There are lots of positives surrounding the Chicago Bears offense through the first week of training camp. Caleb Williams is making several impressive throws every day. Many of them come from the pocket. Rome Odunze already looks like a bonafide stud. He’s beating the team’s starting corners with regularity. Keenan Allen looks like the six-time Pro Bowler he is, and running back D’Andre Swift seems to fit perfectly in this offense. Unfortunately, GM Ryan Poles can’t be all smiles. The offense does have one significant issue.
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The offensive line hasn’t looked great. Or, more specifically, the interior offensive line has been shaky. Nate Davis continues to miss practices due to more health problems. Worse still, the Bears’ defensive front has made life miserable for the team’s recent additions, Ryan Bates and Coleman Shelton. As a result, Williams is under frequent pressure, making it difficult for him to sustain drive in 11-on-11 drills.
Poles maintain the belief that the Bears have enough bodies on the interior to have a strong offensive line. The latest evidence suggests otherwise.
— Nicholas Moreano (@NicholasMoreano) July 30, 2024I watched the OL vs. DL 1 in 1-on-1s
– Braxton Jones handled the bullrush from DeMarcus Walker on both reps
– Coleman Shelton won his first rep against Andrew Billings, but the veteran defensive lineman overpowered Shelton on the next rep.
– Gervon Dexter Sr. went through Ryan…
— Greg Braggs Jr. (@GBraggsJr23) July 30, 202411 on 11s first team back up
Run play gets bottled up on 1st rep and Teven Jenkins gets shaken up and takes a second to get up. He trys to wave the coached to stay in but comes off for 1 play. Comes right back in for 3rd rep.
Ryan Poles has a tough decision to make.
Does he maintain the status quo, betting that things will coalesce as guys become more familiar with the offense? Or will he look to add another piece to the mix to increase competition and hopefully find stability? Given the situation with Davis, the former seems like a dangerous gamble. The guy has never started a full season without some health setback. Jenkins remains a wild card as well. If this team wants to beat the best in the division, let alone the NFC, they have to stabilize the trenches.
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Unfortunately, the Giants scooped up one of the best remaining guards on the market, Greg Van Roten. If Ryan Poles wants to roll the dice, his best bet is calling veteran center Connor Williams. While he is coming off a season-ending knee injury last year, he was one of the best in the league at his position before that. He would at least give the Bears some flexibility where they sorely need it. Otherwise, they risk their young quarterback getting way too much pressure on him in a pivotal year of development.
