Cubs News: Eberflus says changes are coming on offense, Williams remains the starting QB |
CHICAGO - Changes are coming to Chicago. What they are, we do not know yet. Head coach Matt Eberflus said there are changes coming for the Bears going into their game this coming Sunday against the Green Bay Packers (Noon / FOX).
Given how the Bears’ offense has played, changing the offensive playcaller would make a lot of sense. “There’s got to be a change and adjustment to what we’re doing because we obviously lost three in a row. But, there’s also the (side) of we’re 4-5, haven’t played our division yet, and we’re in the process of starting (this) week in a big football game. So, just in the process of getting that done. There will be changes, adjustments made. I’m not going to disclose those right now. I’m not at that point in the process,” Eberflus said. “In-game communication (has) to be better. The adjustments, the tactical adjustments need to be better with that on all sides. Everything’s on the table and it’s important that we look at everything and we take the time to get that done.” Almost everything is on the table. Rookie quarterback Caleb Williams remains the starter for Chicago, which is not a surprise. Williams is not the biggest problem for the offense. The offensive line has numerous injuries, contributing to Williams being sacked a league-leading 38 times through the first 10 weeks of the season. However, he is also holding onto the ball too long. Through Chicago’s first nine games this season, he is averaging 3.26 seconds before the pass this season, which is No. 30 according to ESPN. The combination of him holding onto the ball, the offensive line’s performance and injuries, and Williams’ lack of chemistry with his receivers is leading to a lack of complementary football because the offense cannot get things going since coming off their bye. “When your team’s not playing complementary football, you don’t like it,” Eberflus said. “When you’re playing complementary football, it’s something to see because you’re playing off of each other, it’s complementary. You can see guys, the passion for each other to get those things done and (Sunday) was not that. It’s not something that you like to look at.” With a quarterback like Williams and receivers like six-time Pro Bowler Keenan Allen, elite receiver DJ Moore, and rookie Rome Odunze, there is no excuse this offense should only have 12 points over the last two games. The play calling from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has been brutal to watch. That is why when Eberflus said changes are coming, Waldron first came to mind. When asked if Waldron would remain on the coaching staff, Eberflus was really elusive in answering this question. “The process of that, we’re going through that right now and all those adjustments and changes and things that we’re going to do, (we’re) still in the evaluation phase of that,” Eberflus said. “It’s important that we’re using all the people in the building on the coaching staff, getting all the input, putting our minds together to come up with the best answer and that’s where we are right now and again, we got to look at that this afternoon as well.” Going into your first division game of the season is not the time to still be figuring out your offensive identity, but that is exactly the position the Chicago Bears are in now. Six of their final eight games of the season are division matchups. With the NFC North being the toughest division in the NFL thus far, Chicago has a very tough schedule to finish the year.
