Cubs News: Odunze on learning from Moore and Allen, Williams' elusiveness |
LAKE FOREST, I.L. - Rookie receiver Rome Odunze was drafted into a unique situation for a top-10 receiver.
While receivers like Marvin Harrison Jr. and Malik Nabers were drafted to be the No. 1 receiver with the Arizona Cardinals and New York Giants, Odunze comes to the Bears as the No. 3 receiver behind veterans DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Playing with veterans like them is a great learning opportunity for Odunze, who is taking full advantage of that. “I just try to take in every route that they run and what they see on different coverages. They (are) probably annoyed with me, all the things that I ask them about. But, I try to gain as much information as I (possibly can),” Odunze said. “Sometimes I watch Keenan. Sometimes I watch DJ and they do things. I’m like, ‘Okay. I don’t know if that’s in my playbook. I’m going to have to figure out a different way to get the route done because they’re special in that way. They have such unique traits to be able to do so many different things and comfortability to get open on my given route. So, just learning those things and learning the different nuances that they do within a route and catching the ball that I try and emulate. But, got to find my own style within that as well.” Moore was acquired from the Carolina Panthers prior to the 2023 NFL Draft in the blockbuster trade that also gave Chicago the draft pick they used to select quarterback Caleb Williams. Moore has been a consistent receiver his entire career and had a career-high in receiving yards last season with 1,364. That total was the sixth-most out of any receiver in the NFL last season and fourth-most by a Bears receiver in a single season. “I think he’s continued to be underrated in this league,” Odunze said. “I think if you turn on the tape and see what he’s capable of doing, it’s tremendous.” Allen is not underrated. He has received the recognition he deserves, being selected to six Pro Bowls, including last season when he had 1,243 receiving yards and seven receiving touchdowns. To Odunze’s point about Moore being underrated, both of those numbers are less than Moore’s last season. Still, Allen does have some intangible qualities that have helped him to garner his Pro Bowls, and Odunze is taking note. “First of all, him moving around at his size is just crazy. His explosiveness, his agility, his route deception, his speed, deception, acceleration, all those different nuances within the routes he’s running, he’s mastered it, and it’s so many subtle things within the route that he does. (It) takes a very keen eye to notice the things that he’s doing, and obviously, no one’s figured it out yet because they still can’t guard him,” Odunze said. “One of the most impressive things is his cuts too. He can cut on his outside foot. He can cut on his inside foot and he’s staying off the grass and is able to maintain his balance every single time. So, I think that’s something that’s very unique to him.” While the starters did not play in Chicago’s first preseason game against the Houston Texans, they will play in the Bears’ next game against the Buffalo Bills on Saturday, Aug. 10 (Noon / NFL Network). This will offer fans their first chance to see rookies Odunze and Williams in action, and from what players like Odunze are saying about Williams, it should be an exciting game. “In practice, (he’s) evaded defenders, made spectacular plays, threw passes in spots where no one else could, and I think he’ll continue to do that whether it’s preseason, whether it’s the regular season, playoffs, Super Bowl,” Odunze said. “I think he’s that talented regardless of the setting that he’s playing in. So, I think he’ll just continue to do those things.”
