Waldron updates the latest on the Bears offense |
CHICAGO—After three weeks of miscues, mistakes, and inefficiencies on offense, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has been criticized for his play-calling.
However, he continues to maintain that the offensive communication is strong and that the team has what it needs to succeed. “For us as an offense right now, and I know we haven’t lived up to what we want to be in our building right now in terms of some of the execution there, but the thing that we can rely on is the communication has been great and it’s been consistent and it’s been ever-growing. It’s changing,” Waldron said. “There’s different guys that have different experiences within games and communicating to them … We’re built the right way. The players are built the right way and I think seeing that keep improving as we move forward is something that will show.” In their most recent game against the Indianapolis Colts, the Bears only managed to put up 63 rushing yards, with just about half of those coming from second-year running back Roschon Johnson, who averaged 3.8 yards per carry. D’Andre Swift, who was supposed to be Chicago’s starting running back, has 68 yards through the first three games combined. Waldron’s offenses have a history of poor running games. The past two seasons, when he was with the Seattle Seahawks, his offenses were in the bottom half of the league's rushing offenses. In his final year with Seattle, they were No. 28. Especially with a rookie quarterback, having a strong rushing attack is essential to a successful offense. “We want to have the marriage of the run and the pass. We want to be multiple. We want to be able to utilize our personnel in certain situations. I think (a) promising thing from this past week was seeing some of our pass game come to life whether it was all three levels of the throw,” Waldron said. “The thing that we’re working on relentlessly is getting our run game going, improving in that area so that we can play a balanced game.” The connection between an offensive coordinator and quarterback is paramount for any offense. That connection is clearly lacking between Waldron and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. On the fourth-and-goal play from the Indianapolis one-yard line, Williams did not have enough time to change the play call, a reflection of their communication. Waldron also still seems to be figuring out what kinds of plays Williams likes, something that should have occurred before now. However, Waldron maintains they are working on it. “For Caleb and I and for the rest of the offensive staff, just that good coach-to-player communication in-game where I know he’s as competitive as can be right there and we’re doing a great job now and talking … It’s something that he’s done a good job,” Waldron said. “In-game, everything is continuing to improve right there and then, when we come off the win, lose or draw on that Monday, being able to go back through everything and talk through everything and the goal of this is everything getting on the same page, being in sync, being one and I think we’re heading in that direction based on our ability to clearly communicate with each other.” Chicago’s game against the Los Angeles Rams this coming Sunday (Noon / FOX), the Bears will hope to get back on track. Rookie receiver Rome Odunze is the first player for the Bears to reach 100 receiving yards in a game this season; however, he popped up on the injury report on Thursday with a hip injury. If the Bears are going to be victorious against the Rams, they most likely will need Odunze.
