The Bears conducted a training camp practice in shells that was open to the media Monday. Here's everything that transpired throughout the day at Halas Hall:
Offensive coordinator Declan Doyle lauded sixth-year running back D'Andre Swift for his versatility. Last season Swift generated a career-high 1,345 yards from scrimmage (959 rushing and 386 receiving) and has continued to demonstrate his all-around ability this summer.
"He can do a lot of different things," Doyle said. "I'm excited for the ways that we can use him. He can drop his pads and go get a yard when he needs to. We love what he does in the passing game … We're going to try to continue to use him to the best of his ability as well as the other guys that we want to touch the ball and try to put them in positions to have success."
After sitting out the first two preseason games, Swift rushed for 28 yards on seven carries and caught one pass for six yards in last Friday night's 29-27 comeback win over the Chiefs.
Stepping up
Receiver Jahdae Walker made the most of his opportunities in Kansas City, catching three passes for 37 yards, including the game-winning 6-yard touchdown from Tyson Bagent with :03 remaining.
"There are a number of guys that have done a really good job; he's absolutely one of them." Doyle said. "There are certain guys that walk outside for practice and it's like a kid going to recess. They can't freaking wait to get rolling, and Jahdae is that way. Jahdae loves football."
On the first play of the game-winning drive, Walker made a spectacular 15-yard catch that was initially ruled incomplete because the officials didn't think he got both feet down inbounds. A replay review proved otherwise, and the call was overturned.
"He showed up in that last drive and the play he made on our sideline was one of the better catches that I've seen," Doyle said. "It was really pretty impressive. But he's just a guy that has worked every day. He embodies the kind of love that you want for football on our team."
Rare opportunity
Doyle enjoyed the chance to call plays in the second half of the Bears' 38-0 preseason win over the Bills Aug. 17—an opportunity afforded to him by coach Ben Johnson.
"Yeah, that was awesome," Doyle said. "You talk about a guy who is a teacher at heart. [Johnson] put up 370 yards of offense leading up to it and so we were up 28-0. We were up so much, it was like, 'OK, here we go.' It's a little bit different experience. But it was awesome. I felt like I've prepared for that for a long time, but until you're really in a live-bullet situation, there are things that come up while you're doing it that you may not be able to simulate. The biggest learning experience was just having to do it in real time as the situation changes and having to work through that thought process."
Making strides
With the preseason over and the Bears turning their full attention to the regular season, veteran tight end Cole Kmet was asked to assess the offense's progress.
"I think we've made steps, for sure," Kmet said. "Our physicality has upped dramatically since the beginning of camp. Adding pads and kind of seeing the run game a little bit come to life there at the end in Kansas City, it's come together really in a few of the joint practices, and the physicality is really showing up on tape. That's really good. Guys are playing fast. We're getting off the count much better than we were in the beginning of camp.
"That being said, what showed up in Kansas City and what's ebbed and flowed in camp is a little bit of our inconsistency in terms of penalties and getting operated correctly, and those are things we need to get corrected quickly here if we want to have the success that we want to have this season."
Kmet believes that the increased physicality stems from a practice the Bears held Aug. 5 that several players described as the most physical they've ever experienced.
"I think that started it," he said. "We were in heavy personnel for a lot of the practice; short-yardage situations. It was really just an attitude practice, and those type of things—when it's short yardage, goal line, your technique and fundamentals might not be perfect and exact. It's more about your intent and your willingness to go block. That's kind of the most pure form of football in that sense. I thought that was a good step for us as a team in our physicality and I think that's transitioned over over the past few weeks."
