Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron opened his media availability by thanking the team’s leadership group — which includes the oldest player on the roster, tight end Marcedes Lewis, and one of the youngest, quarterback Caleb Williams — for their input so far.
Waldron also emphasized the need for better communication in relation to the botched fourth-down, goal-line play versus the Indianapolis Colts in Week 3.
That game is over, though, and there were plenty of positives to focus on at Halas Hall.
Braxton Jones Sees Positives, Progress From Bears Offense
Bears LT Braxton Jones: Positives ‘All Around’
Bears left tackle Braxton Jones is in his third season with the team. He has seen countless iterations of the offensive line and is quick to identify the positives from the offense when asked.
“You could look at positives all around,” Jones told Clocker Sports on Thursday. “Our play-action game is growing, and our run game’s growing too. Some people may not say that. But it’s there. I think we’re just one play away — or not one play. But one person and one play away — usually from something breaking big. And I think it’s just going to take all 11 being on the same page. But yeah, there’s plenty of positives out there.
“You know protection being better, I believe too as well. Obviously, there’s a few things we still need to clean app. But there’s plenty of positives out there. Obviously, outside noise is going to lay on the negatives. But I think if you’re really looking at the tape, dissecting the film, and really understand ball you’ll know that there’s positive out there.”
Jones’ position group has been much maligned to start the season.
Pro Football Focus gave the Bears the 11th-best pass-blocking grade but the 22nd-ranked run-blocking score through three weeks. Jones sees progress there too, even if it has been challenged by the reshuffling they have had to do due to injuries and performance.
Despite their woes, there is no finger-pointing. The collective mindset is improving, with Jones pointing to Bears head coach Matt Eberflus’ leadership and messaging as galvanizers.
Jones said they have to leave the outside noise on the outside.
“It is what it is, especially when you play for a market like Chicago. It’s going to be like that. Everybody’s going to have something to say. You have the No. 1 draft pick in the class, everybody’s going to have something to say about that,” Jones said.
“We’ve dealt with it before. You keep it within the building. You care about what Coach Flus is talking about, preaching to us, and that’s all that matters. And, obviously, some stuff might come up. But that’s why have a positive attitude and you keep your head moving the same way, and that’s just in the positive direction, 24/7.”
The Bears may have faced scrutiny before. But doing so with the No. 1 pick and one of the most highly-touted QB prospects in years is new territory for everyone.
As the Bears circle the wagons, how is Williams handling everything?
“I feel like just from being able to see it up close, personally, he’s done a great job. He’s a young kid and just like we all are, trying to figure out our way as NFL players, being the best we can possibly be. And that’s all he does, is he’s just trying to be the best,” Jones said.
“He’s trying to get a win every week, and I see that from him. So, he’s done a great job. Whatever adversity we’ve gone through through the first three weeks, we’re just trying to get better each week. And that’s what he’s preaching to us, the same thing, is just to get better. So that’s what I’m trying to do. And just ride behind him. No matter what happens, just being there for him.”
Jones knows it has been a rough start for the Bears. But he believes they are close as the line gets settled.
“Obviously, in the last few weeks, we wanted to be closer,” Jones said. “But I think we’re working at it each week. And then you know, we’ve got some moving pieces coming along and really getting that o-line figured out. So it’s not gonna all be easy. But it’ll come together in the end, and we want to go out there this week and have a good week.”
Bears WR Coach Knows Keenan Allen’s Value to Offense
One of the bigger positives of the week is the return of Keenan Allen to practice after a heel injury sidelined him for two weeks. The Bears acquired Keenan Allen for two reasons and both of them are to help Williams.
Allen’s pre-existing relationship with the rookie QB was a way to help integrate him into the league and make him feel comfortable in his new home. Allen was also expected to be a safety valve for Williams, capable of finding the soft spots in coverage to present an easy target, especially in got-to-have-it situations.
He caught four of his 11 targets for 29 yards in the Week 1 win over the Tennessee Titans.
Without him, the Bears have had to rely on a rookie in first-round pick Rome Odunze and undersized DeAndre Carter, who is typically their punt returner. With Allen returning to practice this week, the Bears are closer to getting him back in the lineup, which would be a boon.
“There’s a comfort level when Keenan’s on the field,” Bears wide receivers coach Chris Beatty told Clocker Sports before practice on Thursday. “Things move slower with him. For the quarterback, you can help me feel comfortable because you know he’s going to be where he needs to be. And there’s nothing he hasn’t already seen or been through.
“There’s always some calm in that kind of presence that we all need. So at the end of the day, it’s good to have him back.”
Beatty, who coached Allen with the Los Angeles Chargers, said the receiver makes his job easy.
DJ Moore Continues to Surprise
Beatty also had plenty of complimentary things to say about DJ Moore, who has done his part to downplay the gloom and doom narrative that has surrounded the team over their back-to-back losses.
Beatty has coached Moore since 2015 when Moore was a freshman at Maryland, and even afterward from afar by sending him materials to study and work off of.
Even Beatty has been pleasantly surprised with Moore?s development.
“His game is better than I thought it was,” Beatty said. “I knew he was really good. But he’s better than I thought he was. At the end of the day, he’s a better person at this stage in life too. So those things, you see people involved from being a college kid to being a professional athlete to a grown man. So that part of his deal has changed too.”
In Year 1 of a four-year, $110 million contract, Moore leads the Bears with 19 receptions for 167 yards on 28 targets in three games. He is currently tracking for the third-yards-per-game mark of his career but can quickly rebound if the offense finally clicks.
Bears Passing Game Coordinator Building on Caleb Williams’ Positives
With his weapons, it has come as a surprise to many that Williams has not hit the ground running. There are far more question marks around — and specifically in front of — him than anticipated coming into the campaign.
However, Williams has made progress in areas he can build upon going forward. Perhaps that is despite the situation he has found himself in just four weeks into his career.
Bears passing game coordinator Thomas Brown knows that is an ongoing process too though.
“I think being able to understand how to keep drives alive, have and sustain longer drives. Put the ball in play when it comes to some tight window throws quick, some stuff when it comes to communication, the line of scrimmage when it comes to directing traffic,” Brown told Clocker Sports ahead of Thursday’s practice session.
“Also, we have some pretty wordy calls/criteria when it comes to what we’re checking into. So being able to build upon that week in and week out is going to be part of his overall growth.”
Williams is completing 59.3% of his passes for 630 yards with 2 touchdowns and 4 picks.
Encouragingly, he has completed 62.9% of his throws for 597 yards and his two scores over the past two weeks. However, that has also come with both of his interceptions as Williams goes through growing pains.