Rome Odunze, Montez Sweat on adapting to new staff, schemes | Chicago Bears

Rome Odunze, Montez Sweat on adapting to new staff, schemes | Chicago Bears

What did you see on the fade into the end zone on that play that you caught for a touchdown? Yeah, I mean it was just up and down play uh kind of quick uh one-on-one man out there. So, Caleb gave me a shot, was able to execute the play um you know, obviously need to continue to build that um and have that as a weapon in our offense, something that I did a lot in college as well. So, just building that uh connection, which I think we’ll we’ll show this year. Bond last year, how much more how much strength this has been this year, would you say going into the second year together? Yeah, definitely. I mean, you know, a year under our belt definitely, um, you know, helps us continue to build that and, you know, with a new offense, learning it together and, you know, having the knowledge of, you know, playing in the NFL season and having those games and then, um, um, putting that into this offense and, you know, building the connection that way, I think, is is great, too. Just not being like two rookies, just kind of figuring out. We kind of have a little bit to base it off. No, I know I know this wasn’t a red zone drill, per se, but after the struggles you guys had in the red zone yesterday, feel good to come away with seven. Definitely. Definitely. You know, anytime we have a drill, you know, it’s competition. We want to come away with seven points. That’s our biggest goal. Um, so yeah, like you said, you know, having our uh our struggles yesterday in red zone, which, you know, we’ll we’ll continue to work at. But, you know, going out there and having the the two-minute drill, which kind of turned into a red zone drill, be able to come away with uh seven points was huge for sure. on that particular play. What what’s what’s your responsibility in terms of not tipping off the DB and then also making yourself quarterback friendly there? Yeah, I mean there’s a lot to it. I mean it’s uh you know just just having the savviness because you know it’s obviously it’s red zone so you don’t want to release too quick. You don’t want to, you know, get to the spot too often. You kind of want to meet the ball exactly at at the point where you want to catch it um and have late hands with it. So it’s all of that. um not giving the the DB any, you know, sort of tips that I may be doing a fade. You know, he obviously has to protect the slant. He has to protect the fade. He has to protect um you know, maybe a screen pass or something like that. So, he’s worrying about different things and that’s why it allows me to kind of be full attack mode and let him react and hopefully, you know, his reaction is a little bit slower, my attack’s a little bit faster. What’s your comfort level right now on the offense? Um shoot, I don’t I don’t know how to assess that. I mean, we’re continuing to develop it. You know, we’re continuing to put new things in. So, you know, I feel comfortable with what we’ve put in. Um, you know, I know Ben’s offense isn’t just, you know, um, something that you’re going to completely and totally, you know, be encompassed in or, I guess, full full understanding year one. You know, it’s something that kind of takes a little bit of evolving to to get there. And but, you know, from what they’ve given us and for what um, you know, has been in the installs and the knowledge that they’ve given us, I feel like I’ve retained it very well. Um, I can go out there and have success within it and, um, you know, execute what they want us to execute. So, I feel very comfortable, but you know, I’m I’m not I’m not the OC, so I can’t say exactly um how much I got. I think um last summer you said you went back to Vegas and you were having your mom call out routes for you. Is that Yeah. Yeah. Did you do that again? I didn’t. No, I No, that was that was a mom is a veteran now. So, she don’t have that duty anymore. But no, I I found other ways, you know, being with Caleb and and doing different things in the offseason to kind of get get the retain that information a little bit more. And especially, you know, having that rookie season under my belt, I’m able to retain like the NFL style offense a little bit better. So, um it was more kind of refining my execution within those play calls, not just, you know, trying to remember them as well. So, how much of a restart was it for you, I guess? I mean, you have some of that experience to draw from, but like you said, it’s a complicated new offense. Yeah, I think I I think I draw drew a lot. Honestly, I think um there’s a style in which the NFL kind of operates when it comes to offense and the execution of it. And obviously last year it wasn’t up to a standard, but I think with with this coaching staff and with with the players we got this year, um kind of having that experience from last year, like it really allows me to understand like what we’re trying to go out there and execute. Um, you know, not that everything is more complicated or Ben’s offense is, you know, um, super super, like I said, super complicated in that aspect, but just having that knowledge and understanding of how it kind of goes as offense in the NFL really, I think, helps all receivers, all, you know, playmakers out there, you know, um, execute in the right way. Jaylen moved to Vegas. Jaylen? Oh, yeah. I I mean, think he has a house out there. Um, I won’t disclose his location, but the greater Las Vegas area. Yeah, the greater Las Vegas area. You know, I was trying to I was trying to um they were trying to train at my high school. Um but the my high school I had went off to uh um Boyce State to do their little camp, so I had I didn’t have many connections um to go back to. So hopefully next off seasonason for sure. Has there been anything that Dennis Allen has thrown at you that maybe surprised you early on and you were like, “Okay, I can take that and use that when we get in real game situations.” Uh you know, his his defense is really good. You know, it’s been challenging going against him every single day, honestly. you know, he has very, you know, he has a like he like his tall, you know, lengthy corners. So, um, going against the boys every day is been a challenge and, you know, trying to work against them. So, those are always challenging there. His rotations, late rotations, early rotations, deceptive, um, cover twos, um, two highs are challenging as well. So, trying to read those out um, has been a challenge. Also, their cab witches have been, you know, something I’m trying to figure out, trying to recognize when those are happening, but they disguise it pretty well. So, um, it’s been a great challenge for us. I think it’s helping my development for sure. Rome, you got a young team. Luther Bird’s missed a lot of time. Uh what has it what has he missed? Is there any way that you can help him with that process once he does get back? Yeah, I mean, you know, he hasn’t been on the field, but uh he’s been in the uh the the meeting rooms dialed in, you know, been in the treatment room getting everything he needs. So, he’s been handling his responsibilities from what he’s capable of doing right now. And you know, as much as you can help him with, you know, just talking about the offense and, you know, him learning and seeing different things, you know, it’s it’s um going to take getting getting reps of course, you know, to kind of fully grasp it and fully get into it. But, you know, I’m not worried about it. I got to watch him in in uh in college do his thing and and when he was healthy, he’s doing his thing here. So, he he’s a fast learner and he he’ll get up to speed real quick. Were you familiar with Nan Wright before the Bears signed him? I wasn’t. I wasn’t. No, I wasn’t, but I’m familiar with him now, man. He’s he’s a baller, so you know, not many 6’4 6 65 corners out there with, you know, his capabilities and his um suddenness and and agility. So, um it’s been a challenging one against him every single day. So, I’m glad we have a guy like that on the roster so I can compete against and then make the games a little bit easier. It seems like in the 11 on 111 707 drills, it’s still I know it’s still install so it’s a little bit disjointed, but when you guys get in the team periods of red zone or two-minute drill, you seem much more comfortable. Is there a way to kind of speed up the connection in that or is that just a time thing? Um, so you’re saying the connection between like um taking taking it from the 11-11 to where both both of them look comfortable. Oh yeah, for sure. I mean, you know, we’re continuing to develop and I think that’s part of the process, you know, just being able to execute no matter the period, no matter the situation. Um, we go out there and execute. That’s exactly what we’re trying to get to. So um right now it may be you know oh we did good in 2 minute but our 111 slack and 70 on7 was good but our um blitz period wasn’t you know um so we it’s just a continued learning process and kind of growing in that u um setting to continue to make it seem so every time we we step out on the field it don’t matter what situation it is we execute you all being how you all being trained right now in terms of learning one position or being cross trainined for all positions. How is that helping you all or or helping you process like the spacing and the time and like learn a new system? I’m already trying to figure out what I’m trying to do. Now I got to know what BJ’s trying to do and all those types of things. How’s that going for you? Yeah, I mean in our room it’s an expectation that we you know everything going on on the field. Um so when when it comes to concepts and learning at all different positions, we need to be you know very alert to those things and you know have the knowledge cuz you know you never know what position you need to be played and you need to be very versatile in that sense. So we uh we we’re very trained in, you know, kind of all those different aspects of it. um you know, X, F, Z, Y, whatever it takes, you know, um whatever position we need to be at to have success, we’ll we’ll go and do it well. So, you know, obviously it’s you know, a little bit easier when you have, you know, one thing to worry about. We can execute a little bit faster, but um you know, like I said, it’s expectation to know everything. We’re starting to see Coloulston mix back in a little bit. What What are your impressions of him out of the gig of what he can bring? He’s a baller, man. I hate him though. Like Michigan guy, I can’t stand him, man. I’m just playing. No, he’s got the ring on me, man. He got his signing bonus the other day, man. That guy’s got everything. I’m telling you. Oh, it’s it’s ridiculous. But no, he’s awesome, man. He’s been great, you know, great in the locker room. He’s been great in the meeting rooms, I’m sure. Um and uh you know, out there on the field doing everything possible he can to one get back onto the field and now that he’s kind of getting good reps in. Um it’s been awesome to see, you know, great hands, very agile, um can block. So, he’s I think everything you kind of desire in a tight end. So, really looking forward to to his development and the year he’s going to have. He had a sing. What’s that? Has he got to sing yet? He did sing. He killed it, too. He killed it. Um, what did he sing? He said uh Mario, let me let me love you. Right. Is that the Killed it? He killed it, man. I wish that was on the uh what’s it called? Hard knocks. Yeah. Is it your uh is it your expectation that you’re going to be Caleb’s go-to guy this year? I mean, I’m I’m I’m just available for for whatever, you know, comes with it, honestly. You know, I I want to get the ball as early and as often as I can. and you know as a wide receiver and as a playmaker I feel like they have the ability to make this offense move um and have explosive plays. So you know I want the ball every play but um I play my role within the offense and you know Caleb is a great quarterback who’s going to you know be versatile with his weapons and and as well as Ben and the offensive staff as well. They know how to get the ball around. So um of course I want to be that number one guy for him and and and go kill and be that duo. But we have a bunch of playmakers on the field that he’s going to do a good job with. Thank you. Thanks for Thank you. Any thoughts uh early on here on the on the new defense with Dennis Allen? Uh it’s a uh it’s a great defensive game. Um everybody is still uh honing in on it, learning it, but it’s a great defensive game. How can how can help you help highlight some of your strengths? Um I mean just uh I think just create one-on- ones uh for the times that we need them and uh just uh stopping the run. Did you watch Cam Jordan just you know as you know when you were in Washington or when you got here just given your size similarities with Yeah, I mean uh Cam Jordan’s always kind of been one of those premier pass rushers in the league. It’s kind of hard not to watch him when you play my position. Um I have gone back and look at some of the film and how he how he’s u excelled in uh this defense under Dennis Island. So yeah. What about Dennis’s defense works for a big defensive back like you? I mean, uh, it’s big defensive ends all all around the league. Uh, but I mean, how he wants, you know, he wants height and he wants out of that position. I mean, I think the defensive end position has a height requirement, honestly. Uh, so, uh, but but yeah, it’s just all about creating those one-on- ones and, uh, doing what I need to do when it’s supposed when it’s called to be done. What do you like? What do you like most about the scheme just in general when you know he comes in, he installs it? Uh it’s a complex scheme. Um I think it keeps you on your toes. Uh but uh it challenges uh us uh as a defense to u hone in on on our communication and uh just um flourish in that way. Then Ben Johnson said you you were particularly locked in during the offseason, perhaps kind of unhappy with the way last season went for you firstly. Is that is that fair to say? Is that accurate? Can you expand on that a little bit? Um, I believe y’all asked me that question in OTAAS. I think I think I already touched on it. Was you? Um, yeah, but I I reiterated. Uh, it was it was just I feel like it was important for a new scheme. Um, especially with a complex scheme like this just to come in, learn the defense, and uh try to learn it once or twice uh and again as the uh season goes along. Did you did you add or do anything different than your offseason training? I came to OTAAS. Uh, I usually don’t um I usually don’t attend OTAAS. Uh, but I mean just just regular getting back on schedule. They trying to fix some things out over there at left tackle. Have they came to you and asked you like to help out with that in terms of trying to get either Azie or Karan kind of ready for the, you know, across from you? Not necessarily. Um, I think it’s just u a iron sharpest iron type of deal. Whoever’s out there in front of me, um, I plan on making them better and I expect them to do the same. Yesterday, Dean Doyle said that the um there’s those two times that you broke through off the edge. Those were intentional pressure periods to test the offense. Did you know that going in? Is that something that like you get when you get the script, they make you aware of that you’re not going to be blocked on this sort of thing? Not necessarily. Um a pressure period is a pressure period. We don’t really know who’s going to block us. I mean, we have an idea who may who may block us, but obviously we bringing pressure, somebody going to come free. So, uh, we know the period is a pressure period. So, obviously that puts Caleb in in a tough situation where he’s got to make a quick decision. What do those do for you though when you’re starting to hone that and training? I mean, it just uh creates those situations and angles where where you are going to be in the game and sometimes you may come free. Doesn’t happen a lot, but when it does, you got to take advantage of it. Is there anything about camp that feels different because you did go to OTAAS? Is it, you know, do you hit the ground running a little more? Um, I guess you could say that. Yes. Uh like I said, we learned I learned the defense and uh over the summer and now we’re going back over it again now in training camp. So uh it’s some some similarities and some things that I brought with me from the from OTAAS in the summer camp that I can bring with me to training camp and uh hone in on. There’s a lot of the same personnel here when when trying to improve in the run game. Seemed like that was something y’all struggled with last year. Is that more on you as the players? Is it more on a different scheme coming in or is it just how do you get better at that? I guess I understand your question. What’ you say? So like when last year y’all struggled at stopping the run kind of in the second half of the season, stuff like that. When trying to stop it this year when trying to improve and stopping the run, is that more on you guys just being more in your in your gaps and in your spaces or is that more, you know, being put in the right position? Yeah, I think it’s on all of us. Uh the coaches have have a job to do. We also have a uh a job to do. So, uh, yeah, it’s just a, um, a collective collective thing to stop the run. Have you benefited from, uh, working with playing with Grady Jared since he’s been here? Yeah, Grady is a very smart individual. He’s, uh, he’s played in different, uh, schemes and defenses. So, um, he kind of he’s he’s definitely been helping me with this uh, with this scheme. And also, he’s just a great leader, great friend. We’re from the sort of the same part of town and, uh, Atlanta, Georgia on the um, on the east side. So, uh, yeah, Grady’s been great. I know this girl got pass on. What’s your first impressions of Azie so far? Azie Trapillo the rookie. Uh he’s he’s great. Uh it’s pretty stout. Uh he has good hands, good feet. Uh looks good to me. DJ said yesterday from like the offense perspective that they’re getting different looks every single play with Dennis’s defense. Does that feel like it to you that you guys are doing something different every snap? Uh I mean, yeah, we got a lot of calls in. So, uh, I can I can imagine he’s, uh, seeing a lot of different looks. Do you feel like you’re the guy that needs to lead the pass rush this season, ma’am? I mean, sorry. What’ you say? Do you feel like you’re the guy that needs to kind of spearhead the pass rush this season? I mean, it’s it’s a job. It’s a collective job as a group, but I mean, I guess if you say I’m the guy, yeah, I want to be the guy. What have you seen out of Dio? has he tried to pick your brain in terms of picking up a Yeah. Uh Dio’s a very talented uh football player. Um I think he’s one of those slept on guys in the in the league that’s uh kind of u worked his way around. U but yeah, we pick each other brain. Um we’re helping each other uh with learning the defense and uh yeah should be a great duo. Thank you. Thank you. Let go.

Wide receiver Rome Odunze and defensive lineman Montez Sweat address the media on Saturday at Halas Hall.

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