Caleb Williams’ arrival means massive pressure for Matt Eberflus on two fronts in 2024

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Caleb Williams’ arrival means massive pressure for Matt Eberflus on two fronts in 2024 originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

ORLANDO — Matt Eberflus’ new look — the beard, the haircut, the fashion — can be viewed as symbolic of the injection of energy surrounding the Bears as they prepare for a franchise-altering selection with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft.

Eberflus survived a trying second season in Chicago. The Bears’ second-half defensive turnaround under Eberflus’ direction helped the head coach earn a third season at the helm. General manager Ryan Poles asked Eberflus to revamp his offensive staff and show tangible progress in Year 3.

Poles has continued to stack the Bears’ roster with talent this offseason. The Bears traded for star wide receiver Keenan Allen and added running back D’Andre Swift and tight end Gerald Everett. They also bolstered their offensive line with Coleman Shelton and Ryan Bates.

All of those moves should make life for presumptive No. 1 pick Caleb Williams easier when the star quarterback lands in Chicago following April’s draft.

Everything is pointing up for the Bears, including Eberflus’ vibes.

“I would say that when you look at when we took the job, Ryan [Poles] and I took the job in ’22, we knew the process was going to be difficult,” Eberflus said this week at the annual NFL league meetings in Orlando. “We didn’t go into it blind with hope, this is going to be easy. We knew exactly where the lay of the land was. … So the first year was difficult. The start of last year was, but then you could see that we laid a good foundation and started to go on the rise. We knew it was going to be a process of that. Now we’re in Year 3 and we’re starting to add the talent because we got the cap right. Ryan and his group have done an outstanding job and we’re in a good spot.”

But despite the impeccable offseason vibes, Eberflus enters Year 3 facing a ton of pressure on two fronts.

The first front is obvious. The…

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Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/caleb-williams-arrival-means-massive-205549139.html

Author : NBC Sports Chicago

Publish date : 2024-03-28 20:55:49

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