Chicago Bears: The Offense Is Now the Defense
- May 1, 2024 06:00pm
- 134
The Chicago Bears, known for their defensive prowess for decades, have undergone a complete makeover on offense. With the addition of Rome Odunze, Keenan Allen, and D.J. Moore, the Bears now boast one of the most talented wide receiver rooms in the NFL.
The Chicago Bears have undergone an identity crisis of the best kind. A team known for its defensive prowess for the past few decades has now had a full-on rom-com makeover. It's now all about the offense, baby.
With the addition of Washington wide receiver Rome Odunze with the ninth overall pick in this year's NFL Draft, the Bears could conceivably have the NFL's best wideout room.
As part of an effort to create the best possible landing spot for newly minted Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, general manager Ryan Poles infused the offense with experience. He traded a fourth-round pick for Keenan Allen after acquiring D.J. Moore in the trade down from the top spot last year. For good measure, Poles then also grabbed Odunze with the team's second first-round pick in 2024, a player with whom Williams already seems to have a rapport.
In fact, all four of the aforementioned players had a throwing session the week before the draft, before Williams or Odunze were even Bears.
"I found out, was it two days ago? That that popped out," Poles said on draft night. "I thought it was pretty cool. Still at that point I was nervous that wasn't going to be able to work out where we would have to do something to make that work out. So when I found that out, it was cool, and obviously now that group has worked together, which is good."
If you consider that Moore is still this team's top wide receiver, Allen is now their WR2, who should be used primarily in the slot, the speedy Odunze will now stretch the field, adding the complementary dimension to his veteran counterparts.
Odunze was widely considered one of the three best receivers in this draft class. The other two, Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers, were drafted to be their team's top option. Odunze is his team's third option and could instantly become the league's best at that spot. Take a second and try to think of anyone you'd take over him right now.
Because of that, I don't think there's a receiver trio out there that will end up contending with what Chicago will field this season.
For a team as generationally starved for offense as Chicago, that's a wild thought.
Moore was the team's leading receiver last season, amassing 1,364 yards, good for the sixth most in the NFL. According to Next Gen Stats, Moore had the second-most receiving yards over expectation, with a 15.1-yard average. That's second to only CeeDee Lamb and means Moore is one of the best at creating with less. He also had the second-most receptions of 20 yards or more, second only to Tyreek Hill.
Meanwhile, Allen was in Los Angeles, taking up 30.5 percent of his team's target share, good for the third-best in the league behind Hill and Davante Adams. That's pretty impressive for a guy that spent 56.7 percent of his time in the slot.
Now, you're adding Odunze who recorded a 4.45 40-yard dash at the combine to pair with a diverse skillset.
"As a receiver he can line anywhere... inside, outside," Poles said after drafting Odunze. "You love his ability to finish in contested situations. Plays strong. Plays big. Runs after catches very good. He's a punt returner as well. I mean, the kid has just put time in and gotten better and better every single year, and he's a winner. He can impact the game at any moment. If you are a quarterback and in doubt and you want to go give a guy an opportunity to go finish, he's your guy. He's done that consistently."
The Philadelphia Eagles have A.J. Brown and DeVonta Smith. The Miami Dolphins have Tyreek Hill and Jaylen Waddle. The Cincinnati Bengals? Ja'Marr Chase and Tee Higgins. Those are all tandems. The only wide receiver trio of consequence is in Seattle with D.K. Metcalf, Tyler Lockett and Jaxon Smith-Njigba. But even then, would you take them over what the Bears have? There's a case to be made that Chicago still wins out offensively — especially if Williams is the Prince Who Was Promised.
It's a new era in the Windy City. With that new era, comes a new identity — one Chicago has never seen before.
Even with a defensive head coach in Matt Eberflus. Even with a top-five defense. This is now an offensive team and the first of its kind in the blue and orange. That in and of itself should be enough to tell Bears fans, this time it really could be different.
Related articles
-
Caitlin Clark's Stellar Year: Breaking Records, Leading the Fever
From shattering NCAA scoring records to guiding the Indiana Fever into the playoffs, Caitlin Clark has had a remarkable year in basketball.Caitlin...
- 05 Oct 2024
-
Buck Showalter Dismisses 'Moneyball' as Fiction
Former MLB manager Buck Showalter blasts the 2011 movie "Moneyball" as a "farce," claiming it misrepresented the success of the Oakland A's.Former...
- 05 Oct 2024
-
Carr and Adams: A Connection That Could Reunite Them in New Orleans
Former Raiders teammates and friends Davante Adams and Derek Carr have sparked trade rumors linking Adams to the New Orleans Saints, where Carr is...
- 05 Oct 2024
-
Nick Chubb's Return to Browns: A Major Step in a Remarkable Comeback
After suffering a devastating knee injury last season, Pro Bowl running back Nick Chubb has made a triumphant return to practice, marking a...
- 05 Oct 2024
-
Greg Biffle: NASCAR Driver Turned Hurricane Hero
NASCAR driver Greg Biffle has used his personal helicopter to deliver supplies and internet service to victims of Hurricane Helene in North Carolina,...
- 05 Oct 2024
-
Sam Darnold's Redemption: Facing the Jets in London
Minnesota Vikings quarterback Sam Darnold, once a top draft pick by the New York Jets, is set to face his former team in London on Sunday. Despite...
- 05 Oct 2024
Leave a comment
Your comment is awaiting moderation. We save your draft here
0 Comments
Chưa có bình luận nào