The struggles of quarterback Caleb Williams were the No. 1 headline, and everything flowed from that, but the entire Chicago Bears' offense was a mess last season. With three offensive coordinators over the course of the season, a mess was also easy to expect.
The Bears overturned every stone to put Williams on a better track this offseason. A new coaching staff, led by Ben Johnson, was brought in. The interior of the offensive line was overhauled, and their first two draft picks were used on skill position players.
The pieces of the Bears' offense that carry over from last year provide a talent base to work from. However, it's also evident, upon examining the pertinent numbers, that wide receivers DJ Moore and Rome Odunze were not utilized to the full extent of their talents last season.
For Johnson and the Bears' offensive coaches, the core key to unlocking Williams' talent lies in using Moore and Odunze more effectively. Moore, of course, has an established track record, with more than 90 catches in three of the last four seasons, while Odunze is a ball of untapped potential entering his second season.
DJ Moore and Rome Odunze set to be elevated big-time in 2025
Moore and Odunze did not land a spot in a ranking of the top-10 wide receiver tandems in the league from CBS Sports' Cody Benjamin. They did land in the honorable mention section though, with notes that say it all.
"Moore has flashes of brilliance, but Odunze is still growing as his running mate. Ben Johnson's oversight could help them stay consistent."
While Moore was the clear league leader in designed (i.e. short area) targets last year with 41, Odunze was top-five in the league in unrealized air yards (917, according to Player Profiler) as Williams struggled throwing downfield. There should be a happy middle ground of usage for both of the Bears' top two wide receivers, and you can bet Johnson is working to find it (if he hasn't already found it).
Moore and Odunze getting recognized as one of the top wide receiver tandems in the NFL is rooted in Odunze reaching his potential. That will come in concert with how his connection with Williams blossoms, this year and beyond.
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If Williams takes the expected step toward reaching his potential this year, it will be in a better offensive structure. In that case, Moore and Odunze will also be in a position to elevate their quarterback in that same structure. And ultimately, as Benjamin noted, the roots of everything the Bears do offensively lie with Johnson maintaining his status as one of the top play-callers in the league.