Cubs News: Caleb Williams talks about team's chemistry, Rome Odunze |
CHICAGO - With the conclusion of organized team activities (OTAs) and mandatory minicamp, there is a little over a month until training camp begins on Tues. July 23.
For rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, building team chemistry is something that he has developed greatly thus far. “The biggest thing that I accomplished was (making) a connection with my teammates in those relationships whether we’re hanging out, going to Top Golf, playing versus (tight end) Cole (Kmet) and (quarterback) Brett (Rypien) and them or also just hanging out with the (rookies) and us going to movies or hanging out, going to dinners and things like that,” Williams said. “But also, being in here, laughing and joking, being in the locker room … Just gaining and building more confidence and trust throughout the Bears and everybody here but also myself within the offense, building that belief, that trust, that confidence, swagger to go out there and play.” During his three years in college, Williams has been part of different teams in various roles. His freshman year, he was with Oklahoma and although he appeared in 11 games, only had the opportunity to attempt 211 passes. Once he transferred to Southern California, his play excelled, he won the Heisman but the team lost in the Pac-12 Championship game and the Cotton Bowl. In Williams’ final season, they finished the regular season 7-5 but won the Holiday Bowl. All of these teams had one thing that kept them together - the bond between the players. That is part of why building chemistry and bonding with the players in Chicago is so important to Williams. “Everything’s about the bond that you build between each other because then you go out there … Your mentality is different. Everything’s different when you’re out there playing for each other and not out there playing for yourself. So, the connection, to be able to build a bond between not just 11 on the field, but the next 11 that comes on the field, which is the defense, and the next 11 and then all the other guys at 53 and everybody’s treated with respect and love and care,” Williams said. “But also, pushing each other to be at our best. So, that’s where the connection comes from because you can’t build something pretty special at the end of the year without that bond, love, and trust for your brothers.” One of his brothers for the foreseeable future in Chicago is wide receiver Rome Odunze, who the Bears selected with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft. Odunze was another successful Pac-12 product. Since joining the Bears, they have been able to spend time together going to numerous sporting events in Chicago. One such outing was when Williams, Odunze and numerous other Chicago players went to a Chicago White Sox game and Odunze had the opportunity to throw the first pitch in the game. Another of those times was during their joint practice with Bears’ receivers DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Williams wanted to start building his connection with Odunze prior to the draft because he hoped they could play together in the NFL. “Rome and I, we started building a connection early on because we also knew that there was a possibility for us to be on the same team and build this thing together. So, building that trust … and bond from there so that we both can push each other and when it’s time to laugh and joke, it’s time to laugh and joke,” Williams said. “But, when we’re out there on the field, whether we’re in the film room, ITC, on the field, game days, whatever the case may be, it’s time to build on that aspect of our connection and relationship. So, it’s been a pleasure, a joy … To be able to be alongside him now and work together is a pleasure.”
