Most NFL fans probably know the name LeSean McCoy. He was one of the best running backs of his era in the 2010s. Over 12 seasons, he racked up 15,000 yards from scrimmage, made six Pro Bowls, was a two-time All-Pro, and won two Super Bowls. Since retiring, he shifted to work as a TV analyst for FS1. It immediately became apparent that he has zero problems sharing his opinion, even if it might be considered unvarnished. He certainly let Chicago Bears fans hear it when he dismissed Justin Fields as a one-trick pony. Great runner, lousy passer. He immediately declared him a backup when asked about his fate in Pittsburgh after the Bears traded him. However, McCoy’s stance drastically shifts when Caleb Williams becomes the topic.
The former running back has been a fan of the new Bears quarterback since he was at USC. His talent as a passer was hard to ignore. The question was always whether Williams could learn to master the intricacies of being a pocket guy. After watching him for the past two weeks, McCoy is more convinced than ever that Chicago didn’t just get a good quarterback. They got a future Hall of Famer.
Sure, the arm strength and accuracy are often sights to behold. However, the most incredible thing is how much the #1 overall pick has mastered things before the snap. Many times over the past few weeks, it was evident Williams was changing plays and adjusting protections to counter every look from the defense. The fact that Chicago has scored 30+ points in back-to-back games suggests he is doing a good job. Also, Williams has been excellent at going through progressions from the pocket, finding the open man, or checking it down if nobody is open.
He looks like a pro. It has only been six games. This was supposed to take two or three years. It might be time to start reevaluating what happened at USC. People said Caleb Williams leaned on his scrambling ability too much. He was in love with it. Given how the Trojans look this year, it appears Williams was doing it more out of necessity, compensating for an underwhelming roster. He could’ve played more from the pocket had the supporting cast been better. Now that he has one in Chicago, we’re seeing the “real” player. If McCoy, who played with Tom Brady and Patrick Mahomes, is excited, we should be too.
