There is a difference between receiving advice and heeding advice. Plenty of coaches throughout NFL history have received advice about things that may not work. Not enough of them actually take the advice and do something about it. Shane Waldron was about to show which side of the fence he fell on. In the week leading up to a pivotal game against the Los Angeles Rams, the Bears’ offensive leadership council led by Caleb Williams, D.J. Moore, and Marcedes Lewis approached the embattled offensive coordinator with some opinions about what has to change to get things on track.
One of the most important things they stressed: don’t be afraid to coach them hard. They’re professionals. They want to be challenged. Stop tiptoeing around things and say what you really feel. According to Moore, the coordinator took their words to heart. As the game approached, Waldron became more assertive in meetings, calling players out who weren’t doing their jobs. It seemed to get across to them that the constant mistakes had to stop.
“We had people get called out if you wasn’t doing your stuff. That goes a long way, because you don’t want to be on that list…
…We’re all grown men. We all don’t want to be on that tape just as much as if you were a little kid on that tape playing football. You don’t want to let your buddy down. So that’s all it was.”
Shane Waldron clearly got the results he wanted.
Players who’d been struggling this season came to life right when the team needed them the most. None more so than running back D’Andre Swift. He finished the afternoon with 93 yards rushing, 72 receiving, and scored what was the game-clinching touchdown. Despite losing Teven Jenkins to a rib injury, the offensive line did a fair job protecting Williams outside of three sacks. Even Nate Davis had some key blocks. It wasn’t an explosion of any kind, but it was the cleanest game the offense has played this season.
Hopefully, Shane Waldron took this as a sign that his revamped approach is the way to go. Players don’t respond well to timidity in this sport. They’re big, strong, and aggressive young men. You need to make it clear you’re in charge and aren’t afraid to call them out when they don’t do their jobs. It would’ve been nice if Waldron realized this sooner than week four. Better later than never, though.
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