Bears WR Rome Odunze says Ben Johnson is… 😱 | The Rich Eisen Show

Bears WR Rome Odunze says Ben Johnson is… 😱 | The Rich Eisen Show

Uh, all right. Uh, this man is currently second in the National Football League in touchdowns. Only Aman Ross St. Brown of Detroit has more than the five of Roma Dunce of the Chicago Bears joining us on the program. How are you, Rome? Appreciate y’all having me. Thank you. Thank you. What a pleasure to see you here. Uh, what’s going through your head right now through four weeks of your second season? Rome, how you feeling? Oh, you know, we we’re sitting at two and two, so um we’re feeling good about the past two weeks. Um, you know, we we’ve made some improvement from the first two weeks and going into buy. Um, obviously we got some guys down. So, looking to get all those guys healthy and come back and and win this game versus Commander. So, doing good. I mentioned your u number of touchdowns and introducing you. Uh, you, James Cook, and JK Dobbins, the only players in the NFL to have a touchdown from scrimmage in each of the first four games of this season. So, has the game slowed down for you a little bit this year compared to last, do you think? I think definitely a little bit. Um, you know, obviously, you know, playing a year in the NFL gives you that experience to kind of know where things are going to hit and um, know the different windows that you’re going to be able to get the ball. And, you know, Caleb and the offense has done a great job, you know, you know, holding up their end of the deal and, um, having successful plays and I’ve been on the, you know, successful end of that, um, you know, five times now. So, hopefully more to come. Okay. And so, um, how how, I guess, have you improved? What do you think you’re doing better through the first four games, Rome? What do you think? I think I’m just, you know, dialed in on my responsibilities. Obviously, you know, I took, you know, all of last year to, you know, understand what I need to get better at and try to emphasize those things when it came to wide receiver play, blocking, understanding offense, and all those different things. So, I feel like I’ve improved, you know, overall in all those areas, and it’s allowed me to, you know, play free and fast, and I’ve able to capitalize on some of those opportunities. walk me through as well um how things have changed with Ben Johnson as the new HC. So much is made of what he and Caleb are communicating about. What about you from the wide receiver room? Yeah, it’s been great. You know, I think, you know, Ben, Coach Ben has been, you know, super, you know, intense with the the offense and the team as a whole, just trying to take us where we need to go and um being being strict on those things. And I think that sort of culture and mindset has led us to, you know, um continuing to develop and get better. So, um, he’s he’s done a great job and, you know, the wide receiver position is also, you know, one of his babies. He he, uh, coached it in the past. So, he’s very, you know, diligent on all the details of the offense from our, you know, standpoint and we appreciate that. And so is coach Randle on the offensive staff as a whole. So, we appreciate them. So, uh, you use the word diligent, strict, um, give me examples. Intense as well. Give me, you got a good example of that for Um, yeah. I I would say uh we had a split um a wide receiver split alignment that was is supposed to be plus two to hash. I think one of the first times we went out there and did perfect plays. I was about plus plus three maybe plus two and a half and um he let me hear it. So um you know that was kind of the you know first first uh instance of me really experiencing it. But um it it’s it’s an everyday thing you know and it it leads us to having success and it’s important so we appreciate it from What do you mean about letting you have it? Was it in front of everybody? Oh, I mean, yeah, he was coaching me in front of everybody for sure. I mean, he was telling me, “Yeah, it’s plus two. It’s plus two. What’s the split on this?” Um, and we we reset the whole place. So, yeah. Has he done that with everybody? Oh, yeah. Yeah. He holds everybody accountable to that st standard for sure. O linemen, um, C will running backs, wide receivers, you know, coaches, everybody, uh, under under the organization. He he wants to be perfection. How has he done it with Caleb if you have an example of that for me? Sure. I mean, you know, whether it’s, you know, a replay, something a play that we have to do. Um, whether, you know, I mean, you know, there’s so many different opportunities for quarterbacks to mess anything up because their job has, you know, such responsibility. So, you know, I mean, even saying one word wrong, it’s gonna bug him. So, um, those are all things that he’s diligent on and and we’ve reset before, but Caleb does a great job with it as well. Well, I I mean, two and two and obviously, um, some definitely improved situations based to, uh, last year Rome and your relationship with Caleb Williams. I’d love to dive into that for a couple of minutes here. If I’m not mistaken, is it true, my memory serves, did you guys meet on a flight to the combine? Is that is that the first time you guys ever crossed paths? Yeah, you and Caleb. I think it was. Obviously, I had played against him, but um we didn’t uh you know, formally meet um uh on the field that day, but um yeah, I think that I think that was right. Flying into the combine, I think that was our our first time actually meeting one another, I believe. Yeah. After obviously playing in the same conference, uh collegiately together. And and so what what is it like when the two of you talk ball rum? I mean it really just comes from a you know quarterback to wide receiver sort of relationship you know obviously trying to understand how we can take advantage of defenses you know looking at our strengths and our weaknesses and seeing what we can improve on and understanding the wayship you know w within those realms and then kind of playing that into the offense as well. So, um, you know, it varies from a bunch of different things, but honestly, we just trying to, you know, make make each other better and, uh, be able to complete passes. Yeah. And so, when you, how often do you do do you talk it? I mean, how often do you guys sit down and start outside of a film room connect in that regard? Oh man, that’s a daily occurrence. Honestly, that’s a daily occurrence. You know, anything we see out there on the practice field and I’m like, okay, I see it this way, he sees it that way, coaches see it this way. We make it all mesh, you know, and we make ends meet. So, um, it’s really a daily daily occurrence when we’re out there. But, you know, hopefully going into this by week, we can talk about some other things. Okay. Yeah. What are you doing for the buy? What does the buy look like here? I’m just going to be here. I’m just going to be here. Um, getting my body right. Um, probably post up with my lady. Um, go watch a movie and stuff like that. That’s about it. Oh, what what movie are we watching? What are you What are you gonna do? Oh, man. I don’t know. Um, what are we going? I don’t know. There’s some new there’s some new movies out. Um, I’m I’m a fan of Demon Slayer. It’s a It’s an anime. So, okay. There’s a movie there’s a movie uh version of that out right now. So, I’ll probably go see that. Have you seen Sinners? Have you seen that? I have seen Sinners. I loved it. Yeah. I thought it was amazing. Yeah. You know what I mean? Like that was that was really good. And uh I don’t know. Do you do you play the Bills this year? I don’t know if you play the Bills. We had them uh we had them uh preseason. So, okay. But not but not not the reg. I just mentioned that because you know Josh Allen obviously knows one of the uh stars of of sinners for sure, you know. Okay. I heard about that a little bit. No, she he did a great job in the film. It was awesome to see and you know Josh is, you know, doing his thing on the field. So they’re power power couple goals for sure. So what do you say to people who might be stopping you around town asking about Caleb and is he the real guy? Is he the real deal? What’s going on? Uh and his development. I mean it seems like a daily conversation nationally. I can only imagine what it’s like in Chicagoland, Rome. What do you say to people who might actually start to talk to you about that subject matter, I guess, like me right now. What do you say? Yeah, I mean, I’ve consistently, you know, held the belief that Caleb is doing everything in his power to continue to progress and, you know, become the best quarterback that he he’s capable of being, and I think he’s capable of being the best in the NFL. So, um, I think his his thoughts, his actions, everything are going towards that. So, I’ve said before, I mean, I I’m in the building with him every day and I see that. So, you know, people outside the building sort of question that. I don’t know, you know, what that’s based off of, but you know, Caleb’s been doing a great job. Obviously, everybody’s seen his progression and, you know, you know, his fight, his will. So, it’s been incredible. And when you come off the buy, you know, obviously you’re going to a spot that has a recent history for you. Um, and Washington and in that game last year where you guys took the lead late. We all know what happened at the end of that game. Um, and and we also know what happened after that game and how it all sort of spiraled spiraled out and now you’re in a different spot now. Do you will you go into that game with a different with a sensibility of wiping the slate clean and cleansing the pallet and showing how things are different now? Is that is that something we only talk about in the media? What do you make of that, Rome? For me, honestly, yeah. I don’t think, you know, we we go into it with that sort of mindset. Honestly, I think all of our mindset is, you know, focused on this team and and the present moment that we’re in. And obviously, the commanders are our next opponent. So, um, you know, we’re going to go out there and compete at the highest level to go get a win regardless of, you know, you know, what the situation is or what people might say it is, but um, that’s that’s sort of our mindset. I don’t think we’re really focused on obviously, you know, the things that happened last year. Has Randle L, Coach Randle L, you’re bringing up Antoine Randle L. Has he brought up the fact that he’s thrown a touchdown pass in the Super Bowl to you guys? And he hasn’t brought up nothing, man. He hasn’t brought up anything. He He’s really humble and and and we know, we haven’t we’ve only seen glimpses of it when they turn on the highlights, but all the coaching staff around him and everybody, you know, obviously in the building that was watching him when he was playing and that seen him play was like, “Man, L’s the real deal.” So, we’re all like, “Oh, was he really the real deal?” and he’s he’s all humbled about it, but I’m sure he’s got his highlights in the vault. Well, I he could show you where in Ford field he threw the pass. That’s where they won the Super Bowl Rome. You know what I mean? Oh, I didn’t know that. That’s crazy. Oh, yeah. Oh, let me He doesn’t say Okay. Uh what? And nothing in the state of Illinois either of Indiana football crushing right now. He doesn’t even talk about that. Nothing like that at all. He doesn’t, man. He doesn’t. I’m I’m telling you, he’s real humble about Okay. We got We got to remind him like, “Hey, man. He really did that. He did. I mean, he was the real He threw it to Hines Ward for a touchdown in the Super Bowl uh for the Steelers. And um do you talk to Penn at all? Have you spoken to Michael Penn uh Yeah, we’ve chopped it up a little bit. Yeah, we we we’ve chopped it up. We chopped it up preseason um a good bit since season has started. We’ve been dialed in a little bit, but obviously we got our our dogs group chat and we had Ohio State last week, so cheering on those boys and all that. But you know, that’s my brother. I know he he’s QB1 out there. So, he’s he’s got a lot on his plate, but um was awesome to see, you know, have a bounceback week and go get that W. So, and we’ll be watching his film here. So, we get get to see his highlights. Yeah. Know, I know you guys Washington was taking on Ohio State last week. I was I was rooting for you because, you know, I you know, I went to I went to Michigan Rome. So, you know, I was I was I know. I’m sorry. I know that that’s kind of like a four-letter word to you. I get it. Um but but everything seems to have worked out for you at the next level. Do you have a number in your head of touchdowns you want to score based off of the number of that you’ve already scored this year? You’ve got five through four weeks. Is there a number in your head of number of times you want to hit the end zone or you think you can this year? I mean, no, I don’t have a number, man. Obviously, you know, I’ve had a hot start. I think it’s what, 23 touchdowns in a in a season, receiving touchdowns. It’s a record, I believe. We can look that up right now. Randy Moss. Yes, sir. That’s 2007. That’s it. Yeah, if we not shooting for that, then we selling ourselves short. So, I guess I got to go get some go, ladies and gentlemen, Roman Dunay here on the Rich Eisen Show. Okay. Um, and uh, how have you taken to the great awesome city of Chicago? Uh, have you wound up in a spot that you like, a restaurant you like, food that you like? Um, north side, southside, I don’t want to get you in trouble, but uh, I’m just throwing that out here to you, Rome. Yeah, I have, man. The city of Chicago has been a been a lot of love, honestly. you know, welcoming since the start. Obviously, they got their passion for football and their um, you know, criticisms, but we appreciate them and all that they, you know, go out there with that passion and and and bring the rocks. So, but yeah, I’ve lots of food spots, man. Um, man, there’s so many. I mean, have you done the wiener circle yet? Like 1:00 in the morning, 2 in the morning. Have you done that yet, Rome? Have you done? I haven’t done that yet, man. I haven’t done that yet. So, boy, I don’t know if that’s in my future, but Well, listen. Um, you don’t have to do it that late at night, but when you go there, you just need to know what you’re ordering before you go up there. I just Maybe because you’re a top-notch Chicago Bear, they might let you slide if you don’t do it the right way. But if you if you think so, they’ll curse him out. They’ll curse him out. They rip you. Oh, I didn’t know that was You got to be ready for that. Yeah, man. You got to have your head on a swivel uh when you go to the wiener circle. Okay. Just just think about that. But it’s also worth your time. Uh that’s for sure. Um, and you know, enjoy your enjoy your bye-week, Rome, and I appreciate you chopping it up with me. Uh, cuz again, um, I’m sure you’re aware. I know the Cubs are in the playoffs right now and the Bulls are about to start their season. Um, but if the Bears win at all, it’s a football town. It really Chicago is a football town through and through. I think you’ve noticed that, right? Pretty much. Yeah, most definitely. Yeah, most definitely. They they got football on the blood. So, um, we appreciate that, man. We know we we’re continuing to, you know, progress and and and put this team at one of the top echelon teams in the NFL. So, we know the city’s going to be rocking when we accomplish that, but it’s coming. All right, Rome, thanks for the time. Greatly appreciate it. Uh, congrats on the the great start for you statistically and for your team being two and two going into the by-week and best of luck and and look for more of my calls. Oh, by the way, I’ve just been told in my ear it was the draft, wasn’t the combine that you were on the flight with Caleb Williams. You were going to the draft together on that one. Yeah. I think you were going back and forth about flying the plane or you glad you weren’t flying the plane if I’m not mistaken. Yeah. The way the story go I think I did fly it. Yeah. That’s right. Actually, now we know. Oh, you’re definitely you’re definitely landing it very well right now. Thanks for the time, Rome. Greatly appreciate it, sir. What’s wrong with right here on the Rich Eisen Show? [Music] [Applause] [Music] [Applause] [Music]

Rome Odunze joins The Rich Eisen Show to discuss:

0:00 Rome Odunze joins!
0:37 Has the game slowed down for you?
1:30 Playing under Ben Johnson
4:15 When did you first meet Caleb Williams?
6:05 Favorite movie out now
7:08 Playing with Caleb Williams
7:53 Losing to the Commanders last year
10:29 Number of TDs you want to score?
12:00 Chicago is a football town!

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