One moment always seems to spark the imaginations of coaches and teammates with a quarterback. It is a play that convinces them the kid is legit. There have been plenty of possibilities for Caleb Williams since he arrived to join the Chicago Bears in April. It started with the dot to Cole Kmet while scrambling to his right against Buffalo. There was also the wild screen pass to D’Andre Swift, where he was almost not looking. Then came the over-the-shoulder dime to Rome Odunze against Cincinnati.
Those were all great, but they didn’t show Kmet that Williams was a different breed of quarterback. He spoke to Adam Jahns and Kevin Fishbain of The Athletic about the moment that did it for him. Surprisingly, it wasn’t some wild scramble or a long bomb that featured pinpoint accuracy. It was an interception.
The pick he threw (in camp). I know it’s a pick. But what a crazy throw, and Tyrique (Stevenson) made an unbelievable catch on that. But just those types of throws where he’s stagnant, maybe his feet get caught in the pocket, and he’s able to rotate his hips and create that torque and whip with his arm. It’s a very pitch-like motion for baseball; it’s just really impressive. And he’s able to layer the ball with good touch and feel.
The play in reference was when Tyrique Stevenson made a lunging interception, cutting in front of D.J. Moore. It was a beautiful play. Kmet indicates Williams was in a crowded pocket and unable to step into his throw. Yet he still managed to contort his body to throw what was a perfect pass. If Stevenson doesn’t make that spectacular play, it’s a completion.
Any quarterback can make a good throw if he’s in a clean pocket and can step into his throws. The best ones can avoid pressure, step into the chaos, and still find their target. Patrick Mahomes, Josh Allen, and Aaron Rodgers are other examples of this. Williams isn’t there yet. He has a long way to go. Still, the foundation is there. Many quarterbacks don’t have the natural capability to make such throws. Having that tool in his bag will make life that much easier for the Bears offense.
The key for fans moving forward is patience. That obviously isn’t what they want to hear after decades of mediocrity at quarterback. They want greatness now. Even so, growth comes gradually. Williams will get better with each game he plays. Cole Kmet and others on the roster will work tirelessly to help him along the way. It must be about staying the course. Don’t deviate from the plan, even if things go a little sideways. He must learn how to navigate the highs and lows of the NFL. The league is in trouble if his mental mastery of the game catches up to his talent.
