Bears Can Do Even More for Caleb Williams
One of the great complaints resonating from Justin Fields supporters has been how little the Bears did to help the guy wearing jersey No. 1.
At the same time, they're seeing Keenan Allen coming in to provide receiver help for the next quarterback. In fact, according to Pro Football Focus' Arjun Menon, they have the third-most receptions of any receiver room in the NFL.
They see the possibility of two players competing at center who are not named Lucas Patrick or Cody Whitehair or Sam Mustipher.
They see a former first-round draft choice lining up at running back now in D'Andre Swift, who can run it or catch passes.
It all started with the hiring of Shane Waldron as offensive coordinator. The Bears found someone with three years worth of play calling in the NFL as offensive coordinator for a team that carried a sagging defense and had winning records and one playoff berth the last two years. They found someone with the proven ability to elevate a QB, as he turned Geno Smith from bench warmer to one of the more productive passers in the league.
So where was this when Fields was the quarterback?
Perhaps it all turns out a little different for him.
As they say, NFL stands for Not For Long. Fields is gone and dwelling upon what they didn't do for him helps no one.
The goal for the Bears needs to be better support for Caleb Williams if as expected he is the first pick in the draft.
All of the aforementioned situations provide help.
Not saddling him with a rookie center was important. The acquisition of Coleman Shelton helps in this regard. He has been a center for most of the snaps in his career in the same offense. Not that Ryan Bates can't do it but 75% of his snaps have come at guard.
So now it's looking ahead to what else the Bears can do to help Williams have a soft landing or hit the ground running or whatever cliche you like.
Here are some.
4. Third Tight End
The Bears have former Browns tight end Stephen Carlson on the roster after he was on the practice squad last year. His skill set was a fit they saw for Luke Getsy's offense, but would that be the same for this offense?
The third tight end had a vital role. Last year it was 39-year-old blocking tight end Marcedes Lewis.
Coming up with a third tight end candidate as an undrafted free agent or even with their fourth-round pick wouldn't be difficult if it was a versatile type. It's the blocking tight ends who are more difficult to find.
3. Draft a Speed Receiver
DJ Moore has very good speed. He ran 4.42 seconds in the 40, which was the same speed as Tarik Cohen when he was with the Bears. But players don't get faster in the NFL as they age. He's still in his prime at 27 next month but Moore's game is a combination of speed, athleticism and route running and he gets open, then gains after using excellent hands to make the catch.
Allen brings route running and can be the best third-down target Williams could have with hands and verticality. He's open right now on third down.
What you don't see is the burner, the 4.2-something guy.
There is one lid lifter to stretch out the defense but it's Velus Jones Jr. People probably don't remember 4.31 seconds in the 40 from him but that phenomenal time is on his resume.
He doesn't play to that speed of offense. His kick returning shows it. So did his punt returning the times he did catch the football.
The Bears might not have the opportunity to draft a speed receiver at No. 9. They might see that gaping hole the have for a second edge rusher or at starting 3-technique defensive tackle and decide they can't afford backsliding in their run defense or Montez Sweat getting ganged up on.
If they chose to draft Rome Odunze or Malik Nabers at No. 9, it's possible they'd be getting a speed receiver but we don't know because they didn't run at the combine. LSU's pro day is March 27 and Washington's the next day, if Nabers and Odunze do plan to run.
What is apparent is there are a few receivers no among the first three who do have that type of game-changing speed.
Xavier Worthy ran the combine record 4.21 seconds in the 40 but the Texas receiver is only 5-foot-11, 165 pounds and hasn't had the best hands or route running ability. It's possible he'd slide even at his speed but to No. 75 in Round 3?
Nabers' teammate, Brian Thomas, is a likely first-rounder but a team could move back and get him. He ran the second fastest receiver time at the combine and his playing speed is every bit his combine speed, which was 4.33. Texas' Adonai Mitchell is another big receiver (6-2, 205) like Thomas (6-3, 209) who ran an outstanding time of 4.34. North Caorlina's Devontez Walker (6-2, 193) ran 4.36. So there are receivers who can fit the speed requirement that don't necessarily rate as a first-rounder.
Jacob Cowing from Arizona (4.38), Michigan's Roman Wilson (4.39), Georgia's Ladd McConkey (4.39), South Carolina's Xavier Legette (4.39) and Oregon State's Anthony Gould (4.39) all ran sub 4.4 and could stertch a field.
2. Familiar Faces
Another way to get Williams comfortable is to provide some former teammates and friends on the roster.
The Bears already did this to an extent with DJ Moore by bringing in Swift, who was his childhood friend.
USC has a receiver who could go before or around the time the Bears pick in Round 3 and that's Jerry Rice's son Brenden (6-2, 208, 4.5). Rice could be a second-rounder. If not, and if the Bears opt for defense at No. 9, then they could do a lot worse than provide a good target with pedigree who knows Williams.
Another wide receiver who might be available to the Bears is speedy Tahj Washington from USC. The 5-foot-10, 174-pound slot or Z-type ran 4.43 at hte combine and is regarded as a Day 3 pick, most likely fifth round or later. The Bears don't have a pick in Round 5 but it's not difficult to come up with a pick then if you're trading back earlier in the draft.
It doesn't have to be a wide receiver. USC running back MarShawn Lloyd is regarded one of the top backs in the draft and ran 4.46 in the 40. He might be a Day 2 pick. The Bears already look to have running back addressed with Swift but maybe they decide they like Lloyd better than Khalil Herbert or Roschon Johnson.
Nor does it even have to be a USC player. Tight end Austin Stogner from Oklahoma was a Sooners receiver and left for a different USC when Williams left Oklahoma for USC with his coach Lincoln Riley. Stogner's USC was University of South Carolina, but he returned after one season away to finish his career at Oklahoma. He is probably a very late pick or undrafted free agent and would be a familiar face as well as a taller tight end at 6-6, 255. He caught 84 passes for 1,060 yards in college.
1. Pass Blocking
It might seem like the Bears are set on the offensive line. They can always get better in terms of depth. They've brought in tackles Jake Curhan and Matt Pryor besides centers Coleman Shelton and Ryan Bates.
The O-line depth is critical because of all the changes they've endured the past few season.
In Matt Eberflus' two seasons as coach, they've had 19 changes to the starting lineup on the offensive line.
They need continuity to succeed. They also need subs if the health situation doesn't improve.
Beyond this, however, the key offensive line spot has always been left tackle.
The Bears have a capable left tackle in Braxton Jones. He's above average according to Pro Football Focus, and hasn't even played into his third season yet.
However, they are going to be in a strong position to draft the best left tackle this year or second best. Notre Dame's Joe Alt, Washington's Troy Fautanu and Penn State's Olu Fashanu are all tackle candidates expected to go in the draft's first half, according to NFL Mock Draft Database.
Yet, the latest mock draft consensus has seven of the 32 first-round picks being spent on tackles.
Would the Bears actually draft a tackle at No. 9 to protect Williams?
Considering Williams is not quite the downfield runner Fields was, and that he tends to hold the ball a long time trying to pick out targets off script, a line of thinking suggest it's entirely possible.
Give Williams time and with the receiver corps he has now he might be able to pick apart any defense.
Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven
