.
With the preseason already upon the Bears thanks to the Hall of Fame game, the clock is ticking faster than normal for the group to be regular-season ready.
That would have to include Jones for the offense to reach its best version.
Velus Jones Jr. Ready to Star in 3rd Phase
Velus Jones Jr. #12 of the Chicago Bears. Mandatory credit: Clocker Sports
Bears special teams coordinator Richard Hightower pointed out that the new kickoff format is essentially a modified version of how the play was already practiced. Under the new rules, coverage units must wait until the ball is fielded to move.
Hightower also spoke highly of 2022 third-round pick Velus Jones Jr. (No. 71 overall). He touted his combination of size and speed.
He noted how additional touches under the new kickoff would benefit Jones, who agreed.
?Oh, for sure. It’s definitely ? it’s going to speak for itself,? Jones told Clocker Sports after Saturday?s practice. ?I feel like talk is cheap, especially in 2024. So you got to show people, but overall just prove it to yourself. But I could talk about it all day. All I can do is just tell you to stay tuned.?
The 6-foot, 200-pound Jones has more rushing attempts (17) than targets in the passing game (11) in his career so far. The new kickoff format will see him have the ball in his hands more, where he can be a threat.
Jones is bigger than DeAndre Carter and Tyler Scott, the two players he will most likely be splitting duties with during the season.? It could provide a pathway to jumpstart what has been a largely innocuous career to this point.
Bears Want Tyler Scott to Lean Into Speed
Tyler Scott #10 of the Chicago Bears. Mandatory credit: Clocker Sports
Scott was a fourth-round pick (No. 133 overall) of the 2023 draft. He caught 17 passes for 168 yards as a rookie and was close to making several other plays that would have boosted his final stat line.
Entering his second season and behind a top duo in DJ Moore and Keenan Allen and a talented rookie in Rome Odunze, Scott was asked what the coaching staff wanted to see from him.
?I think it’s just using my speed,? Scott told Clocker Sports Saturday. ?Just really using my speed and pressing DBs all the time. Just really feeling it, just really whenever I’m on the field, just feeling that presence. I’m in a room with ? we have so many different guys that can do so many different things, and just understanding what I can do to affect the game. And I think that that’s probably the biggest thing, is being able to do that.
?When I can do that, plays are made. Things open up for me as well as just getting my feet in the ground in the run game. Like I said, get in position, the mental part. Getting up on guys, getting off the ball fast, and just getting up getting up on them fast so I’m not catching them. I’m more so bringing the fight to them.?
At 5-foot-11 and 185 pounds, Scott is not the biggest wideout.
He is fast, running a 4.44 40-yard dash at the combine. Scott is also tough. He spent much of his younger playing days as a running back before making the switch to receiver in college, perhaps suggesting even more growth from the 22-year-old pass catcher.
Montez Sweat Pulled From Team Drills in Bears Training Camp
Chicago Bears head coach Matt Eberflus. Mandatory credit: Clocker Sports.
Montez Sweat and DeMarcus Walker got into the backfield and to Caleb Williams. It was the second day in a row Sweat was able to reach the QB and he made sure his presence was felt, knocking the ball out of Williams? hands.
There are no ?sacks? in training camp. Not with so much emphasis on safety and getting players to the season healthy, especially the quarterback.
Eberflus was not pleased that Sweat pushed the envelope in that regard.
?He knows he should not do that,? Eberflus told reporters after practice. ?I threw him out of the drill today, and then I pulled him aside and I said, ?Look,? I said, ?You cannot do that. You’ll be sick if something happens, okay?? And that’s what I told him and he understands that and does he get around there fast and all that stuff. Yeah, he does.
?He also has ? he’s a superior, elite athlete. He’s good enough to be able to stop and move away. So he’s got to be disciplined that way and he will in the future.?
Sweat has been among the many teammates to sing Williams? praises early in training camp, even after days like Saturday when the offensive operation was not as clean as anyone would have liked it.
This is also a key part of the ?iron sharpens iron? process.
Penalties and Turnovers Highlight Bears’ 7th Training Camp Practice
Chicago Bears players on the practice field. Mandatory credit: Clocker Sports
It is too soon to say there should be concern about the penalties that have plagued the Bears early on in training camp. The offense was flagged for several false start penalties with referees in attendance. It has been a theme of the 2024 camp session. Eberflus addressed right out of the gate during his media availability after Saturday’s practice.
He offered an alternating cadence as an explanation for the false starts on Friday.
Saturday, it was because of the defense which has taken pride in disrupting what the offense is trying to do, namely with veteran defensive tackle Andrew Billings calling out ?Move!? to throw his offensive counterparts off.
As the Hall of Fame game approaches on August 1, penalties and health may be the Bears? biggest concerns, particularly when it comes to how much to play Williams and the starters.
With Jones? limitations at left tackle (for now) and the rotation at right guard ? Nate Davis exited with what they hope is a minor ?strain??? plus an operation that still has plenty of wrinkles to iron out, that may not be the best place to start trying to stack good outings.
Williams did throw interceptions on back-to-back plays.
The first one went to backup safety Adrian Colbert while reserve linebacker Reddy Stewart got the second. It was a rare occasion where Williams made the same mistake twice.
Interceptions have been relatively rare and two in succession like that had not happened yet. It was a reminder of Williams? rookie status and the level of growth and development that still needs to take place before Week 1 of the regular season rolls around.
