It is natural for a quarterback to have an adversarial relationship with any defense, including his own. That is the nature of football. Beating the defense is what every QB must do. Billy Wade didn’t have the best relationship with the Chicago Bears defense in the 1960s. The same was true for Jay Cutler in the 2010s. A lot of that came from a constant sense that the offense never pulled its weight. So, one could understand if the Bears defense of today was immediately skeptical of Caleb Williams when he arrived.
The #1 overall pick might not be inclined to like them either. After all, his entire career at USC was defined by atrocious defensive play robbing him of a shot at a national title. However, that isn’t the mindset Williams has reached after two months with the Bears. Sure, the defense can be annoying at times. They have a well-earned reputation for talking trash that hasn’t gone away. Still, the quarterback acknowledged that they have made him better in one of the most critical aspects of playing the position.
Josh Schrock of NBC Sports Chicago pointed it out.
If he doesn’t learn how to throw with timing, anticipation, and accuracy, he will never reach the goals he set for himself. NFL defenses are levels above what he saw in the Pac-12. They are fast, agile, and intelligent. He must learn to process quickly, trust his footwork, and not get greedy looking for big plays all the time. The days of always getting away with scrambling are done. Defenses adapt quickly in the NFL. It is good to see Williams acknowledge that reality and already make adjustments to combat it.
The best part is the lessons have only begun. Training camp is ahead. Pads will go on soon, giving Caleb Williams a far more realistic look at what to expect. He’ll also get to go against the Cincinnati Bengals in one such practice. If he remains open-minded and willing to work, he should emerge from the summer as a far better quarterback than he was entering it. Giving credit to the defense for helping to sharpen his skills is just another subtle way to make sure everybody is on the same page.
