The Chicago Bears handled their business on Sunday, blowing out the Carolina Panthers 36-10. It was their eighth straight win at Soldier Field and pushed them to 3-2 on the season. It is their first winning record since September of 2022. However, there was a moment during the game where it seemed like frustration was boiling over. The Bears were just past the 50-yard line in Panthers territory during the second quarter. Caleb Williams was directing traffic at the line of scrimmage. It was then that center Coleman Shelton turned and screamed at him.
Some worried it might be a criticism of the rookie quarterback. Was there tension between the two? No. It came from a brief moment of confusion. According to analyst Nate Tice, the initial signal was for a run. The problem was Carolina showed blitz, and the play would’ve gone directly into it. Shelton was shouting a warning. Williams already saw the danger and signaled an audible to Rome Odunze. He was instructed to run an out route. Williams took the snap, faked the hand-off, and fired a pass for an easy four yards.
They constantly talk about communication being vital to offensive execution. A center’s job is to make sure the quarterback is aware of what the defense is showing before the snap. If a blitz is coming, adjustments must be made to counter it. Running into that look would’ve almost certainly resulted in no gain or a loss, putting the Bears behind on the sticks on second down. Shelton’s warning ensured Williams understood the danger. The play call from Shane Waldron likely had built-in adjustments he could make depending on what the defense showed. That out route to Odunze was one of them.
Football is a violent sport. You need to have a certain type of personality to play it: loud, aggressive, and a little nuts. Coleman Shelton offered a prime example. He wasn’t furious with his quarterback. That shout was more like a drill sergeant in the military. He wasn’t yelling at Williams. He was speaking in a voice loud enough so the rookie could hear. You can’t say it didn’t work.
