Three Takeaways from Bears win over Bills |
Through two preseason games, the Chicago Bears are not only 2-0, but they have done so against two teams who will be right in the thick of the postseason this year. Sure, this is preseason, and none of what they do now matters when the regular season starts, but it is nice to see this team play with some confidence and take care of business against some great teams.
Whether the offense is figuring out how to close out drives or the defense continues to pick up where it left off last season, the Bears have a different mindset coming into the season this year, and you can see that on the field so far. What they do with that leading into the regular season will be on them, but this team still has two weeks to get to the level they hope to be at come week one. Here are some things that stood out on Saturday:
Although he only played two series in the game, the Caleb Williams era is off to a positive start. The No. 1 overall pick showed the potential that most scouts felt he could bring to the table. His mobility was on display several times, his strong arm and accurate ball placement were evident, and his ability to lead an offense was on display as he led the Bears offense to six points on his two drives. ALL22 film of every Caleb Williams pass in his preseason debut for the #Bears pic.twitter.com/jmhiBE9C60 Ideally, you would've loved one of those drives to result in a touchdown, but if you put points up every time you have the ball, you will be in a good position. Sure, there are some things Williams could work on, and some of that will happen with more experience. His pocket presence is the first thing that comes to mind, as he does tend to bail out sooner than he should. Regardless, this is the most anticipated season in recent memory for the Bears, and Williams is a big reason for that.Caleb Williams looks ready
Velus Jones Jr. passes the RB test
One of the more significant stories coming out of Bears camp last week was the news that Velus Jones Jr. would be taking snaps at RB. Not only did he take snaps at RB, but he also saw several snaps at RB during the game, one of which resulted in a TD. If this is a sign of things to come, this may be what it will take to have Jones reach his full potential as a player.
When you look at his receiver numbers, Jones hasn't done much since breaking into the league, as his inconsistent hands and lack of route running have contributed to that. Jones is also the fastest player on the Bears roster, so it is imperative for this team to figure out how to get him on the field.
Using him as a kick returner is one way, but when you look at this Bears offense and how much speed they have on it, Shane Waldron needs to figure out a way to use Jones offense. Playing him at RB could be that way, as he has the size to break tackles while also having the speed to get to the outside and make things happen.
It wouldn't be the first time a player moved from WR to RB, as Cordarrelle Patterson made that move five years ago and saved his career. Jones is hoping to follow.
.@VelusJr runs it in for the TD 🙌
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 10, 2024
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/qPnN0Rw7Cv
The Bears defense continues to step up
Take away the first quarter against the Houston Texans during their preseason opener, and the Bears defense has been locked in for six straight quarters. This shouldn't come as a surprise when you look at how they played last season, but they have been able to do this without Montez Sweat and many of their regulars playing.
That is ultimately what the preseason is about, as most teams use this time to figure out who makes this team as a depth piece and who will be heading to the practice squad or released. For the Bears and their defense, depth isn't an issue, as they have one of the deepest rosters in terms of overall depth.
What they do with that depth is up to them, as Matt Eberflus and Ed Washington have a lot of tough decisions to make come week one. So far, you could make the case that nearly everyone on defense deserves a shot to make this roster, with Micah Baskerville coming away with a pick-six on Sunday. Keep an eye on the defensive battles in the next few weeks, as this could garner the most attention from here on out.
Micah Baskerville gets the pick-six on a Shane Buechele pass for the Bears TD! 🏈🐻pic.twitter.com/9GgUuyAFgw
— The Comeback (@thecomeback) August 10, 2024
