National Football League

Cutler, Williams starting to click for Bears

Published Oct. 28, 2011 4:54 a.m. ET

foxsports

Nearly halfway through the season, the Chicago Bears finally got a glimpse of the passing combination they imagined.

On Sunday, veteran Roy Williams hauled in four passes for 59 yards and his first touchdown for Chicago against Tampa Bay.

Chicago signed Williams to a one-year $2.46 million deal to give quarterback Jay Cutler a taller red-zone target and potential No. 1 receiver threat. But in the first five games, the two hooked up only six times for 81 yards. In the past two games, Williams has one more catch for 28 more yards than he had in the first five.

''We're getting there,'' Cutler said. ''It doesn't happen in one, two games. It takes some time and takes practices and a lot of work and repetition and just getting a feel for what he's going to do on the field and where I want the ball.''

Prior to the season, offensive coordinator Mike Martz said he thought Williams was capable of 70 catches. Later, Martz revised that to say Williams and backup Johnny Knox were capable of 70 to 80 catches.

The numbers might be irrelevant now with Matt Forte dominating the Bears' offense.

Williams battled through a groin strain early in the season. He deemed himself fit for play three weeks ago and has been building momentum.

''Confidence is big in anybody, in anybody in the world, in any occupation,'' Williams said. ''When you feel good, you play good.''

Dropped passes have plagued Williams at times, and he had one early against Tampa Bay. However, he recovered for a 25-yard touchdown catch, his first TD in 14 games.

''Improvement - you wanted to see that from Roy,'' coach Lovie Smith said. ''We knew coming in, a couple nagging injuries, those things, but he played well. And Roy will tell you he can't drop that ball. But, you know, it happens sometimes.

''You've got to be able to put that behind and finish strong, which he did. He did a good job of blocking, too.''

Williams threw a block that helped spring Forte on a 32-yard TD run.

With slot receiver Earl Bennett returning after the bye week to play Nov. 7 at Philadelphia, the Bears will have their full wide receiver corps healthy for the first time since the opener.

''So we've got some pieces coming back,'' Cutler said. ''He's (Bennett) very stable. He's going to be in the right spot. He's going to make plays after the catch.

''He's an every down receiver that I would love to see back on the field.''

The Bears are hoping a full and healthy receiver corps lets Williams get open more in the red zone. He still hasn't made a red-zone TD and that was supposed to be his strength.

''Roy is a bigger receiver that is really physical with corners that gives you an opportunity in certain routes that are a little bit more difficult for smaller guys, like fades at the goal line, those kinds of things,'' Martz said. ''He gives us a little added dimension at the receiver position that's helpful.''