CHGO Digest: Thomas Brown's impact on Caleb Williams is what Bears needed from Day 1

Good morning, friends!

What’s your expectation for Sunday?

In Monday morning’s newsletter, I pointed out that it felt like the Bears had finally moved past the heartbreaking Hail Mary to the Commanders, only to find another excruciating way to extend their losing streak to the Packers last Sunday.

Had the Bears not allowed Noah Brown’s incredibly lucky (and poorly defended) tip-drill touchdown four weeks ago, the Bears would probably have shown up in the desert against the Cardinals and almost certainly would’ve put up a fight against the Patriots at home in Week 10.

But that didn’t happen, and the team mentally spiraled because of one ill-fated play. So, what’s to say Matt Eberflus and the Bears can prevent another nosedive following devastation?

I suppose we’ll see on Sunday at Soldier Field, but if Eberflus’ somber, defeated tone on Wednesday is any indication, it could be another rough weekend ahead for the Chicago Bears.

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— Patrick Norton

Thomas Brown’s change of pace already yielding positive results

It took nine games for Eberflus and the Bears to put an end to the Shane Waldron experience. Chicago’s offense had stopped scoring and Caleb Williams’ development had taken a wrong turn.

After a rough start to the year, the Bears’ offense eventually exploded against the Panthers and Jaguars, scoring ten touchdowns over the two-game span. Heading into the Week 7 bye, confidence in Waldron was high, but with the caveat that Chicago’s performances, while impressive, had come against two of the league’s worst defenses.

Three games and just two offensive touchdowns later, Waldron was fired and passing game coordinator Thomas Brown was promoted. In Brown’s first week as offensive coordinator, the offense found a rhythm and Williams took a big step in the right direction.

Months before, after the team had fired Luke Getsy, Brown and Waldron were among several to interview for the open coordinator job in Chicago. Waldron won the job in January, but it’s clear in just one week under Brown’s guidance that the former Panthers OC was the right choice to develop Williams all along.

• Despite leaving with a loss on Sunday, Williams looked comfortable and confident and it showed in his execution. After the game, he highlighted Brown’s decisiveness and efficiency in relaying play calls as reasons for the step forward. “As soon as a play happened, Thomas was right on the headset giving me the play. From there, I think he just strung plays together pretty well.”

• Williams reiterated that sentiment on Wednesday. “It started with [Brown] stringing things together and doing a good job with that and getting everybody into a rhythm and not necessarily thinking of what’s next or anything like that. We kinda had an idea of what’s next, and from there, you go out there, you play, and you play efficient football, it gives you the best chance to win.”

• But that doesn’t mean the game had to be simplified for the rookie quarterback by the new offensive coordinator, either. “We didn’t reinvent the wheel for those three or four days that Thomas became the offensive coordinator and play caller.” So, what led to Williams’ drastically better grasp of the offense in just one week? “I think it came from being able to get play calls in faster and being able to get up there and not feel like you’re rushed or not feel like you need to hurry up and get the ball snapped and things like that.”

• DJ Moore agreed with Williams. “I felt like we were more in control, especially with the play clock and understanding what play was coming next. That was a good deal.” Moore continued, “I would say the game was called more the way that we hoped in the past, but now it is on track, so let’s get it going.”

📹 FILM ROOM | Nicholas Moreano chats with Moore, Rome Odunze and Kevin Byard about big plays from the Bears’ tough loss to Green Bay.

Roundup: Cubs making moves, Blackhawks struggling to score

• The Cubs announced a slew of moves on Wednesday, acquiring 28-year-old reliever Eli Morgan from the Guardians in exchange for outfield prospect Alfonsin Rosario, and catcher Matt Thaiss from the Angels for cash considerations. To make room for Morgan and Thaiss on the 40-man roster, the club designated utilityman Patrick Wisdom and reliever Trey Wingenter for assignment. Wisdom played parts of the last five seasons with the Cubs and quickly became a fan favorite after the trade deadline departures of Kris Bryant, Anthony Rizzo and Javier Baez in 2021. He finished fourth in NL Rookie of the Year voting that year.

• To protect outfielder Owen Caissie and infield prospect Ben Cowles from the upcoming Rule 5 Draft, the Cubs also designated former closer Adbert Alzolay and former top prospect Brennen Davis for assignment on Tuesday. Alzolay underwent Tommy John surgery in August and isn’t expected to pitch again until late in the 2025 season at the earliest. Davis, who dealt with several injuries during his minor league career, was on track to make his major league debut in 2024 before suffering an ankle fracture while sliding into second base.

• For those of you still unable to watch the Blackhawks, congratulations! Through 19 games, the Blackhawks have a league-worst 13 points. Head coach Luke Richardson’s record in 183 games at the helm in Chicago? 55-114-14. In their last seven games, Chicago’s offense has looked like somebody gave Shane Waldron the whiteboard, scoring just eight goals in that span. So, who’s out first: Richardson or Eberflus?

The Eighty Five with Cole Kmet

🎧 SPOTIFY | APPLE PODCASTS | Cole Kmet vents on emotions following another Bears loss to Packers

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