Sports
James ‘Big Cat’ Williams on the Chicago Bears’ Best Start in Nearly 15 Years, What Comes Next
It’s halfway through the NFL season and the Chicago Bears are off to their best start in nearly 15 years. With a 7-2 record, they’re at the top of the division and among the best records in the entire league.
After winning four games in a row, they can rest up this weekend as the team has a bye. But to finish the season how they started, they’ll have to get it done in perhaps the league’s best division.
James “Big Cat” Williams, a Bears offensive lineman from 1992-2001, joined “Chicago Tonight” to discuss the season so far.
“This is where you dreamed of being,” Williams said of the team’s current record. “Over 500, in a good position, high up in your division, high up in the NFC. Now they just have to focus on staying grounded. … The bye week is a good opportunity for them to self-scout, similar to what they did last year. You saw the running game improve last year after the bye week, you’re looking for those same types of advances during this bye week.”
As winter approaches in Chicago, the run is a priority for the Bears playing in their outdoor stadium. Last year, the team nearly doubled their yards per run after their bye week.
“You need to be able to lean on your defense making stops, your offense being able to to run the ball, eat up time, put points on the board and get the small yardage,” Williams said.
The NFC North’s four teams all have at least six wins, and Coach Ben Johnson has struggled against the division so far in his tenure. “It’s a tough division,” Williams said. “There are a lot of different things the Bears are going to have to be prepared for.”
Quarterback Caleb Williams (no relation) threw four interceptions in last week’s game against the Buccaneers, though the Bears were still able to win.
“I’d like to say it was a fluke, but you have to worry about it,” James Williams said. “Any time you have a team that has five turnovers in a game, you worry about those things. It’s a game you can look at, you can make corrections, but you still have that win in your pocket. Usually you don’t come out on top of games like that.”
As for the quarterback’s performance after the recent game, Williams added, “it is something that he will be conscious of, but I don’t think it’ll hamper him. I don’t think it’ll stop him from throwing the ball downfield or throwing the ball in those tight windows (while) trying to be cautious.”
The team faces multiple injuries going into the bye, from Kyle Monangai to Caleb Williams, who was out from Weeks 4 to 6 with a hamstring injury. (The Bears were still able to win two of the three games playing their backup quarterbacks.)
James Williams said the quarterback seems to have recovered, but as for Monangai, Williams worries about having back on the field a “significant” player in the run game.
“He is a different style of runner,” Williams said. “Having the opportunity to have that one-two punch with two guys that can be in the backfield at any point in time, … it’s important, and (so is) being able to give them a break when they’re needed.”
The team also landed a really big addition two weeks ago: The Bears traded two future first-round draft picks to the Titans for All-Pro defensive tackle Jeffery Simmons. He has easily proven himself in the last two games.
“He has changed the whole atmosphere on the defense,” Williams said. “Things they were not able to do before they’re able to do now.”
Now, it’s just up to seeing “if those guys can win their battles when he’s taking on the double team — (and) we’ve seen him beat the double team,” according to Williams. “These guys have really stepped up since he’s walked into the building.”
According to ESPN’s midseason report, the Bears have a 90.4% chance of making the playoffs and a 41.6% chance of winning their division.
“It’s just about staying grounded, and that’s something Coach Johnson will do a good job of,” Williams said. “He’s not going to let them get ahead of themselves. If they can improve off of the things that they did not do well in the first half of the season, … you’re looking at a possible long run in the playoffs.”
Looking ahead, the Bears play the Saints next week. Later, they play the Lions on Thanksgiving and the Packers on Christmas Day — two of their greatest rivals and both within their division. It’s sure to be a thrilling holiday season.
