The Chicago Bears rookie class will be returning to Halas Hall next Tuesday for the start of training camp with the rest of the veterans reporting on July 19th.
It'll be an exciting time in Chicago with the cameras rolling in to film HBO's hit documentary series "Hard Knocks" during the same time frame.
The team still has some lingering questions to get ironed out before the start of the season and training camp is the perfect opportunity to get those things sorted out. As for the rookies themselves, here are one thing each player needs to do during camp to help make a larger impact on the team during the upcoming season.
Caleb Williams: Iron Out Any Remaining Miscues
The last time we saw quarterback Caleb Williams and the rest of the starting offense, things were a lot more positive than the first time we saw them. It's no secret that the team's starting unit struggled during team periods against the starting defense while going through the install phase. However, the unit overall looked a lot more comfortable during the final days of mandatory minicamp.
Williams' development and command of the system is a big reason why the unit was able to turn things around by the time minicamp came to a close.
"The development of Caleb in terms of what he's gotten to do this offseason has been outstanding," head coach Matt Eberflus said in June . "Taking him from knowing just a little bit about the scheme from that Pro Day at USC all the way to where he is now, and it's really good. He's been able to really refine his understanding of the scheme."
The biggest struggles Williams faced came from the disguises implemented post-snap by Eberflus' defense and issues at the line of scrimmage with his pre-snap cadence. The start of training camp will add even more challenges to his plate.
"It's gonna look much different when we get back into training camp," Eberflus explained. "Now we got the pads on, now we have the rushers rushing. If they win, they're going to work away from the quarterback, but he'll be able to feel that a little bit more. That will increase as experience increases. So, it's not the real feel yet but it will. He's progressed all the way across and hit guys. He's progressed to open spaces in his first few progressions and I think it's been really good."
If Williams and the offense hit the ground running during camp against the defense playing across from them, it will be a really telling sign about Williams' progress.
Rome Odunze: Secure Starting Punt Return Duties
The Bears other first round selection has already more than impressed his coaches and teammates during OTAs and minicamp. Prior to the summer break, Eberflus was quick to claim Odunze as the team's most impressive player so far in practice.
Odunze's maturity and knowledge of the game were clearly evident while lining up alongside two established stars in DJ Moore and Keenan Allen. Odunze already has a great feel for the offense and his role within it, which continued to evolve each day.
"He's able to pick up an offense right away, really understand all three of the receiver spots, so he's not sitting there locked into one thing," OC Shane Waldron said . "He's really picking this offense up as a conceptual learner which I think only helps him down the road in the regular season when you start moving guys around."
Odunze wasn't just turning heads on offense during practice. He was also seen taking the starting punt return duties on special teams as well, something he's only done a handful of times in his career.
“Yeah, absolutely. Absolutely,” Odunze said when asked if he can handle the role. “You know, I had my fair share of punt returns in college. I practiced it every day. I didn’t get a ton of reps in actual game. Would’ve loved to get more of those, but I think it’s just another opportunity for me to shine and for me to add value to the team. I feel like I do it at a high level, so continue to grow with that, continue to find the technique of it, especially at this level with punters like Tory (Taylor). Man, he’s got some unique ones. So just learning those things. But yeah, you guys already know my favorite player’s Devin Hester. So if I can contribute in any facet in the return game, I’m all for it.”
Odunze hasn't quite locked up the starting job just yet considering the Bears went out to add special teams ace DeAndre Carter to the room following minicamp. However, it seems to be his job to lose at this point in time, if the coaches are comfortable playing him there.
Kiran Amegadjie: Suit Up And Start Rotating In
During rookie minicamp, Eberflus noted training camp as the timetable for when we will see third-round offensive tackle Kiran Amegadjie take the field with the rest of the team after missing the previous phases due to a quad injury suffered in college.
Not only have we not seen what Amegadjie will look like physically, we also haven't even be able to figure out where the Bears plan on using him positionally. Swing tackle is certainly an open position Amegadjie can battle for while also being a key depth piece at either tackle position and potentially even at guard. Mentally, Amegadjie has already gotten some solid reviews from the coaching staff.
"Just the mental side of it. His retention, his ability to spit concepts back, be it protection, blocking schemes, he's been good that way," Eberflus said .
We still don't know exactly where Amegadjie is at during his rehab process, so don't hold your breath expecting to see him suit up as soon as July 26th. However, it'll be nice to see him in action once he gets to that point.
Tory Taylor: Prove He Can Handle Kickoff Duties
For anyone who criticized this pick by general manager Ryan Poles, prepare to be proved wrong as soon as this season. Fourth-round punter Tory Taylor has more than lived up to his lofty draft position during the first months of practice in Chicago with his booming punts and pin-point accuracy on the other side of the field.
"It's like, wow, the spin he could put on it," Eberflus said . "The one he almost had, he had a couple on the 1(-yard line) of course. But the spin he could put on it... really amazing. So it's fun to watch."
It's already clear that Taylor will be a legitimate weapon for the Bears during his rookie season as a punter alone, but he could get another role added during camp. The Bears punter last season, Trenton Gill, also handled kickoff duties over place kicker Cairo Santos, something Taylor might get called on to do as well.
"Anybody with a helmet that can kickoff is always in play," Hightower said . "So, he's always an option on kickoffs and the rest of the league gotta figure it out. He can do some really really cool things from a punt standpoint and a kickoff standpoint."
Kickoff duties will be handled slightly different in 2024 and will vary from team to team under the new kickoff rule changes. If the Bears opt for Taylor in the role, he might have to rely on his former Aussie football skills to make a tackle or two.
Austin Booker: Continue Showing Early Progress
Despite moving future assets to secure Austin Booker in the fifth-round, the team seems to be taking his development slow as opposed to pushing him into a featured role off the edge opposite Montez Sweat.
"What we want to do is take what he can do and really hone and shape that, develop him, inform him of all the things that will allow him to play as fast and as physical as he possibly can play," DC Eric Washington said. "Just build a player. Build a person and build a player."
Booker has already shown some early progress in his development after being a rotational guy on defense at Kansas, however, the evaluation process will become much easier to assess during training camp when rushers start fully rushing the passer.
"I want to see him win," Washington added. "I want to see his confidence start to grow and that’s part of my responsibility to make sure that he understands that process, and that I’m giving him the right feedback, if there’s one great thing, he’s going to know about that great thing so we can multiply that.”
It's unlikely that Booker will start the season in a starting role for the Bears defense, but the level of development he shows during camp will determine how quickly and how often he will take the field off the bench.
Related: Five players who are on the roster bubble heading into training camp for the Chicago Bears
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