Chicago Bears wide receiver Rome Odunze is entering a pivotal third season, where he’ll be tasked with holding the attention as the team’s top wideout following DJ Moore’s trade to the Buffalo Bills this offseason. But the former ninth overall pick has plenty to prove after two so-so seasons.
Odunze appeared poised for a breakout season after a fast start in the first five games, where he totaled 24 receptions for 296 yards and five touchdowns. But a lingering foot injury, which forced him to miss some time, halted that potential breakout year.
One of the biggest concerns for Odunze so far has been drops. He had five drops on 99 targets last season (including the playoffs). But former Cincinnati Bengals receiver T.J. Houshmandzadeh, who trains Odunze during the offseason, doesn’t believe the drops should be an issue moving forward.
“The way Rome caught the ball in college, I would always tell my guys, Rome was playing with six fingers. Everybody else is playing with five,” Houshmandzadeh said, via ESPN’s Courtney Cronin. “He caught the ball so effortlessly. Great hand-eye coordination in college. When you start dropping the ball in the NFL, you’re pressing. It’s your concentration. You’re not getting many opportunities. So when opportunity comes, you start to press. And I don’t really worry about guys who drop the ball [when] I know [they] have good hands.
“Him catching and dropping a ball, on a scale of one to 10 concern, it would probably be a zero.”
With Moore’s departure and a relatively young receiver room also featuring Luther Burden III, rookie Zavion Thomas, Jahdae Walker and veteran Kalif Raymond, Odunze is stepping into an expanded role in this Ben Johnson offense. If Odunze can fix the drop issues, he’ll be primed for a breakout year and take hold of that WR1 spot.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: T.J. Houshmandzadeh sounds off on Bears WR Rome Odunze’s drop concerns
