Preseason Week 1 in Buffalo was more than just a run of the mill preseason game. It was the beginning of a new era for the Chicago Bears. It’s safe to say the Bears, led by rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, have the most hype surrounding them in over a decade, and this week’s 33-6 preseason victory versus the Bills showed us why. There was a lot to take away from Saturday’s game in Buffalo, from the dominate run game to the stellar pass defense. I’ll be giving my biggest takeaways from this preseason matchup.
- The Hype is Real With Williams
Caleb Williams took the field as a Chicago Bear for the first time Saturday in Buffalo, and he did not disappoint. The rookie played 18 official snaps (20 without penalties) and finished 4/7 for 95 yards with a passer rating of 101.8. He also tallied a first down after a 13 yard scramble on a 3rd & 9 play. The former Heisman Trophy winner showed poise and command in the pocket that seemed to be ages ahead of other rookies, standing firm while maneuvering through pressure on his handful of pass attempts.
Williams’ showed his arm strength is no joke on his very first completion, with a frozen rope to DJ Moore in tight coverage for a first down on 3rd & 12. Fast forward to the very next play, Williams followed up the display of arm strength with a beautiful touch pass to D’Andre Swift on a screen play for a gain of 42. Not only did Williams show off touch and an impressive arm angle on this play, he showed great pocket movement, side stepping to bait the defensive line on the screen.
On Williams’ second and final drive of the game, the Bears started pinned inside their own 5, and this is when the rookie quarterback had his only questionable play that I saw. On 3rd & 6 from their own 7, after staring down rookie receiver Rome Odunze, Williams forced it to him for a near pick. It was the only error I saw from Williams, though it was a bad one. Possibly his best play of the game came later that drive when Williams fired a 26 yard missile off his back foot to Cole Kmet while rolling out right.
Overall, Williams shined in his debut performance. The rookie is special, and there’s no doubt about it. In his 18 snaps he showed a lot of promise, and looks ages ahead of most rookie quarterbacks in their first ever appearance.
- Ian Wheeler & Velus Jones Jr: Underdogs in the Backfield
The Bears running game tore up the turf in Buffalo on Saturday. As a team, Chicago averaged 4.7 yards per carry on 30 rushing attempts totaling 141 yards. The offensive line played with ferocity in the run game, dominating blocks, while creating lanes for our backs. Six different backs carried the ball for Chicago, Including splash free agency signing D’Andre Swift, but none more impressive than UDFA Ian Wheeler out of Howard. Wheeler wasn’t the only one to impress though, we also got our first glimpse of speedy wide receiver/return specialist turned running back Velus Jones Jr, who did not disappoint in his new role.
Originally thought to be competing for a practice squad spot, Ian Wheeler was a promising UDFA signing for the Bears this offseason. Wheeler has impressed in camp, and that translated to his play in Buffalo. Wheeler made a splash on only 5 carries versus the Bills. On Wheelers second carry of the game, he showed to be a hard, decisive runner, rushing up the middle after one cut for a 7 yard touchdown with two defenders wrapped around him. On Wheeler’s fourth carry he flashed his natural speed, along with his fearless rushing style on a 21 yard pitch play up the right side, where he was finally brought down after attempting to run through his tacklers. Wheelers final carry of the game was an eight yard touchdown rush further emphasizing his aggressiveness as a runner. If Wheeler can stack these performances, he will have a place in this crowded running back room. Keep your eyes peeled for Ian Wheeler this preseason as the rookie fights for a roster spot.
The other back that caught my eye on Saturday, was former wide receiver Velus Jones Jr. The speed demon out of Tennessee is entering his third pro season, after two very underwhelming seasons in 2022 and 2023. When Velus is on the field, he is the fastest one out there, he just hasn’t showed the hands to be a receiver at the pro level. Last week was Jones’ first game showing off his skillet at his new position, and he didn’t disappoint. The new back carried the ball 6 times for 34 yards and a touchdown. Jones Jr not only showed off his speed, but his great vision and a lack of willingness to go down after contact. Jones Jr showcased his speed on a pitch left from the four yard line, beating everyone to the pylon for an uncontested touchdown. Velus ran hard, and didn’t give up on plays. After slipping in the backfield on a handoff, Velus hustled to get up and gain a couple yards to prevent the loss. Velus also showed off his big play potential from the backfield, with a 19 yard gain on a run up the middle. Unfortunately, Velus still showed struggles with his hands. On his first play at running back, Velus dropped a pitch in the backfield, luckily the play was blown dead due to a Buffalo Penalty. Jones Jr. also muffed a kickoff that Tyler Scott could have easily returned. These two plays are pretty concerning considering his past drops/fumbles, but overall I would give V12 a positive rating for this game.
Jones Jr.’s potential at running back is untapped, but he looked very promising this weekend in Buffalo. Let’s hope he can build off of this performance, and become a core piece in our running back room.
Austin Booker: Steal of the Draft?
Austin Booker, the 21 year old speedy edge rusher out of Kansas was selected in the Fifth round with the 144th pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, and has hit the ground running. Many analysts had Booker being selected earlier in the draft, some as high as the third round, but Booker fell, and the Bears pounced on the opportunity to select him. Through two weeks of preseason ball (Hall of Fame week 0) Booker has been our most impressive player on the front seven, and shows all the tools needed to be a dominate edge rusher for years to come.
Austin Booker had a breakout performance against Buffalo, recording 5 total tacks, including two for a loss and 2.5 sacks. Not only did Booker play versus backups, but he also got a couple reps against Bills Pro Bowl tackle Dion Dawkins. Booker showcased his ability to play at an NFL level with his natural speed, but also surprised many with his strength in this match up against the Bills. Booker’s biggest question marks coming out of the draft were his size and strength, but so far this preseason, he’s shown to be a lot stronger than expected,making his lack of size less debilitating for the time being. His technique and explosiveness off the line also seem to help him overcome his lack of mentioned weaknesses. Booker was by far our biggest contributor on the line from a play by play standpoint this weekend, which is great news. Not only did he excel in the Box score, but throughout the night he dominated match ups, making his presence felt even if he didn’t make the play.
Booker had a great performance on Saturday, and if he can keep it up, he will be our starting edge rusher opposite to Montez earlier than expected. As of now, the young rookie seems to be less of a project than expected, and could make a big day 1 impact for a 5th round pick. Poles seems to have had himself another draft masterclass.
Photo Credit; HBCU Sports, Athlon Sports,
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