Chicago Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and his assistant coaches spoke with the media Wednesday at Halas Hall after a padded training camp practice.
The coaches are preparing their units for Saturday’s preseason game against the Bills in Buffalo, N.Y. Here’s our camp report from the day.
Caleb Williams watch
The Bears defense, which was missing five starters in practice, continues to look like it’s keeping the offense and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams in check during practices. The Bears had a handful of completed passes and not many explosive plays in full-team periods.
But offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said there are signs of progress from Williams that make the Bears think he’s moving closer to putting it all together.
“When we watch him and watch him go through his reads and his progressions right there, going to where the ball should go is happening way more times than not,” Waldron said. “And some of the things that haven’t worked out have been from just a near miss here or an angle that wasn’t feeling it the right way there. OK, got it. On to the next one. But he has been doing a good job reading with his feet, sticking within progression, recognizing coverage structures. So seeing all those things is what really gives you the confidence moving forward.”
Passing game coordinator Thomas Brown said Williams’ competitiveness, communication with his teammates and accountability have been on point. Quarterbacks coach Kerry Joseph complimented Williams’ handling of the run game operation in practice Wednesday, along with his timing, rhythm and ability to get the ball out quickly in the pass game.
And he has shown flashes on the field of what makes him special, Brown said.
“He makes two to three throws every day that are better than most rookie quarterbacks you’ve been around,” Brown said. “Being able to understand how to operate the offense, play on time, but also not take away from his athletic ability to move outside the pocket is going to be a big thing. He has done a really good job so far.”
Play of the day
Running back D’Andre Swift had the highlight of the morning when he leaped up to make a one-handed catch on a screen pass from third-string quarterback Brett Rypien. Swift then surged ahead for a well-blocked play that could have been a touchdown.
The Bears signed Swift to a three-year, $24 million contract in the offseason with the hopes he can be an asset to Williams in both the run and pass games.
Brown said Swift has a lot of traits that make him “not a typical running back running routes.”
“The short-area quickness,” Brown said. “The fluidity and movement ability, but also his natural ball skills and being able to understand how to adjust to the ball in the air. I think he can run the entire route tree.”
Brown called Swift, who has 2,729 rushing yards and 1,412 receiving yards over four seasons with the Detroit Lions and Philadelphia Eagles, a “super talented football player.” But Brown also has been impressed with the way Swift works.
“Just every single day the guy’s about business,” Brown said. “No-BS-type mentality.”
Player in the spotlight
As the NFL implements its new kickoff rule, kicker Cairo Santos is preparing for a potentially bigger wrinkle in his duties: being the last line of defense as a tackler.
The league expects to see more lengthy returns with the new rules, which position the kickoff and return teams 5 yards apart and restrict all but the kicker and the returners from moving until the ball is kicked. Players, coaches and officials have said it feels more like a run play, and a returner could break free with one cut.
Santos, who had the ball from his first kickoff in the preseason opener Thursday taken by the Pro Football Hall of Fame, said they’ve been practicing safe tackling techniques — sweeping the ankles and wrapping up the legs — and also visualizing what he would need to do in such a situation.
“From what I’ve seen the likelihood of a returner breaking that line of coverage guys is bigger,” Santos said. “He’s getting more speed from where he catches the ball. And it’s going to be tough tackles when they’re kind of running at full speed at you.
“Before when we could pin guys in the corner, using hang time played to my advantage, trying to close the gap and make him go to the sideline and use the sideline to tackle. There’s going to be more opportunities for an open-field tackle, which I can’t say I’ve done many. But I’ll definitely try in the safest way that I can.”
After watching coach Matt Eberflus as a Toledo player on “Hard Knocks,” Santos then wondered: “Maybe he can teach me how to tackle.”
Quote of note
Linebacker T.J. Edwards said he didn’t watch Episode 1 of “Hard Knocks” on Tuesday night because he got home late and had to go to bed. But he did watch the clip of offensive lineman Theo Benedet stripping down to an eagle Speedo while singing “God Bless the U.S.A.” as part of a Bears rookie performance.
“I did know that Theo was going to be on there, so I saw the highlight of that just because I had to see the reactions,” Edwards said. “One of the more wild things I’ve seen in my time in the NFL. But that’s what it’s about, right? It’s great for people to see, honestly. I don’t know about that part great for people to see, but it’s cool.”
Edwards said he will watch more episodes in the future.
Seen and heard
Defensive tackle Gervon Dexter has gotten his hand up to bat down quite a few passes over the first few weeks of camp. Dexter, in his second NFL season, said he has “actively gotten better” at it.
“In college for me, if I didn’t get a sack, then the play was over,” Dexter said. “Coach (Eric) Washington and Coach (Travis Smith), they preach a lot, ‘Get your hands up, bat the ball.’ Now it has come in my head that, ‘OK, if I’m not there, I need to get my hands up. Or if I’m going to split a rush guy and I’m at the point where I’m right in front of the quarterback, I have to get my hands up.’ ”
On the flip side, Joseph said he doesn’t think batted balls will be an issue for Williams in games, noting that practices are different because defensive linemen know they can’t touch the quarterback.
“They know they have to stop at a certain point, so the throwing lanes are a little different than what happens in a real game when guys are really trying to get to you and make a sack,” Joseph said. “The D-lineman that’s being blocked and he’s right in front, he knows, ‘OK, I can’t get close to him so I’m just going to put my hands up.’ ”
Injury report
Among defensive starters, nickel Kyler Gordon, safety Jaquan Brisker, cornerback Tyrique Stevenson, defensive tackle Andrew Billings and defensive end Montez Sweat all sat out practice.
Cornerback Terell Smith, who was filling in for Stevenson, also left practice early after going down while defending DJ Moore in 11-on-11s.
Right guard Nate Davis remains out, and right tackle Darnell Wright was limited.
Running back Roschon Johnson, linebacker Noah Sewell, offensive linemen Bill Murray and Benedet, defensive lineman Keith Randolph, wide receiver Collin Johnson and tight end Marcedes Lewis also sat out.
