>> Hibernation is almost over as the Bears gear up for their first regular season game against the Panthers this Sunday, the Bears are coming off their best showing in years finishing atop the NFC north for the first time since 2018 and ending their season.

Just 2 wins away from the Super Bowl.

The team enters this season with high expectations under quarterback Caleb Williams and head coach Ben Johnson joining us to break it all down is James Big Cat Williams, former offensive lineman for the Chicago Bears.

Welcome back.

James, good to see you.

Thanks for having had the season.

I guess.

>> Okay.

So Bears fans are going to be looking for their ice man, Caleb Williams to have another great season.

He's recently shown he can take the heat.

Also.

>> On a hot ones anyways, year's Madden cover athlete.

He's sitting at the 8th best odds to win the NFL MVP award.

Are you expecting him to live up to those expectations?

>> I think it's growing every year.

We saw in the 2004.

Over 3500 yards last year is over.

3900 yards.

And I think we're looking for him to make a jump and having been jobs, coach with Johnson and his corner.

good predictor of what he should You know, co-stars always talks about he was from the have 60% completion rate battle propel offense for world.

This is the year to see a book.

You have pieces of places for running backs wide receivers tight couple questions on the offensive line.

But hopefully those things, Lauren themselves out work.

look for him to have a good season this year.

>> No Bears quarterback has ever reached 4,000 yards passing in a season.

I think you can do it.

I think you I think you be just as happy if they went to the Super Bowl we have 3200 yards passing.

>> But, you quarterbacks are.

Value by how many yards, how many touchdowns, how many the lack of interceptions so to see him put all these things together to produce a good season for the Bears.

It's exciting.

>> Ok, Ben Johnson, though he's got some.

He's got his sights set pretty high above the Super Bowl Super Bowl saying last week, quote or last month, excuse me, quote, I want to have the highest-scoring offense ever which happens to be the 2013 Denver Broncos.

I know how many points per game they scored.

37.9 and I want to surpass them.

I won't shut out.

I want blowouts.

>> That's a big statement.

haul.

That's a big statement.

You look at the way that he won last year as far as the one point game, score games that they the last minute wins that they had.

It's not something that I think you can sustain over the years, but if the offense is stronger and the defense can play up to par, get a few turnovers play a little better on that defensive line.

And they did last year.

Who knows?

Because of If that defense can create turnovers, now it's more more times offense has to drive down the field to put points on the board will.

How is offensive line looking after centered on and sudden retirement?

>> Well, you always wonder where a center leaves how the offensive line is going to jail because that center position is the leader of all.

He's the one that puts the room and the right block of News.

Weather Bureau.

Other past warmer pointing out the mike linebacker could change depending on what the focus is for >> you're talking about a guy who is now being asked to come in and run the entire show worth it all.

4 guys for quarterback that he's always been with for a couple months.

So if he's able to perform, I think the Bears line will do well.

They still have a little bit of the season making a make over to left tackle position.

But it seems like Braxton Jones will be their starter going into the first game book, you know, trip alone has rehabbed and they're looking for the comeback.

>> Last season, the Bears won 7 games after trailing with 2 minutes or less to play.

I think we all remember those few games.

Do you expect that to continue or is this coast Johnson going to be looking to get out in front, start leading the season?

No, I think they're going I don't think it was his intention not to get out in front last year, but they just weren't able to do it.

I think they're going to make a concerted effort to get it done this year because >> I think the defense is going to be a little further behind that offensive if they're able to go out there put up some points if they're able to go out there and hold onto the ball.

It bodes well for the Bears.

You know.

So yes, I could.

I could see putting up quite a few points.

All right.

So talking defense a little more because the story of last season was a side great at generating turnovers.

Not so great at stopping the run.

>> How is this year's defense looking to improve?

You have to love personnel very.

>> Have sounded very confident in the people as they have on the defense now as a collection.

I don't think there's anyone in there that they're saying stands out.

But they're saying as a group they can play they can get the things that they need to get dark.

So it'll be all about the You know, what type with says they want a because what they do to refuse people as far secondary goals were, you know, it's safeties down in the box safeties off the corner quarter blitzes.

>> You know, the different things that they want to throw out of defensively.

It's going to be they're going to need to put on a good performance because if you have an offense is trying to put this really points up.

You're going to be the defense to roll along with him for?

Well, yeah, OK in the Bears also have got a few injuries this year.

wide receiver dunes, a quarterbacks tyrique Stevenson and Jalen Johnson.

>> And running backs D'Andre Swift and Kyle minimum guy.

How are in a jury injuries going to play a role in the season opener this weekend for injuries are always a shirts with women practice this week.

So >> they went through or practice yesterday.

So hopefully, you know, both of those guys are ready for the work.

Will, but they will curl that will occur on Sunday.

You listen Coach Dawson talk.

I think it was yesterday he talked about as far as the wide receivers go.

He might not know Thursday.

>> Who's going to be starting guys and what packages things like that.

So that's a little bit of a concern.

But you're talking about a wide receiver ruled that is packed with power that it has.

A lot of young guys are ready to shine.

So we'll see if they get their moment.

Alright, 30 seconds left predictions for the NFC North this year.

>> The Bears going make a run at the Super Bowl.

Yes or Yeah.

I think the Bears have an opportunity you know, this is a tough division.

They're going to have to deal with Detroit.

They're going to have to deal with Green Bay.

>> They're going to have see what Minnesota has to offer.

So there's a lot more our division, but they do have the ability win division.

Make up for the But it's about how healthy you are, how cohesive, you know, your 2 units are as