Introduction to the Bears’ Offense
In the span of a year, Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze has gone from trying to build chemistry with quarterback Caleb Williams to becoming his favorite target. The development is a positive one, so long as Williams’ comfort with his fellow 2024 first-round draft pick doesn’t become a crutch. That’s what it looked like last Sunday in Baltimore, when Williams zeroed in on Odunze as he ran an in-breaking route in the fourth quarter. Cornerback Nate Wiggins was draped all over Odunze, and a safety tracked him from behind. Williams threw the ball anyway, and it was intercepted by Wiggins to bury the Bears in their 30-16 loss.
The Targeting of Rome Odunze
‘‘Did I think I was open? I’m always open,’’ Odunze told the Sun-Times. ‘‘There was a glimpse. There was definitely a better read for Caleb.’’ That was running back Kyle Monangai in the flat. Head coach Ben Johnson said so after the game. By Wednesday, Williams agreed with him, saying he should have checked the ball down. It was no surprise he looked for Odunze. Through the first seven games of his rookie season, Odunze had 20 catches. Through the first seven games this season, he has 31.
Target Share and Efficiency
In his rookie season, Odunze was targeted on 19.2% of the Bears’ passes, which was 59th in the NFL. This season, he has been targeted 25.5% of the time, the 19th-most in the league. The next-closest Bears players, DJ Moore and Olamide Zaccheaus, are tied for 73rd. Is Williams throwing to Odunze too often? ‘‘That’s the monster of the NFL, the narratives that go around,’’ Odunze said with a chuckle. ‘‘I’m not the guy that’s gonna sit here and say, ‘Give me the ball every play.’ I think I deserve my fair share of targets, and I feel like I can be an asset to the offense. . . . I want Caleb to go through his reads and play his ball first, and I’ll be a complement to that.’’
Upcoming Game Against the Bengals
That needs to continue Sunday, when Williams has a chance to get back on track against a Bengals defense that just gave up 39 points to Justin Fields and the Jets. The Bengals allow 31.6 points and 407.9 yards per game, both the most in the NFL. Williams has been alternating good games with bad. His passer rating was worse in Game 4 than in Game 3, then better in Game 5, worse in Game 6 and better in Game 7. His 77.2 passer rating against the Ravens, however, wasn’t to the Bears’ standards because of his interception and the team’s continued ineptitude in the red zone. The Bengals have the third-worst red-zone defense in the NFL, allowing touchdowns at a 70% clip.
The Role of the Coaching Staff
It’s Johnson’s obligation as a play-caller not only to design plays in which the Bears’ different weapons are the first option but to pick a relatively even number of them for game day. ‘‘Then when you call that play, coverage dictates whether the ball can go there or not,’’ Johnson said. ‘‘It’s just been one of those things that the ones where Rome has been [the] primary, he’s been open quite a bit. It’s good to see that they do have that connection and that rapport. I think [Williams has] got that with the rest of the guys, as well. We’ve just got to make sure that we’re getting them in that primary spot enough.’’ Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle said there isn’t a specific target share he wants for a No. 1 receiver.
Conclusion
Williams’ goal, then, is to spread the ball around as much as he can. ‘‘I think the guys understand that,’’ Williams said. ‘‘I think they also understand winning is a lot more fun. And so if they do not get targeted on that drive or that game, I think they’re OK with it as long as we win. . . . But it’s not on my conscious mind. My job is to go out there and deliver the ball and go win the game.’’ The Bears have treated Odunze like their No. 1 receiver since training camp, even though they have Moore under contract through 2029 after signing him to a four-year, $110 million extension last year. Moore has only 38 targets and 26 catches.
FAQs
- Q: Is Rome Odunze the primary target for Caleb Williams?
A: Yes, Rome Odunze has become Caleb Williams’ favorite target, with 31 catches through the first seven games of the season. - Q: Is Caleb Williams throwing to Rome Odunze too often?
A: That’s a matter of debate, but Odunze has been targeted 25.5% of the time, which is the 19th-most in the league. - Q: What is the key to the Bears’ success in their upcoming game against the Bengals?
A: The Bears need to spread the ball around and get their different weapons involved, while also being efficient in the red zone. - Q: What is the Bengals’ weakness on defense?
A: The Bengals have the third-worst red-zone defense in the NFL, allowing touchdowns at a 70% clip. - Q: What is the role of the coaching staff in the Bears’ offense?
A: The coaching staff, led by Ben Johnson and Declan Doyle, needs to design plays that get the Bears’ different weapons involved and pick a relatively even number of them for game day.
