Caleb Williams
(AP Photo/Kamil Krzaczynski)

Caleb Williams Improving, Still a Work in Progress

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterSeptember 30, 2024

The Bears’ offense has been a hot mess due to a lack of execution, an inability to run the ball, poor pass protection, and exasperating play-calling. Fair or not, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams shares the blame with offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus. He’s also had to shoulder expectations that at times seem unfathomable. That Jayden Daniels is off to such a hot start for the Commanders isn’t helping. I saw one post that said, “Commanders C.J. Stroud-ed the Bears Into Taking Williams.”

That’s not true, of course. GM Ryan Poles had a pretty good idea he was going to trade Justin Fields and draft Williams as soon as the 2023 season concluded. It doesn’t matter if Daniels ends up having a better career as long as Williams helps to make the Bears perennial winners.

Some fans have called Williams a wasted draft pick, comparing him to Bryce Young of Carolina. The Bears host the Panthers next Sunday where Williams will be facing Andy Dalton instead of Young. The second-year quarterback, who was the top draft pick a year ago, has a 44.1 passer rating. He was replaced by ex-Bear Dalton after two starts.

Williams started poorly this season but continues to improve each week. His passer rating in Chicago’s Week 1 win over the Titans was 55.7 and just 51.8 in a Week 2 loss to the Texans. The rookie signal caller threw for 363 yards with a passer rating of 80.1 in a Week 3 loss to the Colts. Williams was better and far more efficient in Sunday’s 24-18 win over the Rams. He connected on 17 of 23 passing attempts for 157 yards and a TD, good for a 106.6 rating.

You could see the game slowing down for Williams in the second half. He made quick decisions and moved the ball confidently and efficiently. He also took shots downfield when they were there and checked down when he had to. Williams took only three sacks and didn’t turn the ball over, which is precisely the kind of progress the Bears want to see.

Williams made two of the best throws in his young NFL career during Chicago’s second-half surge. He hit D.J. Moore for a score with a nine-yard dart from a very tight pocket late in the 3rd quarter to give the Bears a 17-9 lead. Williams then hit Cole Kmet in the final quarter up the seams for 22 yards on a second-and-10 play. D’Andre Swift scampered 36 yards for a touchdown on the very next play. The Bears lacked an offensive identity until that drive, and Williams displayed how dangerous he can be once he finds his rhythm.

The “wow-factor” throws will always be part of the rookie’s arsenal, but he’s a better quarterback and looks much more seasoned when he properly manages the offense. Waldron and Eberflus are asking Williams to play with structure and patience, something he never had to do at USC. The Bears asked Fields to do the same and he failed. Williams already has a full grasp of the nuances of Chicago’s offense after four games. Justin Fields was fun to watch but never seemed to find a similar familiarity under Luke Getsy.

Williams’s detractors will point to his counting statistics against the Rams and bemoan a perceived lack of production. That type of opinion is usually reserved for the less knowledgeable fans. What matters most is that Williams didn’t try to force any plays that weren’t there.

“He was better because I thought he looked down the field for the shots,” Eberflus said after the game. “When we weren’t there, he took the check-downs, and we got a lot of yards on those. I think that was better for him.

“Again, he’s going to keep improving every single week. But I do think that for him, the operation of the ball, honoring the football, and taking care of the football is the No. 1 job of the quarterback, and he did an excellent job of that today.”

Williams still has his flaws. He sometimes tends to rush throws and can hang onto the ball a little longer than he should. He’s also off-target a little too much, though he’s improved his accuracy significantly since Week 1.  But, he honors his pocket and doesn’t look to run if his first read isn’t there. That’s the biggest difference between Williams and Fields.

The TD pass he threw to Moore was a savvy read throw. Williams saw the Rams’ defense trying to cover Moore with a linebacker and struck. The completion to Kmet was another example of Williams reading and understanding the coverage. As far as properly checking down, Swift led Chicago with seven receptions for 72 yards. As a receiver, Swift outpaced the combined totals of Moore, Keenan Allen, and Rome Odunze. That’s not ideal, but Swift was all but unstoppable on Sunday, torching Los Angeles to the tune of 165 all-purpose yards.

Williams is still not a finished product and that’s completely okay. Don’t forget the Bears lost Teven Jenkins during Sunday’s game and committed too many penalties. Most rookies will fold under those circumstances, but Williams leaned on his game plan and stayed the course. He flashed poise, toughness, and a blue-collar sentiment that will endear him to the fanbase. There’s still work to be done, no doubt, but Williams is on the right track and his trajectory through four games is impressive.

Photo of Michael Canter Michael CanterSeptember 30, 2024
Bears Insider © Copyright 2024, All Rights Reserved
Back to top button