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James ‘Big Cat’ Williams on What’s in Store for the Chicago Bears and Their New Head Coach
The Chicago Bears enter a new era Monday in a highly anticipated matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.
The Bears are playing with a few major changes this season. Namely, new leadership. Head coach Ben Johnson, the highly sought-after former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator, comes to Chicago with big expectations and a reported $13 million salary.
The team also starts the season with a revamped offensive line, rookie tight end Colston Loveland and a renewed spotlight on quarterback Caleb Williams.
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Williams, the former No. 1 draft pick, kicks off his second year after an up-and-down rookie season.
James “Big Cat” Williams, a former offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears, took a look ahead of the season during an appearance on WTTW News’ “Chicago Tonight.” Here’s what he had to say:
On Ben Johnson:
“I think his biggest challenge is going to be figuring out exactly what Caleb is good at. Because at least during the beginning of the season, you need to run things that Caleb is comfortable with, the throws that he makes well, the reads that he can handle so he can get the ball out of his hands quick. It’s going to be a growing process. I don’t think that Week 1 will look like Week 6. I think this should progress as time goes along, but that’s going to take not only the two of them meshing and figuring out exactly what works, but the team around them growing as the season goes on.
“He’s never had to deal with the entirety of the team. As an offensive coordinator, you deal with the offense, but now you’re scheduling things. You have to make sure that everything’s running right, not only offensively but defensively, special teams. You’re being pulled in a lot of different directions, and this is going to be a first time.”
On Caleb Williams:
“I’m not sure exactly what went wrong in the building, but we heard a lot of reports come out of the building as far as the different things that went wrong with the coaching staff, the lack of ability to protect a player like that, his inability to get the ball out of his hands quick. These are things that they’re focusing on…, but I don’t know how much focus they put into these things his first year when he really needed it.”
On Colston Loveland:
“Any time you add a tight end like that, it’s kind of like a security blanket for a young quarterback. He’s your guy that’s going to be in the middle of the field. He seems to run good routes, has an ability to catch the ball, so a safety blanket he can rely on when things break down or when they need those through the air short yardage plays, he’s going to be there for him.”
On how the Bears compare to their division rivals:
“They’re still young. You’ve got a first-time head coach. Green Bay is looking better; Minnesota is a team that’s on the rise; Detroit is a team that seems to have the personnel, but they’ve lost a lot of their coaching staff. So, you really don’t know how they’re going to do. I think they’re kind of in the middle of the pack right now and depending on how they progress through the season will determine how far they’re able to go in the season.”
On how well the Bears might do this season:
“Nine wins is, I think, a good season. I don’t know if it’s enough to get you into the playoffs, but it’s an improvement and proves that they’re on the right track. Whether or not they’re going to make it to the playoffs, it’s hard because … this division is stacked right. So, it’s going to be a job.”
On Monday night’s game with the Vikings:
“It’s the first game of the season. I think it’s big for their own personal outlook. It’s big for the morale of the team. In the long run, it’s just another game in the beginning of the season. You want to be the best team out there tonight. I think it’s important to them, but it’s not the end-all, be-all if they lose this game.”
On game predictions:
“I’m going to wear my Bears hat, and I’m going to go 24-21.”
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