Edmunds on improvements in tackling, Everett’s athleticism |
CHICAGO - It may only be the preseason, but the Chicago Bears defense appears to be picking up right where they left off. In the three preseason games Chicago has played, they have only allowed two touchdowns, both of those being in the first game against the Houston Texans. Against the Cincinnati Bengals, the Bears defense forced three turnovers and have held their last two opponents to nine points despite Chicago losing the time of possession battle in both of those games.
It appears the starters will not be playing when the Bears face off in their preseason finale against the Kansas City Chiefs on Thurs. Aug. 22 (7:20 / FOX 32 or NFL Network). However, for linebacker Tremaine Edmunds who is going into his second season with the Chicago Bears, that is not a concern because the defense is in a good place and will continue to improve during training camp to be ready for the season opener on Sun. Sept. 8 (Noon / FOX) against the Tennessee Titans. “I think we’re in a good space as far as the work that we’ve been putting in. Obviously, we don’t play next week. So, still a whole lot more work to be done. I know we get a couple more guys back (that have) been kind of hurt throughout training camp. But, it’s been good,” Edmunds said. “For the most part, a lot of guys have been able to be out there, just playing together the whole training camp and just kind of just developing that chemistry, that bond that we need to go out there and win games. But, like I said, we’re not done working yet. We still have a lot more time (until) our first game. So, that’s what the focus is right now, continuing to get better.” One area for improvement for the Bears defense going into this season was tackling, particularly open-field tackling. Last season, Chicago had 110 missed tackles; Edmunds tied fellow linebacker TJ Edwards for the most missed tackles with 13. In the preseason, however, the defense has done a good job overall of making open-field tackles, showing promise that this trend will continue into the regular season. “I think that’s just the focus that we put on it. We do a lot of tackling drills at practice and it’s unique to see it show up in a game now. Obviously, we know the work we put in,” Edmunds said. “But, just so everybody else see it, I think that’s definitely put a smile on my face because I know how much we practice it. Just seeing those guys make those plays … We had a lot of guys (that) stood out to me. But, that’s something that we practice day in and day out.” At the beginning of the season, the defense is typically always ahead of the offense. This may have been thought to ring even more true with the Bears since they have a rookie quarterback in Caleb Williams. However, if the preseason has shown anything, it is that Williams is ready for the NFL. “He’s a competitor. Ain’t nothing going to slow him down. Something may have (not gone) his way. But, at the end of the day, he going to come out that next play, still talking, still being himself, confidence level still high and he ready to ball and that’s what I respect the most (because) a baller want to play with a baller at the end of the day,” Edmunds said. “He’s his authentic self. He shows up to be who he is and I think that’s just the number one thing you can do as a leader because he’s in a leadership role. He’s the quarterback of our football team, and when he shows up to be himself, I think guys just naturally gravitate towards that, and obviously, his work on the field and his performance on the field is going to speak for itself. But, him as a person, he’s just himself and guys respect that.” Williams also has an elite cast around him. While there is understandably a lot of talk about his receiver trio with fellow rookie Rome Odunze and veterans Keenan Allen and DJ Moore, there has not been as much about the tight ends the Bears acquired in free agency, particularly Gerald Everett. Edmunds has had the chance to play against Everett in practice. Everett’s dynamic ability has stood out to him. “His athleticism for one. Obviously, he’s a tight end. But, (he’s) like a receiver out there. He’s crafty. Obviously, he has good speed, good size, got strong hands,” Edmunds said. “He can pretty much do it all out there as far as at the tight end position. Anytime you have somebody like that, that dynamic, obviously, it draws a lot of eyes on a defense. So, (he’s) been working hard out there. (He’s) going to do his thing for sure.”
