Odunze on Bears offensive mentality after loss: “We’re not happy with it” |
CHICAGO—The Chicago Bears did not have much going right in their 29-9 loss against the Arizona Cardinals. However, one player seemed to show up to the game ready to perform—rookie receiver Rome Odunze, who had five receptions for 104 yards. It marked his second game with at least 100 receiving yards; he also has the most receiving yards out of anyone on the Bears through the first eight games.
Odunze was the only receiver against Arizona with at least 40 receiving yards. Chicago had 286 total yards through the air and on the ground, meaning Odunze had almost half of those yards. The offensive productivity was lacking the entire game, as the Bears failed to find the end zone for the first time this season. Odunze said that the team is not happy with their performance and it is a matter of being consistent. “Of course weren’t not happy. We’re not happy with it. I think we expected a lot more from ourselves and this unit as a whole and those are things we need to correct immediately and it starts with the details (going) into this week, preparing for the Patriots and being locked in on all the details and of our job and as a unit, as a whole. At the end of the day, it takes all 11 doing their job to perfection to have one successful play. So, everyone needs to hone in on those things and collectively come together, have that belief in one another that we can get the job done and I believe we can,” Odunze said. “I think it’s a consistency aspect to it. I think we need to consistently be our A-game and be able to execute play-in and play-out through four quarters and I think we need to have that belief as well that through the rough times, through rough patches in the offense, that we can overcome those things within a game. It’s never going to be a perfect drive or exactly how, defense is lined up, exactly how the play is supposed to go. But, having the willpower and the confidence that we can overcome those things regardless of the situation with the stars that we have on this team, I think, is really important for our identity going forward.” This lack of offensive productivity is not new. In every road game this season, Chicago has failed to score at least 20 points; nine points against Arizona was a season-low for the Bears. A large reason for Chicago's dismal offensive performance, which is even worse on the road, is the play-calling from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. However, head coach Matt Eberflus maintained he is sticking with Waldron as the play caller and Odunze believes Waldron is doing a great job. “I think Shane’s doing a great job. I think he is consistently working his tail off to put us in the right positions, and it’s a tough position to be in as an offensive coordinator. There’s a lot of different aspects you have to think about,” Odunze said. “But, I know through his work ethic he’s doing his best to put us in the best situations and best circumstances to have success. So, I have full confidence in Shane and what he’s able to do. We just all need to come together and buy into that plan and buy into that belief in one another from coaches, players, players within players, coaches within coaches, to have that success.” Returning home to play the New England Patriots this coming Sunday (Noon/FOX) should give Chicago a chance to get back on track before playing in their first division game against the Green Bay Packers on Sun. Nov. 17 (Noon/FOX).
