Here’s what to watch for Sunday night when the Bears’ starters make their preseason debut under Ben Johnson against the Bills and quarterback Mitch Trubisky:
Caleb Williams’ orchestration
The quarterback will be judged by everything that happens before and after the snap: how he calls the play, how quickly he gets to the line of scrimmage, when he sends receivers in motion, how he identifies the middle linebacker, how he calls audibles … and then what he does with the ball in his hand.
“That sets the tone for the entire play — just the way we communicate within the huddle, everybody is looking for their bit of information from the quarterback as well,” pass game coordinator Press Taylor said this week. “It’s got to come out smooth, kind of rhythmic cadence to it. But that is essentially what begins the entire operation of the play, and then we operate at the line of scrimmage. Everything goes from there.”
The Bears’ pre-snap operation has been an issue this summer. Williams needs to post good passing numbers — but also to try to ensure the Bears don’t get flagged for illegal formations, false starts or delays of game. Johnson wouldn’t say how long Williams will play, but it’d be surprising if he made it to the second quarter.
The left tackle battle
Playing a second-year undrafted lineman from the University of British Columbia at left tackle was not in the Bears’ initial plans. Theo Benedet’s emergence in the starting competition is a testament to how well he’s played in camp — but says even more about how Braxton Jones and rookie Ozzy Trapilo have failed to grab the starting job.
Expect Jones to start Sunday, with Benedet also taking snaps at left tackle as the Bears hope to find an answer sooner rather than later. The most compelling part of the Bears’ rotation will be Trapilo, though — he’s played mostly second-string right tackle all week in practice. If he doesn’t appear at left tackle in the game, it’s a safe bet the Bears have decided he’s most likely to start the season as a backup at both left and right tackle spots.
Trapilo’s feet are faster on the right side, which is where he played at Boston College. The Bears want that to change.
“There are times where the feet have gotten a little bit slow at times, both in the run game and in pass [protection],” Johnson said. “The mental [aspect] of just speeding up — ‘Ball, snap, let’s go ahead and get in a good physical position here to block the man in front of me’ — it’s been a little bit of up and down.”
Edge of tomorrow
The Bears are still searching for a third defensive end they can plug into the lineup on obvious passing downs when Dayo Odeyingbo moves inside to tackle. Austin Booker made his case in the Bears’ preseason opener, totaling three sacks and a forced fumble.
“I’m excited to see what he does in the regular season,” defensive line coach Jeremy Garrett said.
Not that he’s locked down that role quite yet. Garrett said end Dominique Robinson has improved but needs to learn how to win with power instead of just finesse. Tanoh Kpassagnon is physical against the run and has experience playing for coordinator Dennis Allen.
Stevenson vs, Wright (vs. Smith?)
The Bears hope to have star cornerback Jaylon Johnson — and starting nickel cornerback Kyler Gordon — back by the start of the season. That leaves one open job in the starting lineup.
Nahshon Wright and Tyrique Stevenson will both start Sunday but have been dueling throughout training camp. Third-year cornerback Terell Smith entered the competition this week, playing opposite Stevenson with the first team on Thursday.
Wright played for defensive backs coach Al Harris with the Cowboys.
“He has matured,” Harris said. “It’s slowing down for him now.”
(Except for the headline, this story has not been edited by PostX News and is published from a syndicated feed.)
