Waldron trying to start faster and be more efficient offensively |
CHICAGO - Through the first six games of the season, the Chicago Bears only have 10 first quarter points. It took their game against the Carolina Panthers to get their first touchdown in the first quarter.
Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said that after reflecting on the offensive performance during the bye week, starting fast is a huge priority for the Bears. “I think the big thing, obviously, is starting faster, keep putting an emphasis on that and a lot of that is going to come down to opening drive third down conversions, knowing that if you can stay, you can convert on third downs, you can extend those opening drives,” Waldron said. “You can extend those first quarter drives and play a little bit more efficient at the beginning of games. But, it’s also not to say that if you play well throughout the course of the game, you have a chance to rebound from those things if it doesn’t start perfectly. But, that would be the biggest takeaway from the week off and looking back at some self scout.” With a rookie quarterback, there are typically more issues than what Chicago has experienced with Caleb Williams. He had a few rough weeks back in the second and third games of the season against the Houston Texans and Indianapolis Colts. However, once the run game got going, so did Williams who threw for four touchdowns in London in Chicago’s 35-16 win against the Jacksonville Jaguars. Part of what Waldron said makes Williams such a great player is the level of maturity and leadership he has always shown, as well as working through things when the offense is not functioning at its best or after making a bad play. “It’s always such an unbelievable opportunity everyday (to) get to come to work in a place like this,” Waldron said. “So having that appreciation, which he always does, and that understanding of each week, you got to bring it as the quarterback, as the natural leader of the team and so, seeing when there was some down times before, working through it, (having) some success, still coming to work on Monday, ready to be corrected, ready to have things that we can look at and focus on to improve each week.” One example was against the Jaguars when Williams threw his only interception of the game. He used that play as motivation and played incredibly well throughout the rest of the game. His four touchdown passes, all of which came after the interception, included two touchdowns to veteran receiver Keenan Allen. Allen is still as involved as he probably would like to be as he still only has 122 receiving yards so far this season. Nonetheless, Waldron said Allen is handling it like a pro and that the offense is always going to try to get him involved. “Talk about an ultimate pro, knowing that a guy that’s accumulated so many reps, so many catches, so many yards, touchdowns, all the things, to deal with a little bit of injury (and) things at the beginning of the season there. Missed him on a few opportunities early on in the season and what I saw from Keenan is showing up to work every single day ready to ask questions, ready to talk through situations, ready to look how he can blend in with everyone else that’s on the offense and so, I think when the opportunities presented themselves (two) weeks ago (against) Jacksonville, he’s ready to make his plays, which he always is,” Waldron said. “And I think one of the hard parts is always going to be when you have (wide receivers) DJ (Moore), Keenan, Rome (Odunze), (tight ends) Cole (Kmet), Gerald (Everett), (running back D’Andre) Swift, all these guys, (running back) Roschon (Johnson), that we’re mixing and matching touches for each week, it might play out a little bit differently. But, always knowing for us as a coaching staff, we know Keenan’s a (unique) route runner, his ability to get separation, his ability to get open, aggressive hands, the way he can win at the top of routes, something that we’re always going to, from a schematic standpoint, trying to get him involved (as) much as we can.” Someone who has gotten involved quite a bit is tight end Cole Kmet. Kmet is second on the Bears in receptions (26) and receiving yards (289). His catch percentage of 89.7 is the second-highest in the NFL among players with at least 25 receptions. In Chicago’s last game, he also stepped up as the long snapper after Scott Daly was ruled out due to injury. The chemistry he has developed with Williams and his ability to help the team wherever he is needed is something that has really benefited the offense so far this season. “Cole’s done a great job being a leader on this team, bringing energy and passion every single day that he steps on the field and so, he’s a great communicator,” Waldron said. “I think a lot of (that rapport has) developed in the offseason, in training camp, and then it’s continued to develop during the season right here and so, when the quarterback has good trust in a tight end and a guy that can work edges and win one-on-ones as well as be a friendly target in zone coverages. He’s had some good opportunities and he’s maximized those opportunities.” Chicago will potentially face another rookie quarterback, Jayden Daniels, when the Bears take on the Washington Commanders this coming Sunday (3:25 p.m. / CBS). Daniels is currently questionable with a rib injury. If he is unable to play, veteran Marcus Mariota will be the starter.
