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Key Caleb Williams-Rome Odunze ‘Hard Knocks’ moment opens window into vital moment for Bears’ process originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
Caleb Williams’ sterling Chicago Bears preseason debut had a little bit of everything.
The rookie quarterback showed off his arm talent, velocity, athleticism, and off-platform throwing ability during an 18-play (20 with penalties) unveiling in the Bears’ 33-6 win over the Buffalo Bills at Highmark Stadium.
Williams went 4-for-7 for 95 yards, but arguably his most impressive moment came after his final snap of the day.
Facing a third-and-9 from the Bills’ 18-yard line, Williams dropped back and immediately looked right toward rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze, who was singled up on the outside. Williams thought Odunze would take his route vertical toward the back pylon, but the receiver instead chose to flatten his route out. With pressure bearing down on him, Williams elected to loft the ball toward the back pylon, hoping to put enough air under it to allow Odunze to run underneath it. Odunze adjusted his route, but the ball sailed out of bounds, and the Bears settled for a field goal.
Immediately after the incompletion, Williams grabbed Odunze on the sideline to go over the miscommunication.
The conversation between two pillars of the Bears’ future was captured in Episode 2 of HBO’s “Hard Knocks,” offering a glimpse into the ongoing process of building chemistry between the two.
“So I wanted you to go back pylon or settle right there and I would have ran,” Williams told Odunze on the sideline.
“I got you,” Odunze said.
“That’s why the ball went [overhead],” Williams said.
“Because I seen him outside, and I was like, ‘I don’t know if he’s going to go,” Odunze said. “But if I’m in that big of space I’m going to sit.”
“Yeah, in that big of a space, settle or come get the ball if it’s too far of a distance,” Williams said. “Other than that, go back pylon.”
“OK, I got you,”…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/key-caleb-williams-rome-odunze-213920374.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2024-08-14 21:39:20
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