Chicago Bears Training Camp Day 8: An in-depth look following rookie wide receiver Rome Odunze

LAKE FOREST — The Chicago Bears held their eighth practice of training camp inside the Walter Payton Center due to Monday’s weather.

Instead of providing the usual notes and observations from the entire practice, I wanted to focus my attention on Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze. With so much of the focus being around Caleb Williams, it almost feels like Odunze isn’t getting the attention a normal No. 9 overall pick would get if he was on any other team that only had one pick in the top 10.

Here is what it was like watching Odunze on Monday’s practice at Halas Hall.

9:50 a.m.

Odunze was in the stretching line on the 45-yard line. In front of him was Dante Pettis and in back of him was John Jackson.

Wide receivers coach Chris Beatty went over to talk to Odunze while the wide receiver was on the turf getting warmed up.

For the this practice, Odunze had both of his wrists wrapped with white athletic tape and the tape stopped at the base of his palms and went around each thumb. Odunze’s black wide receivers gloves were next to him on the turf.

During the stretches, which will focus on everything to working out the hamstrings, hips, calves, etc., it’s common for players to talk with the people who are near them. Odunze mostly kept to himself, even though the running backs and tight ends were five yards to his left and another line of receivers were five yards away to his right.

10:06

The Bears started the practice by working on special teams. Odunze went to work with the returners at one end of the field. As soon as Odunze joined the group, which consisted of Pettis, Velus Jones Jr., DeAndre Carter, Tyrique Stevenson and DJ Moore, the rookie pass catcher started talking with running backs coach Chad Morton. The Bears’ coach has been working with the returners throughout camp. Morton used to return kicks while he was a player in the NFL.

The return men fielded the football off the jugs machine from roughly 50 yards out. After Odunze finished his rep by fielding the ball cleanly, he went to get a drink from the Gatorade bottle near by.

Five minutes after starting the special teams drills, Odunze was up again for another rep, but this time to field a punt. He let the ball hit the turf and roll into the end zone to simulate a touchback. Odunze then spoke to Morton and got one more rep. Like the first punt return attempt, Odunze let the ball hit the ground and roll into the end zone.

10:15 a.m.

Odunze joined the wide receivers in individual drills. The wide receivers started with running a 5-yard hitch route. Odunze caught his first pass and then had to tie his shoe after the rep.

The position groups stayed in individuals for roughly eight minutes before going to a walk through passing period.

10:22 a.m.

For the first three reps, Odunze watched with the other offensive players that were not in on the plays. When Odunze got his first opportunity, he lined up to the trips side to the right and ran an whip route. Odunze sold like he was going inside, planted his right foot and broke back outside toward the sideline. The ball was thrown too out in front and Odunze dove but couldn’t make the reception.

10:26 a.m.

The Bears then did their team walk though portion of practice. Odunze was in for the first rep and then came off and stood next to wide receiver Peter LeBlanc.

For this entire period, the starters would go in a rep and then alternate with the backups. On the third snap, Odunze lined up in the slot to the left side of the formation and ran a 5-yard in route. Odunze made the catch in the middle of the field.

Odunze caught another pass on a vertical route down the right side. Williams connected with his fellow rookie on a 30-yard completion. Odunze came back to join the other offensive players and dapped up Collin Johnson.

10:33 a.m.

It was time to start 7-on-7s.

After not being in on the first rep, Odunze was featured for the rest of the plays, but the Bears only did 7-on-7s for roughly seven minutes. Odunze didn’t get any targets.

As the period was ending, Odunze went over to talk to Keenan Allen near the Gatorade station. Odunze simulated a route with his hands, and Allen looked like he was talking Odunze through a concept. Then Williams joined the two receivers and also looked like he was providing his input.

10:40 a.m.

Odunze’ first rep of the team period had the rookie wide receiver block Kevin Byard from the slot on the right side of the formation. The run play went to the left. Odunze was also in on a rep that ended in an Allen touchdown to the right side of the field. Odunze and Allen initially lined up on the left, and Williams rolled to his right and threw on the run to hit Allen on a high pass for a score.

For one of reps, Odunze and Moore lined up to the left side of the formation, but then Moore motioned right and that isolated Odunze against Tyrique Stevenson. Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron called a run for Khalil Herbert, and Odunze put a good block on Stevenson.

Williams’ best throw of the day went to Odunze on the following rep. With no margin for error, Williams fit a pass to Odunze in the back left corner of the end zone. Two defenders sandwiched Odunze, but the rookie receiver held onto the ball despite the traffic and collision. Odunze celebrated with his teammates around him and then came back to join the rest of the offensive players not in on the play. Odunze dapped up LeBlanc.

Odunze had a rep where he lined up one on one against Jaylon Johnson. The rookie receiver attempted to run a deeper whip route in the back of the end zone, but Odunze slipped as he was attempting to break outside.

10:57 a.m.

The Bears went to practice special teams again, but this time Odunze stayed with some of his offense teammates in one of the end zones to practice some tight window throws. In the end zone was Gerald Everett, Cole Kmet, Moore, Allen and Williams. Waldron was also there.

There was a football tackle dummy in the middle of the end zone. Williams threw the ball to his pass catchers just as they passed the tackle dummy on an inside fade route. Odunze caught the ball on his attempt.

After each pass catcher got at least one rep, they lined up near the back end zone line and moved from left to right. Williams threw the ball right as they passed the football tackle dummy. The pass catchers had to not only stay in bounds but make the reception with an obstructed view. After Odunze and the rest of the group went once, they lined up on the right and did the same drill to the left.

Finally, the football tackle dummy was moved to the back left corner of the end zone. The quarterbacks had to throw the ball over the tackle dummy to hit his intended receiver as they were approaching the left end zone line. Tyson Bagent was Odunze’s quarterback on both reps, and the rookie wide out did a nice job of toe tapping before going out of bounds.

11:05 a.m.

The team worked on their low red zone offense and started on the 15-yard line.

Odunze’s first rep had him block Stevenson on an end around to Moore.

The only target Odunze got during this period was off a busted play. Odunze ran that same whip route from earlier, but couldn’t get open against Stevenson. DeMarcus Walker pressured Williams and forced him to roll to his left. Odunze attempted to find open space when he saw his quarterback escape, and Williams threw a pass in Odunze’s direction, but the pass was high and fell incomplete.

11:15 a.m.

The Bears practiced their team situational period. The ball was on the 50-yard, 45 seconds on the clock, right before the half in a 0-0 game. On the first play, Odunze lined up outside to the right against Stevenson. It looked initially like single coverage, but then Jaquan Brisker came over and bracketed the receiver.

The first-team offense eventually was forced to punt, and Tory Taylor pinned the Bears inside the 5-yard line with the help of Josh Blackwell fielding the punt.

When the first-team offense was on the sideline, Odunze was talking with Allen and then walked about to speak with Moore.

Not long after, practice ended and so did my time tracking and watching Odunze.

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