Bears rookie OG James Daniels earns 'plus signs' in NFL debut on offense
It took rookie James Daniels, who just turned 21 years old a few weeks ago, some time over the summer to get assimilated to NFL speed going against the likes of Akiem Hicks and Co. in practice while learning a new offense. He began at left guard and was cross-trained at center but never really threatened Eric Kush's starting OLG status throughout camp and the preseason.
Daniels needed only five plays into his NFL debut on offense in Week 4 vs. the Bucs to show the dynamic movement skills and refined technique that made him the 39th overall pick in the draft and an all-conference center at an NFL O-line factory in the University of Iowa.
Daniels earned the right to rotate series with Kush, logging 27 snaps Sunday following a strong week of preparation. He earned the praise of '85 Bear and radio color analyst Tom Thayer for the way his play, including pulling on only his fifth NFL rep across the center to occupy former All-Pro LB Lavonte David and spring Tarik Cohen around the edge for 19 yards on a run play that was initially designed to go inside.
"When you're talking about a pulling offensive lineman, it starts with their stance," Thayer told PFW on Wednesday. "So he has a very good, balanced stance. And being able to get out from the line of scrimmage with a little bit of depth and speed and track your responsibility - that's the second part of it. He made contact, he was able to sustain time and movement for the back to make an adjustment off him. So everything that he did getting into the position to make the block was properly done."
Thayer said Daniels earned mostly "plus signs" Sunday, when his opening drive included that terrific run block and spanned seven plays and 73 yards, capped with a 14-yard anticipation touchdown throw from Mitch Trubisky to Allen Robinson. Of course, in the Bears' most dominant home victory in 38 seasons, a 48-10 undressing of Tampa, there were plenty of plus signs to go around.
But not everyone was making their debut on offense like Daniels, who after the game credited his teammates - including Kyle Long and Charles Leno - for keeping him grounded and reminding him that football is football and to try and replicate the practice habits that got him on the field Sunday.
"So when I was out there, the only thing I was thinking about was my technique, coming off the ball, hands, things like that," Daniels said afterward.
Bears OL coach Harry Hiestand confirmed Monday that Chicago will emerge from its bye and begin Week 6 preparations for the visit to the Miami Dolphins with Daniels and Kush continuing to rotate.
"The plan is to stay the course and it depends on, each week, your preparation," Hiestand said. "If they prepare the right way, then we'll continue the way we did."
That wouldn't be the case if Daniels hadn't shown that he's now ready for NFL speed - mentally and physically.
"He is capable of doing everything," Thayer said. "He had one-on-one blocking assignments. He had assignments that he had to read during the cadence where it was going to affect his responsibilities, both in the run and pass game.
"If you would've seen slow get-offs with the snap count, if you would've seen mental errors, then you would have concern."
Warranted or not, there was at least a bit of early concern among fans regarding Daniels' inability to displace Kush despite the veteran playing very well two years ago in spot duty and being penciled in as the starter to begin last season prior to a season-ending hamstring injury sustained last August.
Kush might be the weak link of Chicago's interior OL - a team strength through four games - but Thayer said Kush "never is going to give anything up easily," adding that he's among the most perseverant players on the Bears.
Nonetheless, the Bears drafted Daniels because they think he'll be a long-term starter on the inside, and his very early returns, much like the 2018 Bears as a whole, are very positive.
"The interesting thing for Daniels going back to when he began here in OTAs and training camp is the solid progression that he's made," Thayer said. "Sometimes you have guys who have qualities to be a starter at one position but maybe an average backup at the other. I think Daniels has the ability to be a quality offensive lineman at either [guard or center].
"I really like what he's been able to achieve until this point."