Caleb Williams arrived in the NFL with scouting reports saying pretty much the same things. He’s an accurate passer who is at his most dangerous when improvising outside the pocket. It is why he keeps earning comparisons to Patrick Mahomes. This is probably why his biggest critics keep mentioning that he hasn’t proven himself enough as a pocket passer. Until that changes, they aren’t willing to accept the idea he will be anything special in the pros. One person who isn’t so sure of that criticism is Tony Romo.
The four-time Pro Bowler is the all-time leading passer in Dallas Cowboys history. So he knows a thing or two about playing high-level football in the NFL. He spent time watching tape of Williams at USC. He saw the same things other evaluators did. However, he took things a step further. During an interview on Cousin Sal’s Winning Weekend for FanDuel TV, Romo stated that Williams has some of the best fundamentals he has seen from a young quarterback coming out of college in a long time.
Footwork is among the biggest. Quarterbacks need smart, disciplined feet to help navigate the pocket and improve their accuracy on throws. That was a persistent issue with Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields. They never really had disciplined feet during their respective stints in Chicago. If Romo is current, Williams is already well on his way to solving that problem. There was plenty of evidence in the preseason to back up his assessment. The Bears quarterback moved well in the pocket and never let his feet wander.
There will be times when he suffers breakdowns. It is inevitable as he adjusts to the NFL’s speed and complexity. Still, it appears he already has a solid foundation from which to work. Even Tony Romo can’t claim that. He arrived as an undrafted free agent in 2003 and didn’t see the field until 2006. That is how long it took before coaches felt he was ready. Williams won’t need nearly as much time, based on what he says. That is great for the Bears’ prospects this season.
