The Chicago Bears were selected to participate in Hard Knocks during training camp, showcasing the team in preparation for the 2024 season. For the first time in team history, the Bears are featured on Hard Knocks, and at the perfect time. The Bears are the ‘it’ team right now, bringing in new talent and a generational quarterback into the mix. The first episode is now available to the public to watch, and it shows some fascinating details about the players and team overall. Here are some major takeaways from the first episode of Bears Hard Knocks.
Caleb Williams Bulls intro pic.twitter.com/V9xf1wckpE
— Dave (@dave_bfr) August 7, 2024
Bears Hard Knocks Episode One Takeaway
Former NCAA & NFL Head Coach Nick Saban Speaks on the Reality of NFL Quarterbacks
As one of the greatest coaches in college football history, Nick Saban knows the importance of having a good quarterback. Bears Head Coach Matt Eberflus understands this and invited Saban to give advice for the upcoming season. Among the many topics discussed, one key subject was the expectations for Caleb Williams as the No. 1 overall pick.
“Here’s my theory on why NFL quarterbacks fail at such a dramatic rate. To me, expectations are a killer. This kid you got, this kid’s got so much media, so much hype, so much expectation on doing well. And he has to develop so quickly to meet the expectations that everybody has for him. It’s almsot impossible. The expectations are a killer, but yet, to use your word, development is the key for him. You know, like Peyton Manning threw 28 interceptions when he was a rookie. It’s the most in the history of all. But it didn’t affect him…just like the scoreboard. Scoreboard don’t mean anything until the game’s over.”
For a century, the Bears have been searching for an elite quarterback capable of leading the team to the Super Bowl. Now, with Caleb Williams, it finally seems like they have found the right guy. Yes, mistakes will be made along the way, but that’s needed to grow, and Caleb possesses all the physical and mental tools to overcome adversity and become a successful NFL quarterback.
It might be stating the obvious, but as a fan, you can appreciate that the Bears are taking extra steps to ensure they are setting Williams up for success.
Caleb Williams Will Be Great
While it’s easy to overreact to clips from the first episode, it’s clear that the Bears have something special in Caleb Williams. The episode did a fantastic job showing the relationship between Eberflus and Williams, along with scenes of him interacting with his teammates and other coaches.
Some fans might not have enjoyed the beginning of the episode, where Williams was seen throwing interceptions and making mistakes during practice. However, from a personal standpoint, it’s encouraging to see the rookie making errors but also owning up to them and working on improving. Williams knows that there’s an immense amount of pressure on him to succeed, but he’s taking it one step at a time. From meetings with Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron to getting extra reps during practice, it’s evident that Williams is taking his role as the No. 1 overall pick seriously.
Bears’ big-time signing D’Andre Swift knows that the team’s success hinges on Williams’ performance. He offered Williams some advice, saying, “It’s your team bro. You’ve got the keys to it. Voice it bro. If something’s wrong you’ve got the keys to this, bro. Use it. Drive.” It’s a huge responsibility, especially as a rookie, to step into a leadership role, but the Bears need Williams to do just that. It will take time, but eventually, Williams will become not only a great quarterback but also a great leader and teammate.
It’s Caleb Williams team. D’Andre Swift tells him that he’s got the keys to the team. #DaBears #HardKnocks pic.twitter.com/GaUyA4PH5p
— Ben Devine (@Chicago_NFL) August 7, 2024
Building the Team With the Right Players
Building an NFL franchise is a meticulous process, and for the Bears, assembling a roster of extremely talented players comes with a significant cost: paying them. There’s only so much money a team can allocate for player salaries, and some players demand substantial amounts. However, this isn’t the case with Bears’ star wide receiver D.J. Moore.
As one of the best wide receivers in the NFL last season, Moore amassed career-highs, hauling in 96 catches for 1,364 yards and eight touchdowns. Bears General Manager Ryan Poles recognizes that Moore brings stability and additional firepower to the offense and is committed to keeping him in a Bears’ uniform for the long haul. Seeing Moore receive his four-year, $110 million extension was fantastic. Even more impressive was witnessing his teammates’ reactions and how Moore remained humble without boasting about being the highest-paid Bear in team history.
DJ Moore just had the most humble reaction I could ever imagine to signing a $110M deal.
He calmly walked back out to practice and basically said this is awesome but I’m not gonna change and will just keep balling out.
Easy to see why the Bears wanted to make that reinvestment.
— Field Yates (@FieldYates) August 7, 2024
An exciting first episode. Bear Down!
Main Image: Charles LeClaire – USA Today Sports
