LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) — Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron isn’t one to be dispirited, even after a poor performance from his unit.
“I’m a little biased, but I think we have the greatest job,” Waldron said.
Waldron can only hope that feeling remains throughout the course of this season, one in which he'll face great pressure to direct a prolific offense.
The cruel reality of Waldron’s job is that he'll receive the lion’s share of blame when the Bears aren’t performing well offensively and only get a sliver of credit if this offense takes off.
Many Bears offensive coordinators before him have passed through the doors of Halas Hall. Most were given little talent in the cupboards and asked to guide a high-octane unit.
Waldron is in a different situation. He has the keys to a brand-new Corvette in rookie quarterback Caleb Williams, the No. 1 overall pick in the NFL Draft. His job is to construct a dynamic scheme around the 22-year-old Williams and an impressive supporting cast of weapons that includes DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet and D’Andre Swift.
While Williams will largely get a pass early in his rookie season, Waldron will face great scrutiny if the Bears don’t get their offense clicking.
In their season opener Sunday, the Bears rallied back from a 17-0 deficit to earn a 24-17 over the Titans. That comeback was fueled by touchdowns on defense and special teams — but none from the offense. Williams was 14-of-29 for 93 yards as Chicago’s offense reached the red zone just once, settling for one of three field goals by kicker Cairo Santos.
Swift, whom the Bears signed to a three-year deal in March, carried just 10 times for 30 yards. Kmet, working in the second year of a lucrative four-year contract extension, played less than half of the team’s offensive snaps. Odunze had just one reception in his NFL debut. And the offensive line was porous, putting Williams into difficult situations often.
The new-look Bears offense was disjointed in its debut, and that responsibility starts with Waldron. When exactly will the Bears find their offensive identity?
“Each year is its own year,” Waldron said. “So, when we’re building the offense, the identities might form a little bit quicker. I think with our group right now, with the amount of newness and moving young players at certain positions, I think it’s something we know what we want to be, what we want to look like, and as we move forward, I think we’ll get closer and closer to that. I expect us to be there sooner rather than later as far as what our identity looks like. We know we want to be an attacking offense. We want to be able to feel the tempo, feel the rhythm of the game right now and then be able to maximize the usage of all our different personnel.”
Waldron was hired by the Bears in January, replacing former offensive coordinator Luke Getsy. He was head coach Matt Eberflus' choice in large part because of his strong track record in leading the Seahawks’ offense over three seasons.
In Seattle, Waldron helped revive the career of journeyman quarterback Geno Smith and forged an identity for that offense.
The circumstances in Chicago are different. Waldron has a rookie quarterback figuring it out for the first time and an offensive core with many new pieces.
Waldron’s chief task is to figure out how to win around Williams now while also developing him into a player they can win because of.
In working under a defensive-minded head coach in Eberflus, Waldron is the leader of the Bears offense, the chief figure in charge of balancing Williams’ development with the goals for a playoff-caliber team.
Waldron certainly has a great job when his offense is lighting up the scoreboard. But even if it’s not quite fair, he must also shoulder the burden of blame until the Bears get their offense figured out.
Who catches on?
Bears second-year receiver Tyler Scott was a standout during training camp and seemed poised for a breakout. But in the Bears’ opener last Sunday, Scott was a healthy scratch, a surprise given his performance in the preseason.
The equation is different in Week 2. Rookie receiver Rome Odunze (knee) isn't expected to play Sunday, while the status of veteran receiver Keenan Allen (heel) is uncertain. Scott should be active in Houston.
And what about Velus Jones Jr., whose shift from wide receiver to running back became a compelling storyline in training camp? Jones seems to have literally booted his opportunity last Sunday in muffing a kickoff and accidentally kicking it to the oncoming Titans coverage team for a lost fumble. With running back Roschon Johnson now off the injury report, Jones could be forced out of the game day lineup.
Spare thought from Sunday
Too often in Eberflus' first two seasons in Chicago, the Bears lost their composure and leads.
The Bears lost 31-28 to the Broncos last October after leading 28-7 in the third quarter. They fell 31-26 to the Lions in November after leading by 12 points with four minutes left in the game. The Bears also lost 20-17 to the Browns in December after blowing a 17-7 lead. The better team won each of those games.
Now, the Bears will be the better team in many of their matchups. And after trailing by 17 to the Titans in Week 1, they scored 24 unanswered points to storm back for the victory.
Quote to note
“I learned that this team is resilient as f—. Like, sorry to say that but I have to. I learned that this team is resilient as f—. Nobody blinked an eye.”
― Bears pass rusher Darrell Taylor on what he learned about new his team in the opening win
Emma's pick (1-0): Texans 20, Bears 16
The Bears have started 2-0 just once in the last decade. They won't do it this time around either, coming up short against a tough Texans team in primetime.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.