Rahimi, Harris & Grote Show
Tim Jenkins breaks down Caleb Williams' performance in Bears' loss to Rams (Hour 4)
20 Jan 2026
Chapter 1: What progress has Caleb Williams made in his second year with the Bears?
Tim Jenkins. I've got people real mad at me in Chicago that how dare you? There's a radio guy up there, Mike North. He was real mad. Founder and CEO of Jenkins Elite. I'm Tim Jenkins and welcome to All Things QB where I watch every single clip and break down the most important ones today. Breaking down the positives and negatives. You've seen progressions that align with the quarterback's eye.
I hope that's what we get more of, but I hope we continue to see some of these concepts and the way we build things are better for the quarterback versus just looks good on paper. Tim Jenkins with Rahimi Harrison-Grody on Chicago Sports Radio 670 The Score. Let's jump into the film.
Let's jump into the film right now with Tim Jenkins. He is our quarterback guru, the founder and CEO of Jenkins Elite. He is at TJenkinsElite on X, and he joins us not just on Twitch, twitch.tv slash Chicago 670 The Score, but the Circa Sports Illinois hotline. Download the Circa Sports app today. Tim, how are you?
I'm doing great. I'm doing great. Probably like everybody, a little bummed still. But yeah, coming out on the other side, you know, starting the seasonal depression. But yeah, coming out on the other side. But this season, the way it ended, how different do you feel about the Bears organization today than you did a year ago?
By the way, it's Happy Ben Johnson Day because this is the day that he was hired one year ago today. Yeah, I think you nailed it. So it was funny because I have become so attached to the Bears and how much I love them now. But here's what I'll say, and this is kind of how I wrapped up my breakdown this week was –
If you were to ask me what you just said, hey, how much more I'm so I can't even measure how much more optimistic I am that they are in a substantially better spot. Right. I feel like you kind of you know, I feel like unless you're a part of the national media and you don't watch the Bears that much, I think, you know, for sure. Hey, Caleb, obviously trending in the right direction there.
From what he started at, just operating this offense week one to the divisional round. Just like tons of growth. You can see he's on the right path. Obviously, it feels like we've got the guy when you watch Ben. What I did say, though, was I said I just don't want to take it for granted. I don't want to just assume. OK, hey, we're going to be back in the playoffs again, right?
This is a huge, you know, you got to climb the mountain every single year. And I do think we want a ton of close games. So to me, it's like, you know, I'm cautiously optimistic.
It's hard for me to sit here and say, man, I for sure see that it's going to be the same next year because, you know, we saw it with a bunch of good teams in the NFL this year where you come in, you feel good about all their pieces and you go, oh, shoot, hey, they didn't make the playoffs last But compared to where I was last season, it's night and day. I think we have all the pieces to do it.
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Chapter 2: How does Tim Jenkins evaluate the Bears' offensive strategies under Ben Johnson?
I'm like, oh, that's the one. That's the one that we're going to talk about. And then, no, it was like six plays later, we're going to backpedal 27 yards and throw a dart. Yeah, I don't know. My thing is... There are so many of them, whether it be the boot throw. I still think the boot one's tremendous. I think some of his throws from the pocket where these things are 25-yard daggers, right?
And they're running their dagger concept at 20, maybe even 25 with Caleb. And you just see the ball is just flat and it's a missile. You know, the one to commit, obviously... It's hard because then you go, man, it just kind of sets you up for more heartbreak. Right. You thought, oh, we did it again. And then all of a sudden, you know, they end up turning it over.
Rams go down, kick the field goal. But that one was insane. And I also think it couldn't have happened to to me. I thought that was a great thing for commit. Right. And again, like Colson Loveland's obviously the guy. Right. And he's going to be more of the receiving threat. But commit and what he's tried to do in the run game and how he's been there, I think all-time teammate, it feels like.
All-time, hey, what's best for our team? I'm going to be in there. I'm going to be in pass, but I'm going to do all this. And then for him to make that play, I thought was super special. But yeah, Caleb, I mean, there's 20, there's 30 throws on this film this year that I don't know if you see those throws anywhere else.
What I will also say in terms of the growth that I want to see this offseason, it feels like he kind of already hinted at it. But the thing that's interesting is If he hits Luther Burden on a speed out on second down, we don't need the fourth down throw. Right. Those are the things that I do think I love that we have a guy that can go out there and make some insane throws.
I do think what we started to see at the end of the year where he was just playing quarterback from the pocket, delivering on time, occasionally sprinkling in the third and fourth down scramble. That is what I think we sometimes take for granted is that's long-term sustainable. He can do that well into his 30s. At some point, you can't run around the same and do all that stuff.
He might be the one guy that it feels like is going to be able to make that transition successfully forever. to where when he gets to the latter part of his career, like what you saw with Rodgers at the end, where the arm talent's there but the movement's limited, he might be fine with that operating this offense as long as he can continue to grow the way he has.
And I think he will this offseason. And that's the one thing I think if you look at the future, hey, if he can come back and – can play on time more accurately. There's some real growth here. And that's kind of scary if you look at it from anyone else's perspective that, hey, this Bears offense is probably just barely scratching the surface of what they can be.
Tim Jenkins joining us as he does each and every week here on Rahimi Harris and Grody. And we got to address it, Tim, that final throw that Caleb Williams made for this season. He, DJ Moore, not on the same page. Tell us what you saw on that play. Help us understand what happened.
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Chapter 3: What are the key areas for improvement for Caleb Williams moving forward?
Caleb Williams, Ben Johnson, play call and execution of like, hey, we just got a big fourth down sneak. We ran the ball. Let's go for the jugular. Right. And it's so easy to second guess and say, man, let's just kind of continue in our offense. Like, let's give me boot. Give me, you know, commit on the short route. Give me Luther Burden in a quick game. Yeah.
You know, it's hard if I'm looking at it from just a strict evaluation standpoint, I see, oh, hey, flatten off the over route. Looks like it's there. But again, I'm not in the building to know, hey, was that the look we were expecting? Is that where we want to go with the football? Should we have gone to Menungai on the, you know, hey, we can check it down to him. There's five yards of space.
It's hard for me to really know. I do like to believe that game on the line chance to go to the NFC Championship. A guy like DJ Moore isn't pulling off his route. because he thinks it's a premier look, right? And there's an argument to be made, which is you never pull off your route no matter what, right? Like they're the purists of it.
And I like to believe that too, the same way I like to believe that I get up at 4.45 every morning, but sometimes the bed feels good and I hit the snooze, right? So to me, it's like, I don't really know. I don't know. Looking at it, I see both sides of it, which is it feels like the safety's already driving down. If I'm DJ, do I pull off it? I also see, shoot, man, if you flatten that thing off,
and I'm playing quarterback, there's a huge void back there. So I get it from that perspective, too. It is one that's hard for me. I mean, it feels like the narrative is that DJ...
messed up dj's horrible let's get him out of here i'm not really sure that i want to go to that camp i don't really feel like that um but i get where people are coming from when they do see the the film copy of it to your point tim and and i agree i thought the conservative play my non-guy you're already nickel and dime they can't stop the nickel and diming of this offense is going down the field to get in field goal range to set up cairo santos but something you just said is
I'm curious because Ben Johnson told us at the beginning of the season he wants Caleb Williams to see the field as he sees it and vice versa.
Is this something where maybe the head coach and the quarterback need to get with that pass catcher's room, the receivers, the tight ends, and make sure they're also seeing coverages and the like in the same way that the quarterback does to make sure this thing doesn't happen in year two of Caleb Williams in this offense? A hundred percent.
And that's the thing is, is it's, you know, it's a huge, I mean, obviously this was a glaring play, right? Cause it ended the bear season, but it's so much deeper than that. There are so many things that need to be addressed and it's not just this, it's everything. Hey, where do I want your slant angle?
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Chapter 4: How did the Bears' performance against the Rams reflect their season's challenges?
it just feels like, oh, okay, hey, you're all the way back at the bottom of the mountain, and it feels like you had a chance, right? It feels like, man, we actually had a realistic chance to win this thing, get to the NFC Championship game. Seattle does look like a buzzsaw, but hey, can the Bears play good defense, not turn it over?
So it does feel like, man, we had a chance, and nothing's guaranteed. What I will say, though, is all the fixable items, we're going into this offseason...
with really addressable things that i feel like are easier fixes than where we've been in past off seasons of hey we got to figure out do we have our quarterback do we have a coach do we have a scheme we believe in all those sorts of things that are 90 of the game we have now we got to tighten up to 10 which is the difference between winning in the divisional round and moving on um
And again, I do think it's addressable. I think you're dead on, though, in terms of Ben and Caleb have to see it one way. And then from there, they have to articulate it to the rest of the building how they want it to be seen.
It's going to be way easier when Caleb is also out there demanding certain things that is aligned with what Ben wants versus just been kind of dictating all of that as Caleb starting to learn it as well.
And Tim, since this is our last official meeting, we are always sad to see you go, but it has been a wonderful season. We heard Caleb Williams say yesterday that he wants to drill down on the footwork and mechanics. As a coach, what would be the homework you give him for this offseason?
Yeah, I mean, what's great is that he said it. It's exactly what he said. He has to tighten up his footwork, and then he has to tie his feet to his progression. If there was anything I would do, right, if you were to say, hey, Caleb's coming to Denver, Tim, here's what you're going to do, it would 100% be give me your top 30 concepts.
And we are going to make sure that we take three visual reps of each of them daily, right? Like, hey, go through your dagger footwork. Okay, boom. Tie your feet to your progression. And then you start working with a football and throwing because you don't want to put 90 throws on his body every single day on kind of base concepts. You can strategically put them where you want them.
But what I tell you is tie his feet to his progression on his top 30, top 40. Make sure that that is drilled in come OTA so that – Next year, when you're going into it, you're going into camp. Hey, you know, you can trust. I've got dagger. I've got cross. I've got all these concepts that he throws all the time.
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Chapter 5: What insights does Tim Jenkins provide on Caleb Williams' standout plays?
Team Jenkins, try to enjoy the free time a little bit. But something tells me that doesn't happen very often in your house.
No, not at our house. Fifth on the way, so fourth boy. So, yeah, we're living the dream. We're living the dream. The downside is there's a lot of pressure because with four boys, I've got to have a first-round pick or people are going to be like, that training sucks. So it's like we're going to have to make sure one of these boys can play a little bit.
I mean, you've got a seven-on-seven team now. So congratulations, of course, with the new expectation on the way, and we will be cheering for you as always.
Y'all are the best.
Thanks, Tim. If you want to see more of Tim Jenkins' breakdown, he had it out quick after the playoff game. You can go to his YouTube channel. It is a fun watch as always. All things QB. Tim Jenkins doing work for us as usual here on 670 The Score. We have a giveaway. I saw you rub your hands together like Birdman. You're excited about this.
I was like giving stuff away. I mean...
That's true.
It's our stuff, not my stuff. It's our stuff.
Well, I mean, it is the one-year anniversary paper. So tickets it is. Caller 6 to the scores contest line 312-540-0670-0670 will score a four-pack of tickets to the 2026 Chicago Auto Show running February 7th through 16th at McCormick Place. For more information and to purchase tickets, visit chicagoautoshow.com.
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Chapter 6: How can Caleb Williams enhance his footwork and mechanics in the offseason?
Really? Did they really lose, though? Apparently they did. Roma Dunzay in the Bears game against the Rams, the 20-17 overtime, quote, loss, end quote. Two catches, 44 yards, six targets on the day for Rome. Now we know, I don't think he was at 100%. I think he was cleared to play. He had that stress fracture. So I'm not putting a lot of pressure on Romadunze to be at his best self in the game.
The notable drop, though, in the end zone, something that stayed with all of us and I think stayed with him as well. Is that safe to say, Marshall? Yes, absolutely. He holds himself to his standard. We know him typically to be better than that in those situations, but the drops have been concern all season. That is something that has plagued not just him, the team.
It's plagued the team, but you could argue he's been the frontrunner because he's got a higher percentage of drops than of anyone who's been targeted as much as he's been targeted in the league.
And it's kind of a hand-in-hand problem when you consider this team drops a lot of balls. We saw it happen in the game Sunday night. The cold had something to do with it, but the drops are something that has had something to do with the season. Romadunze does get targeted often. Ben Johnson called him his blankie. I, for the record, said Olamide Zaccheaus was his blankie. Alameda also had a drop.
But point being, when you're thrown out more, you're going to get more of everything. But theoretically, when you're targeted that much, the idea is that you're not going to drop it. And that gets back to how we assess his season as a whole.
I think overall his season has certainly been a disappointment. And I understand he missed five games because of the stress fracture in his foot. By the way, he says he won't need surgery on that. That's just a rest thing. You rest, let it heal, and then pick up and go. And you're careful on how you rehab it.
But when you look at when he was drafted, number nine overall, when you look at this being his second season, now first in Ben Johnson's offense, but last I checked, people in Ben Johnson's offense have been thriving.
Mm-hmm.
Because the Bears offense is much improved from a year ago. And while everybody else was kind of taking off in the back half of the season, he wasn't playing because of the stress fracture in his foot. And if you look at the number of drops, that's what's concerning about it.
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Chapter 7: What does Tim Jenkins think about the Bears' future prospects?
DJ Moore, obviously, is incumbent with the veteran status. Luther Burden is as much of a challenger as anybody when you see his catches of consequence and how they move Bears drives.
If you watch these players this year... I think people will text us in right now if they want to and let us know they agree with this statement. Luther Burden III was a more effective receiver than Rome Madunze. When the ball came his way, not only did he catch it, but then he made stuff happen after the catch.
There was a part of this season where you and I both said outright Rome was the number one receiver. How did you see that change to where you are right now? Is it just that he missed so many games? That can be the case because of the season as a whole.
I think even it probably started with the game where he didn't have any catches. And obviously he blocked his tail off in that game. And, you know, the Bears put out that video. And obviously that's a part of the game. I mean, let's be honest. He missed a big block.
In Sunday's game, and that's why when DeAndre Swift went airborne, that was the series that got down to first and goal from the five, he couldn't score on fourth down because Rome missed a block or couldn't hold it long enough, however you want to look at it.
Yeah, there are various discussions. Jeff Schwartz, I cite on this, is to, when he looked at the film, do you go inside, do you not go inside? So point being, though, part of his job is to block, and he has been a willing blocker. But when you consider how it all came together, did he take the jump that you would expect an elite receiver to take from year one to year two?
And that's really what it is. It's about knowing the improvement that you can do in your second year, especially under an offensive head coach like Ben Johnson. Was it enough relative to the expectations for him and the rest of the team? And that's where I think the discussion lies. I don't know that he was able to make that leap like we wanted to see.
And yesterday when the Bears were clearing out their lockers, he talked about what his position coach, Antoine Randall-El, told him about what he needs to work on. I think the biggest thing was just obviously making the plays that come to me, making the most of my opportunities.
I feel like this season I had way too many opportunities that I left out there on the field, and that's never been the player I feel like I've ever been in my career. So just capitalizing on those opportunities, but I've got to go into the offseason and put in the work to be able to do those things.
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Chapter 8: What are the implications of Rome Odunze's performance for the Bears' receiving corps?
You just have to be able to make the plays when the plays come your way. And I think the beautiful thing about this is next year, I expect him to be even better offensively. In the career? Yeah, in the career.
Yeah, Rome, still aim high for your career because 5,000 yards should not just be a career total. That is the right attitude. But I am very interested to see what he does in his offseason, what he thinks he needs to work on in order to be his best self.
I think he can be a 1,000-yard receiver, and that's without dominating the number of targets and catches on this team.
Schematically, the only thing that may be stopping him is skiing. Not to be redundant in the redundancy department, but... Sometimes you have to be. When you consider how many different Bears are targeted in various games, we might have a Luther Burton game. We might have a Roman Dunzay game. We might have a Colson Loveland game. And I don't think any of us would be complaining about that.
There is some Bears coaching news to report as well. This is from Matt Zenitz. Boston College offensive coordinator Will Lawing is set to depart the program with the Chicago Bears as a potential landing spot for him, sources tell CBS Sports. I did not tell you how to structure that sentence. Before BC, Long worked for teams like the New England Patriots, Houston Texans, and Alabama.
So I don't know if that necessarily is because of the vacancy that Eric Bien-Aimé is expected to leave when he goes to become the reported offensive coordinator for the Kansas City Chiefs. But that is the vacancy that comes to mind. It could just be another addition, though, to the Bears coaching staff as well.
And also long was teammates with Bears head coach Ben Johnson at North Carolina, as well as Ozzie Trapillo's offensive coordinator at Boston College. Just to give you some background.
Yeah, so there is a history there. And as we know, Ryan Poles is a Boston College guy. So a lot of connections and a reported addition to this Ben Johnson staff. So that is the latest coaching news that we can pass along here on Rahimi Harrison-Grody on 670 The Score. Coming up next, I know we didn't get to everybody's calls yesterday, and I know we didn't get to everybody's meatballs yesterday.
We got a leftover helping of the meatball machine, guys?
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