Bears’ coaching issues around Caleb Williams threatens to put season in peril

Bears’ coaching issues around Caleb Williams threatens to put season in peril originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

INDIANAPOLIS — In an offseason of change that was supposed to signal the dawn of a different Bears era, there was one decision to stay the course. The Bears chose to believe that with better talent at key positions and another chance to get the offensive coaching staff right, head coach Matt Eberflus would shine.

An offseason of talk about a new wardrobe, a beard, and polished media skills glossed over the questionable decision by general manager Ryan Poles to stick with Eberflus to be the head coach to start the Caleb Williams era.

Many, myself included, lauded the hire of offensive coordinator Shane Waldron as at least a positive step forward for a talented defensive coordinator still trying to prove he has all the tools needed to be a winning head coach.

But three games into the 2024 season, all the glitz and hype of an offseason of change have faded, and all that remains are poor challenges, wasted timeouts, a 1-2 record, and a worry that Eberflus and Waldron are harming Williams’s early development.

A week after Eberflus made two curious challenges in a 19-13 loss to the Houston Texans, which saw Williams get pressured on 23 of 48 dropbacks, the Bears rolled into Indianapolis to face a Colts team with a porous run defense that was dying to get beat and laid an egg in a 21-16 loss.

The defeat isn’t at the feet of Williams, who played better despite two interceptions, or a defense that bottled up the Colts’ offense outside of a couple of explosive plays.

No, Sunday’s flop against a team that is the definition of NFL “blech” is on Eberflus and Waldron.

Entering Sunday’s game, the Colts had the NFL’s worst run defense. They were giving up over 200 yards per game and were without star defensive tackle DeForest Buckner.

If there were any time for the Bears to get their run game going and make life easier on Williams behind a shaky offensive line, it…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-coaching-issues-around-caleb-123844859.html

Author : NBC Sports Chicago

Publish date : 2024-09-23 12:38:44

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