Bears' defense is already making life in the NFL difficult for first overall pick Caleb Williams at OTAs
Adapting to life in the NFL is a tough process for any rookie and the first overall pick in the draft is no different, especially when you're facing a top ranked defense.That was the case for Bears' first overall pick Caleb Williams during the end of the first week of the organized team activities at […]
Adapting to life in the NFL is a tough process for any rookie and the first overall pick in the draft is no different, especially when you're facing a top ranked defense.
That was the case for Bears' first overall pick Caleb Williams during the end of the first week of the organized team activities at Halas Hall.
The team's new franchise quarterback still showed off some impressive plays throughout the week but felt the full force of the team's opportunistic defense during team drills on the field.
Let it be known these struggles and growing pains should be expected, especially for offensive players during the first days of practice and even more so for players learning a new system. On the other side of the field, head coach Matt Eberflus' unit has been running the same system for years and isn't looking to make things easy for the team's new and young offense.
"It doesn't make it no better that they're out there having fun with it and we're just frustrated because we ain't accomplishing what we want to," wide receiver DJ Moore said following Thursday's practice. "On the flip side, we know that we're still learning and coming together as an offense."
Being able to acknowledge that as a veteran player like Moore is one thing, but it's also important for Williams and the other young players to realize the level of competition they're facing on the practice field each and everyday.
"Our defense can get pretty rowdy out there," Moore added. "Just calming him and everyone down in the huddle and just refocusing is the best thing."
Playing a stout defense against a young quarterback entering the league definitely makes practice a frustrating experience but it's a key part of the learning process to get Williams quickly adapted to how life will be like during the actual season.
"We like to think that will be a by-product of his growth and development," defensive coordinator Eric Washington explained. "He's having to go up against the exceptional, seasoned players that we have on the line of scrimmage and then our back seven. We all have a vested interest in wanting to see that young man grow and become battle-tested to be ready on Day One. We're going to give him everything that we have everyday."
At the same time, Williams isn't just your average joe at quarterback. There's a reason Williams was the first overall pick and that's because of the talent he can demonstrate on the field.
Therefore, it's been able to go both ways. While Williams struggled at time against the Bears' defense, the defense also had their fair share of issues when it came to defending against the top draft pick during the week.
"His ability to make off schedule plays is well documented," Washington added. "That's a nightmare for defensive coordinators. It's a nightmare when you decide to rush four and especially when you decide to send a fifth or a sixth guy. This young man can really extend plays, he can hurt you if he's allowed to get out of the pocket and break down the coverage in that way. He'll be a good test for us and good practice for us for some of the quarterbacks we'll see throughout the year."
So far during OTAs in Chicago, it's been a back and forth battle between the offense and defense, with both sides getting solid licks on each other during the week.
“The first day, the offense really got after us a little bit," Bears safety Kevin Byard said following Thursday's practice. "[Williams] making some good throws, some deep passes. He had a really good day. And then, today, we got after him…
"I would just tell him, 'days like this, just keep fighting and keep going,' everything's not going to be peaches and cream. I like his confidence and he looked straight and honest like 'of course I will,' so it was good to see."
The back and forth battle is only getting started and will continue all summer long leading up to the start of the season. As we all know, iron strengthens iron and that's certainly what's been taking place at Halas Hall and the entire team is better for it.
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