Chicago Bears minicamp observations Day 2: Tremaine Edmunds intercepted Caleb Williams and Velus Jones Jr. caught a deep touchdown pass

LAKE FOREST — One thing is for certain about this Chicago Bears team.

The defense loves to talk.

It doesn’t matter what portion of practice the team is in, the defensive players and coaches can be heard. During the stretching period of Wednesday’s minicamp practice at Halas Hall, nickelbacks coach David Overstreet II was barking at the offense players as they stretched.

That mentality clearly carries over to the players on that side of the ball, and head coach Matt Eberflus believes that defenses that are loud are a positive attribute for the unit.

“I do think that defenses that are good are annoying,” Eberflus said. “They do get under your skin a little bit because of the execution and the talking afterward and all of that. And we allow guys to be themselves. We have our standards and we understand that we are always going to be respectful of each other when we are out there going against each other and they do that.”

When a receiver is unable to make a catch, some of the first players to say something are the defensive backs that are in on the particular play and also the ones who are watching from the sideline. Kyler Gordon, who is going into his third season in this defense, understands the benefits of playing with that type of attitude.

[MORE: Chicago Bears Day 1 minicamp recap ]

“It’s intimidating for other people,” Gordon said. “People constantly getting hit. Constantly running to the ball, all 11 hats. Loud. Communicating loud. I just feel like, ‘what are they doing?’ So I love it. Everyone’s saying something every day. Someone’s got some kind of energy everywhere. I like it.”

Some of Gordon’s offensive teammates have a different opinion. Veteran receiver Keenan Allen called defenses “annoying, especially at practice.” Offensive lineman Teven Jenkins has heard plenty of talking going on from the defensive players and even was involved in a small skirmish with DeMarcus Walker in Tuesday’s practice.

The players are wearing helmets and shorts during these practices, so it handicaps what someone like Jenkins could do in the team period, but he still sees the benefits from going up against his vocal teammates.

“Yeah, it’s a little frustrating,” Jenkins said. “The thing is we don’t have pads on. There’s nothing there for us to grab compared to them where they can do a lot of other moves and power moves that we just can’t counter as much right now. So there’s going to be a lot of chirping. It’s what it is. You’re on the o-line, d-line, that’s going to go on. But just as it keeps going on, we’re trying to fine tune each other. And if it needs to be … And if he’s just power rush, bull rush, it’s going to make me better for tomorrow. So. As much as I hate it today, it’s going to make me better tomorrow.”

There was a lot more than just talking that occurred at Halas Hall for Wednesday’s practice. Here are my top observations from Day 2 of Bears minicamp.

7-on-7s

• Caleb Williams started the period with an incomplete pass intended for Stephen Carlson. Jaylon Johnson was in coverage on the play and was able to get his hand on the pass to get a PBU.
• On the next rep, Williams had an incomplete pass to Keenan Allen on a short route in the middle of the field.
• Williams hit DJ Moore on the right side of the field. Johnson was in coverage on the play.
• The first 7-on-7 series ended with an incomplete pass to Rome Odunze. Williams didn’t find anyone initially open, so he rolled out to his right but the two rookies couldn’t connect.

• In the second 7-on-7 series, Williams started it off with a completion to Allen on short route in the middle of the field.
• On the next rep, Williams couldn’t find any open downfield, so he rolled to his right and just decided to run for a short gain. After the play was over, Jaquan Brisker looked in the direction of the media, who were in the end zone, and yelled out with excitement for the defense’s coverage.
• Williams connected with Odunze near the left sideline for a decent gain. As soon as Odunze made the reception, Kevin Byard was there and would’ve put a big hit on Odunze if this were a live game. Overstreet let the rookie know about that after the rep.
• Williams ended the second session with an incomplete pass to Allen on a short pass to the right side of the field.

• The third 7-on-7 series started with an incomplete pass to Khalil Herbert. T.J. Edwards was in coverage on the play and broke up the pass.
• Williams then hit Khari Blasingame for a short gain on the right side of the field.
• On the third rep, Williams and Allen connected on a stop route. Tyrique Stevenson was the cornerback in coverage on the rep.
• The last play in third series was a short completion to Herbert in the right flat.

• Williams completed a pass to Jones for a completion along the right sideline. Williams had to roll to his right after not finding anyone initially open and Jones did a nice job of dragging his foot to stay in bounds.
• Williams hit tight end Brenden Bates for a short completion on the next play.
• Tremaine Edmunds intercepted Williams on a pass in the middle of the field. Williams threw the ball into a crowded portion of the field, and the 6-foot-5 linebacker made the rookie pay with the pick.

Eberflus was asked about Williams’ interception and what he saw on the play.

“Maine is a big guy in the middle, and that’s an imposing figure in there, like the Chicago Bears have had in the past,” Eberflus said. “And I think that’s an important part of it. He’s probably going to play most of his opponents and be like, ‘Wow, that Mike’s not very big.’ (Laughs) So he’s going to be like that. But yeah, balls that are thrown late over the middle, they’re usually put in harm’s way.”

Eberflus also mentioned that there may have been an unnecessary hitch on Williams’ throw, but the Bears’ head coach said he would go back and look at the play on tape.

• Williams responded with a 40+ yard touchdown throw to Jones down the right sideline. Jones beat Terell Smith on the play. The ball hit Jones in stride for the score.

11-on-11s

• It’s worth noting that during the team period the defensive linemen didn’t have a full go towards rushing the quarterback. It looked like the players tested their rushes and then let up, so the offense can run the play.
• Williams started with a completion to Moore on an out route.
• Then Williams zipped a pass in Odunze’s direction, but the rookies couldn’t connect on the short pass to the left side of the formation.
• Williams came back on the next play and hit Allen for a short gain against Kyler Gordon.
• Williams came back to Allen on the next rep and the two connected for a minimal gain on a stop route to the left.
• Williams tried to test Stevenson against Odunze on a vertical route down the left sideline, but the ball was overthrown and fell incomplete.
• The last play in this team session was a completed pass to Gerald Everett for a short gain on the left side.

• The next team period was a two-minute drill. The Bears started on their side of the field and had 1:30 on the clock and two timeouts.
• Williams started with a completed pass to Roschon Johnson for short gain on the left side. Johnson was touched in bounds.
• Williams went right back to Johnson on the next play for a short gain in the middle of the field.
• Then Williams hit Johnson for a third time, and it was a minimal gain in the middle.
• Williams attempted to hit Moore near the left sideline on an out route, but the play was ruled incomplete from the refs after Moore caught the ball apparently out of bounds.
• Williams then hit Allen on a sidearm throw to Allen on the right side. Gordon was in coverage on the play.
• On the next play, Williams hit Odunze on a slant route. Good throw and catch by the rookies.
• Williams connected with Allen for a short gain on the left side of the field.
• The Bears then had Johnson run the ball up the middle. The offense called a timeout with 3.6 seconds left on the clock, and Cairo Santos went in and kicked the field goal.

Other observations

• Cole Kmet, Tyler Scott, Collin Johnson and Kiran Amegadjie did not practice today and were seen on the stationary bikes to begin Wednesday’s minicamp practice. Braxton Jones also didn’t practice, but he was not seen on the practice field
• Coleman Shelton was the primary center in today’s practice.
• Here was the Bears’ starting offensive line for a majority of Wednesday’s practice: (LT) Larry Borom, (LG) Teven Jenkins, (C) Shelton, (RG) Ryan Bates, (RT) Darnell Wright
• Nate Davis did get some reps with the starters in the team period, but Bates finished the practice at right guard.
• Here was the lineup for the second-team offensive line: (LT) Aviante Collins, (LG) Jerome Carvin, (C)Doug Kramer Jr., (RG) Theo Benedet, (RT) Matt Pryor
• Tory Taylor had himself a day. He had several punts that landed inside of the 5-yard line, including two punts that were downed at the 1-yard line. One punt hit in bounds and went out at the one. Then the other punt was fielded by defensive back Adrian Colbert at the same spot on the field.

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