DRAMA IN CHICAGO AS DC ALAN WILLIAMS RESIGNS, QB JUSTIN FIELDS ATTRIBUTES COACHING TO HIS ‘ROBOTIC PLAY,’ LT BRAXTON JONES GOES ON IR
Wednesday was a bizarre day at Halas Hall, as the Bears put the entire league on notice with press conferences by their head coach and starting quarterback, and the seemingly impromptu resignation of the team’s defensive coordinator, Alan Williams.
Bears quarterback, Justin Fields, was the first member of the organization to take the podium on Wednesday and nonchalantly attributed his play – which he labeled “robotic” – to coaching. “I felt like I wasn’t necessarily playing my game,” said Fields. “I felt like I was a kind of robotic and not playing like myself. My goal this week is just to, same effort, just go out there and play football the way I know how to play football.”
“That includes thinking less and playing off of instincts rather than just so much info in my head, data in my head. Just literally going out there and playing football… That’s when I play my best, when I’m just out there playing free and being myself… not bother [about] what I should do, this and that, pocket stuff, I’m going to go out there and be me.”
Fields ranks 31st in the league in total QBR over the first two weeks and has thrown more interceptions (3) than touchdowns (2). The former Ohio State Buckeye has appeared unsure of himself at the line of scrimmage so far this season, and the Bears have stumbled to a disappointing 0-2 start, something that has frustrated both the organization and its fans.
Asked about “thinking less” and what caused him to think so much, Fields said: “[It] could be coaching, I think. At the end of the day, they’re doing their job when they’re giving me what to look at, stuff like that, but at the end of the day, I can’t be thinking about that when the game comes. I prepare myself throughout the week and when the game comes, it’s time to play free at that point. Just thinking less and playing more.”
Fields told reporters he had talked to the coaches about playing freely before speaking to the media. With the fear that his comments might be blown out of proportion, Fields addressed the media again in the locker room and said he wanted to make it clear he was not blaming the coaches. “I’m not blaming anything on the coaches,” said Fields. “I’m never going to blame anything on the coaches, never going to blame anything on my teammates… I need to clear that up. I need to play better, that’s it. Point blank.”
As reported by NFL Network’s Tom Pelissero on Thursday morning, Bears quarterback Justin Fields very quickly went to his coaches after his interview on the podium, including offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy, and quarterback coach, Andrew Janocko, and apologized. Fields said he didn’t mean those remarks the way they came out. The Bears emphasized that there was a brief discussion and everybody went back to work, stressing that there are “no internal issues” between Fields and his coaches.
The Bears had released quarterback Nathan Peterman on Wednesday evening but re-signed him to the 53-man roster the following morning.
Fields’ remarks came on the same day the Bears announced that defensive coordinator Alan Williams was resigning from his position within the organization. Head coach Matt Eberflus declined to give any updates on Williams during his press conference and refused to tell reporters if Alan was still the Bears’ defensive coordinator. The Bears released a short, one-sentence statement later in the afternoon confirming his departure.
Williams released a statement following the announcement in which he attributed his health and his family as the reasons for his untimely resignation. “It is with great regret that I tender my resignation as the Defensive Coordinator of the Chicago Bears Football Club effective immediately,” Williams’ statement read. “I am taking a step back to take care of my health and my family. I appreciate the opportunity to work with the Chicago Bears, a storied NFL franchise with a rich history. The McCaskey family is first-class and second to none.
“I would also like to thank Coach Matt Eberflus and General Manager Ryan Poles for giving me the opportunity to come to Chicago. I would also like to thank President Kevin Warren, the coaches and players of which I value the relationships and camaraderie. I value the NFL shield and all that it stands for and after taking some time to address my health, I plan to come back and coach again. Sincerely, Coach Alan V. Williams.”
As per TheMMQB’s Albert Breer, Williams’ decision stunned the staff within the organization and one among the team’s coaches said it was “f—ing crazy.”
Multiple media outlets had falsely reported on Wednesday afternoon that the FBI had raided Williams’ home and Halas Hall on Sunday night and Wednesday morning respectively, statements that were equally refuted by the Chicago Bears. NFL Network’s Ian Rapoport reported on Wednesday that the Bureau did not raid Williams’ home or Halas Hall.
Although Eberflus doesn’t anticipate any issues on defense without an official defensive coordinator, with Williams gone, the Bears could look to hire within the organization or source new talent from elsewhere.
Among the names that Eberflus could be looking at include the team’s current linebackers coach Dave Borgonzi or former Texans head coach Lovie Smith. The Bears were without Williams for their game in Tampa Bay on Sunday and Coach Flus took over the play-calling. Eberflus is expected to call the plays again on Sunday in Kansas City against the Chiefs.
In what was a hectic day for the Chicago Bears, the team also lost starting left tackle, Braxton Jones, to injury on Wednesday. The second-year left tackle was placed on injury reserve with a significant neck injury which could have the potential of being a season ender. Asked if Jones could miss the entire season, head coach Matt Eberflus said: “We’ll see where it is. We don’t have timetables on it right now. That’s where it is right now.”
Jones suffered the injury during the Bears’ 27-17 loss to the Buccaneers on Sunday. As it stands, Chicago is now set to miss significant starters on the offensive line as Jones now joins left guard, Teven Jenkins on IR. Jenkins has already missed the first two games with a calf injury after going on injury reserve on August 31st.
With Jones set to miss the next four games, Chicago will have to make a decision about moving rookie right tackle, Darnell Wright, to the opposite side or plugging in someone else. The team could also use 2021 fifth-round pick Larry Borom or 2022 seventh-round selection, Ja’Tyre Carter, but as Eberflus alluded to on Wednesday, no final decision has been made yet.
In response, the team signed offensive tackle Aviante Collins off their practice squad on Wednesday and added fourth-year guard Austen Pleasants to the practice squad. Chicago play the Chiefs at Geha Field at Arrowhead on Sunday at 4:25pm ET.
-Maher Abucheri
Twitter: @pabloikonyero
Photo: US Navy. This file is a work of a sailor or employee of the U.S. Navy, taken or made as part of that person’s official duties. As a work of the U.S. federal government, it is in the public domain in the United States.