Key Takeaways:
– Chicago Bears bolster their offense with new additions; Keenan Allen, Caleb Williams, and Rome Odunze.
– Concerns arise over potential frustration for Allen due to Williams’ reportedly slower playstyle.
– Another NFL exec criticizes Bears’ decision to pick Odunze, suggesting a defensive player might have been a better fit.
Rising Expectations Amid Bears’ New Offensive Additions
Entering the 2024 season, the Chicago Bears have introduced promising players, including Keenan Allen and rookies Caleb Williams and Rome Odunze. These significant leaps made in the past six-week offseason put the spotlight on the Bears’ offensive intentions.
However, there may be disharmony. An NFL executive opined that Allen, accustomed to catching passes from stalwart quarterbacks like Philip Rivers and Justin Herbert, could grow impatient with Williams’s reportedly slower delivery.
Concerns Over Caleb Williams’ Play Style
The young quarterback, Williams, had an impressive college career, but NFL executives have raised concerns about his ability to adapt to professional football. Williams’s slower-than-average pass release may mess with the tempo of pro-level games. The Bears are providing him with a plethora of offensive weapons with the expectation that he will switch up his game style to distribute the ball on time.
Williams, who took 3.16 seconds to pass on average in 2023, was highlighted by Pro Football Focus for being the slowest among his college quarterback peers entering the NFL in 2024. Although this is faster than former Bears quarterback Justin Fields’ time, Williams’s speed could still disrupt the Bears’ play.
Despite these worries, Pro Football Focus analyst Trevor Sikkema dismisses this concern, asserting that USC’s frequent offensive crumbling pressured Williams to hold onto the ball longer.
Disapproval Over Rome Odunze Pick
The Bears have not only been criticized for their choice of quarterback. Sources revealed that another NFL executive suggested that the team’s ninth pick could have been better used on a defensive player instead of Rome Odunze.
The exec argued that the Bears could have traded back into the first round and picked up a defensive powerhouse to fill a noticeable gap. The inclusion of an impactful defender might have provided a bolstered defense line-up to balance the play.
Bears Management Refutes Criticisms
Returning fire, Bears’ general manager, Ryan Poles, stated that Odunze, who recorded 1,640 receiving yards in his final season at Washington, was indeed a top pick for the team. Poles mentioned that with Odunze’s excellent route-running and unique combination of size and speed, he might act as the perfect antidote to Williams’s time-to-throw problem.
Verdict Pending on Bears New Recruits
Whether the Bears’ new faces can make their mark or not will only be decided on the playing field. Despite the criticisms, it seems too early to predict the outcome before the players take their first snaps in the NFL considering their potential to adjust and find synergy in the Bears’ offensive line-up is yet untested.
As the Bears gear up for the new season, the NFL’s scrutiny will be directed at how the team navigates and accommodates its new additions. Curiosity abounds over Williams’s performance on the pro-stage and Odunze’s fit in the Bears’ strategic framework.