The Bears conducted a walkthrough Monday that was closed to fans and media. Here's what transpired at Halas Hall:
Entering his first season with the Bears and fifth in the NFL, defensive end Dayo Odeyingbo believes that he's primed to have a career year.
"That's the way I prepared this offseason," Odeyingbo said. "That's the way I feel. I feel like I'm in the best position and shape that I've been in to play, so I'm excited about this year and excited about what I can bring."
Odeyingbo signed with the Bears in March after spending his first four NFL seasons with the Colts. Selected by Indianapolis in the second round of the 2021 draft out of Vanderbilt, he appeared in 61 games with 19 starts and recorded 106 tackles, 21 tackles-for-loss and 16.0 sacks.
The 6-6, 286-pounder established career highs in all three categories in 2023 with 38 tackles, nine tackles-for-loss and 8.0 sacks.
Odeyingbo feels that he fits well in first-year defensive coordinator Dennis Allen's system. Asked what he likes most about the scheme, Odeyingbo said: "Just the aggressiveness of it, being able to affect the run and pass in different ways with different looks. It definitely makes it tougher on the offense. I think that's shown."
Playing for a coordinator who is traditionally known for employing a high volume of blitzes also should benefit Odeyingbo and his fellow linemen.
"Bringing five, six, being able to affect the quarterback that way and have the D-line moving around is definitely going to help," Odeyingbo said.
"It lets you attack a little bit more on certain rushes. You know you're covered on whether it's outside or covered on the inside and lets you attack a little bit more, be a little bit more aggressive in that sense. It also makes it a little bit harder on the offensive line having to know who's coming; having a slight bit of hesitation always helps the D-line."
Odeyingbo has enjoyed working with first-year coach Ben Johnson.
"He's very demanding," Odeyingbo said. "You could tell he's a perfectionist. He wants it done a certain way and if it's not that way, he's going to call you out about it. That's something you definitely want from someone leading your team that's not afraid to call people out and see how they respond."
Johnson a 'special' head coach
Odeyingbo isn't the only one impressed with Johnson. Special teams coordinator Richard Hightower also was effusive in his praise for the new Bears coach.
"I can tell you for a fact we've got a good head coach here—a damn good head coach," Hightower said. "I'm just telling you. I know what they look like. I've been around them."
Since entering the NFL as an assistant coach in 2006, Hightower has worked with many head coaches, including Mike Shanahan, Gary Kubiak, John Fox, Matt LaFleur, Sean McVay, Mike McDaniel and Robert Salah.
"You kind of see who wants to grind, who wants to work, who has the Xs and Os down, who has great personality," Hightower said.
Hightower admired Johnson when he was Lions offensive coordinator and has been even more impressed with the young coach since they joined forces in Chicago.
"Because he was on the opposing team, you always knew who he was, but I hadn't worked with him," Hightower said. "I knew from afar when I watched some of his press conferences, I was like, 'the guy's pretty sharp.'
"But then when you work with him and you can see the attention to detail and how he meticulously looks at everything no matter what it is, dives deep into things and has an eye—real head coaches have an eye for things when they happen and they're able to anticipate stuff. And I'm just telling you, you guys just watch. We've got a good head coach. I've been around a lot of them. Damn good. Special."
On the details
Hightower lauded two players who routinely excel at quizzes he administers in special teams meetings.
"Somebody who is really always on the details of quizzes is [veteran running back] Travis Homer," Hightower said. "He's extremely competitive and he is always front and center on that stuff. To stay in the running back room, with the rookies, Kyle [Monangai] is smart. It's hard to [stump] him as well. He is on the details."
Gearing up for joint practice
The Bears are looking forward to Friday's joint practice with the Dolphins at Halas Hall. The workout will come in advance of Sunday's preseason game between the teams at Soldier Field.
"[Joint practices] can be a little chippy," Odeyingbo said. "They can be intense. You're kind of defending your home turf, especially in this situation. Everybody is excited to get to go against someone else and someone you're not trying to look out for because it's not your teammate."
"[Joint practices are] extremely valuable for coaches," Hightower said. "Extremely valuable for players to get evaluated by two personnel staffs, two coaching staffs. [It's] not a real game, but it's kind of like the intensity is going to be up, so we're fired up for it and I know Miami is the same, so it'll be good coming up here soon."
