Cubs News: Swift excited to play for RB coach, talks improvement in Caleb Williams |
LAKE FOREST, I.L. - For running back D’Andre Swift, he is now on his third team in as many years and once again will be featured on HBO’s Hard Knocks who is filming parts of the Chicago Bears’ training camp.
While all of the attention on the offensive side of the ball has been on the wide receivers, Swift says that he will also have an important role in offensive coordinator Shane Waldron’s new scheme. “I feel like I’d be very valuable in that aspect, especially helping Caleb when stuff ain’t open down the field. I’m available,” Swift said. “I’ve always been the type of guy, whatever they call, whatever type of role I get, I’m going to make do with that. So, I’m never going to complain about not getting the passes or anything like that. But, I just kind of made the best of my situation.” Swift is coming off his first Pro Bowl season, during which he had over 1,000 rushing yards. However, this season will be quite different for him. This will be Swift’s first season playing with a rookie quarterback and alongside such a stacked receiver group as Chicago’s with Keenan Allen, DJ Moore, and Rome Odunze. With everything going on with the Bears’ offense, Swift knows he needs to be patient with rookie quarterback Caleb Williams as he adjusts to the NFL. “Just taking it day-by-day with him, know he got a lot on his plate, lot being thrown at him every single day,” Swift said. “But, he’s doing a great job with commanding the offense since we came back, got a better grasp (of) everything. So, just giving him little pointers when we break the huddle, stuff to keep his mind rolling before we say hut and hike the ball. But, he’s been doing a great job.” Williams was ahead of the game when he entered organized team activities (OTAs) and rookie minicamp. The biggest concern coming out of OTAs was Williams' adjustment to the verbal cadence, as that is not something he used during college. However, Swift says he has seen Williams making strides in his game overall, although he did not specifically address the cadence. “Real quick mindset, making smarter players, I would say, quicker plays. You could just tell he’s in a better space. That comes along with time, getting a better understanding of the offense,” Swift said. “He had time off so he had more time to study the offense. So, you could tell he’s made strides since he’s been back.” The Bears are a team with numerous high-energy characters. Most of the energetic players discussed on the Bears are on the defense. It is even less common for a coach to be one of those high-energy personalities. However, running backs coach Chad Morton has been an exception to that. During training camp thus far, he has approached the defensive huddle and brought energy, something that Swift loves about his running backs coach. “It’s cool (seeing) a different personality like that,” Swift said. “Real energetic every single day, exciting coach to be a part of, to play for, going to bring that juice and energy every single day, so I’m excited to play for (Morton).” Given all of the new pieces on the offense, it would not be surprising to see Swift and some of the other offensive stars like Williams, Allen, Moore and Odunze in Chicago’s preseason opener in the Hall of Fame game against the Houston Texans (7 p.m.) on Thurs. Aug. 1.
