Here is what Kevin Byard said to Caleb Williams after bad practice
Bears' Rookie QB Faces Tough Start in OTAs
This week marked the beginning of organized team activities for the Chicago Bears, presenting rookie quarterback Caleb Williams with his initial chance to practice alongside his seasoned teammates.
On Monday, Williams and the offense had a strong showing, though the defense appeared to be ahead, which is understandable. The defensive unit is in its third year under Matt Eberflus, while the offense is still acclimating to Shane Waldron's new scheme.
Thursday's practice, which the media attended, was challenging for Williams and the offense. With two starting receivers (Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze) and offensive linemen (Darnell Wright and Nate Davis) missing, the team struggled with incomplete passes, interceptions, and inefficiency in the red zone during drills.
Reflecting on the practice, safety Kevin Byard noted, «The first day, the offense really got after us. [Williams] made some good throws, some deep passes. He had a really good day. Today, we got after him.»
After Thursday's rough outing, Byard offered some advice to the rookie quarterback about the value of tough practices.
«Not necessarily saying that he [Williams] had a terrible day, but days like this are gonna make you better,» Byard said. «That's our job. Obviously, just in the first three days of practice, he's done a lot of positive things. He's made some really great throws. He comes in with that swagger as a rookie quarterback and doesn't seem flustered by anything, so that's exciting to see.»
Byard emphasized that the defense will continue to challenge Williams, which will ultimately benefit the entire team.
It's too early to draw significant conclusions from these May practices, where Williams is just beginning to work within Waldron's offense. However, consistently facing a top-tier defense in practice will be crucial for Williams as he adjusts to the NFL.
| POLL | ||
24 MAI | 33 ANSWERS Here is what Kevin Byard said to Caleb Williams after bad practice Do you think practicing against a strong defense will benefit Caleb Williams' development? | ||
| yes | 32 | 97 % |
| No | 1 | 3 % |
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