Despite all the hype that surrounded Chicago Bears rookie sensation Caleb Williams as he entered into the NFL after a Heisman-winning run at USC, there were always going to be some growing pains. Williams has played two games into his NFL career and so far, there have been some nice flashes.
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But there have also been a lot of small mistakes that need to be corrected. Williams said that he has been working on correcting them as he tries to help the Monsters of the Midway win this season.
“Obviously I had the two stupid mistakes that won’t happen again,” Williams said of his two interceptions in Chicago’s 19-13 loss Sunday to the Houston Texans. “But I think rhythm, pass game, getting the ball to receivers, I think I got better with getting the ball out of my hands, trying to stay in the right range of timing, the offensive linemen, myself, and the routes, I think those are the few spots I’ve gotten better at.”
Chicago is 1-1 on the season, but their only win did come with the defense and special teams helping out a lot. Williams has struggled to find consistency so far in the NFL, which isn’t exactly unusual for a rookie quarterback.
Through his first two games, he has completed just 56.1 percent of his passes, throwing for 267 yards and the aforementioned two interceptions. He has also taken nine sacks, an indicator that despite the Bears’ best efforts, they still have problems with the offensive line.
However, Williams has also caused some problems. He has held onto the ball for far too long at different times, trying to play hero-ball.
It’s similar to how he played in college, with both the University of Oklahoma and later USC. But in the NFL, he will learn and has learned that it’s a completely different game.
The speed and physicality of the game are different, with one small mistake being magnified. Williams will have to understand that taking what the defense gives him, even if it’s just a simple four-year check-down, will add up over time.
It’s good that he has acknowledged his mistakes, showing that he is accountable for his poor performance so far.
“Play your game, play within the way that we need to play, the way that I need to play for the offense, be efficient and make less mistakes each week. Don’t make the same mistake over and over,” Williams said.
Being the No. 1 overall pick is a lot of pressure, but Williams has handled it well so far, even without the results on the field to show it. He will have another chance to show what he can do when the Bears take on the Indianapolis Colts this weekend.
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