Everybody stuck to their narratives after Caleb Williams‘ performance on Saturday against the Cincinnati Bengals. Critics lambasted him for his poor start, marked by three straight three-and-outs and the inability to string together completions. Others were enamored with his ability to create magic on the fly, delivering some jaw-dropping throws that resulted in ten points in the 2nd quarter. This is no surprise. People won’t budge from their standing positions until given no other choice.
All the Chicago Bears need to focus on is ensuring Williams keeps developing. While his highlight throws were incredible, there were other signs of progress that people may have missed. One of the most encouraging came on his final drive of the day. He had just completed a pass for 11 yards and a first down to reach the 26-yard line. Williams was seen reading the defense as the Bears came to the line. He immediately makes adjustments to the play, appearing to check into a run to Khalil Herbert. The running back used his blocks to cut back for a 21-yard gain.
Many rookies wouldn’t have had the werewithal or willingness to change the play like that. They would’ve been a good soldier and run the play that was called. Instead, he recognized the Bears had a potential size and numbers advantage based on what the defense showed. Rather than keep the ball in his hands as many quarterbacks would, he did the smart thing and gave Herbert a chance to make a play. It worked out beautifully. Williams delivered his now viral 45-yard dime two plays later to Rome Odunze. Chicago would score a touchdown right before the half.
Yes, Caleb Williams has a ways to go before he becomes more efficient and surgical in his approach as a passer. Nobody should be shocked by that. Rookies almost never operate like that. The Bears needed to see whether he was starting to grasp the intricacies of the offense. The execution will come with time. That run check is a perfect example of what they hoped for. It is a small detail that led to a big result. As Williams mentioned, this is the essence of football. Get enough small details right or wrong, and you get good or bad results.
