Cubs News: Swift on learning from Allen, having Jones Jr. in RB Room |
CHICAGO - General manager Ryan Poles has been highly intentional about adding players to Chicago’s roster that are dynamic players. Signing running back D’Andre Swift was no exception. Back when he played with the Detroit Lions, Swift excelled as a runner and pass catcher. That dual-threat ability did not show with the Philadelphia Eagles, but Chicago will be able to use his receiving ability better.
When he first entered the league, Swift modeled his game after other running backs. Now, surrounded by talented receivers, Swift is taking advantage of his access to receiver Keenan Allen to improve his receiving game. “Early when I got in the league, it was other backs. Now, I study my game, myself, but a guy that’s in our receiver room, Keenan, especially with the choice routes and everything, how he’s able to create separation on almost any route he runs,” Swift said. “So, we kind of talk back and forth. If I know I’m on a route, just kind of asking him, ‘How (does) that look? What (do) you think about my release?’ and stuff like that. We kind of pick each other’s brains.” For Swift, Chicago is his third team in as many seasons. Thus, he is used to new players and new offensive coordinators, something that has made working with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron easier. “The verbiage, the vocab … He just does a good job of making it easy to remember things,” Swift said. “I feel like everybody from top to bottom had a solid training camp, was out here grinding every single day, getting better … (We have) a great, balanced offense that’s able to do everything - run, pass, play action, whatever we need to do to be successful. That’s how I see this offense going.” Velus Jones Jr., who had to change positions to earn his spot on the roster, is not new to the Chicago Bears but is new to the running back room. He exploded against the Kansas City Chiefs in Chicago’s last preseason game, with 111 rushing yards and a rushing touchdown. “I’m glad that he’s in the room. He’s probably the funniest guy on the team. But that’s outside of football talents. His energy, his toughness, strong, physical, fast,” Swift said. “So, it’s nothing to go and teach another position like that, and it (is) natural for a guy once he gets the playbook down and stuff like that and (allows) his natural talents to show, and I believe I saw a glimpse of that. The ceiling’s really nice for him. I love him.” Swift has never played with a rookie quarterback in his four NFL seasons. That will change this season, as Chicago’s offense is being led by rookie Caleb Williams, whom the Bears drafted No. 1 overall. Williams has made many amazing plays during the preseason, drawing comparisons to Chiefs quarterback Patrick Mahomes. But Williams is not focused on comparisons; he just wants to be great. Swift has been able to see that in how Williams conducts himself on and off the field, as he is always cool under pressure. “You can tell. He just wants to be great and that’s what you look for,” Swift said. “There’s going to be ups and downs through the season, going to be adversity for sure. But, he never gets too high, never gets too low.” Williams’ cool nature will be tested in Chicago’s regular-season opener against the Tennessee Titans on Sunday, September 8 (Noon / FOX). The Bears will then play the high-powered Houston Texans in their first primetime game of the season on Sunday, September 15 (7:20 p.m. / NBC).
