Ben Johnson, in his first year as head coach of the Chicago Bears, gained valuable insight into quarterback Caleb Williams during Williams’ rookie season when Johnson was Detroit Lions’ offensive coordinator. Watching Williams start in two games against Detroit allowed Johnson to evaluate the quarterback’s strengths and pinpoint areas for development ahead of his second <a href="https://www.buzzineintl.com/category/football/nfl/”>NFL season. This firsthand experience, combined with detailed game film study, informed Johnson’s approach to guiding Williams’ progress.
Strengths and Areas Requiring Growth for Williams
Johnson expressed high regard for Williams’ raw talent and ability to deliver exceptional throws that impressed every week. However, he also identified hurdles tied to the typical growing pains of a rookie quarterback.
“I saw a guy with immense potential,”
Johnson stated, highlighting Williams’ occasional struggles with anticipating defensive movements, a skill that improves with repetition and experience. Johnson further pointed out that Williams needs to refine his presnap processes, including adjusting to shifts and motions, which are critical for reading defenses accurately. He noted,
“There were times when his eyes weren’t quite in the right spot.”
Williams’ Rookie Season and Statistical Review
Selected first overall in the 2024 NFL Draft by the Bears, Williams led the team to a 4-2 start before Chicago encountered a 10-game losing streak. According to Pro Football Reference, he finished his rookie campaign ranked 31st among NFL starters in adjusted quarterback rating (46.7) and 33rd in passing success rate at 40.3%. Over the two Detroit games, Williams completed 46 of 79 passes for 590 yards, delivering five touchdowns with zero interceptions, while enduring seven sacks in those contests.
Williams’ Commitment to Protecting the Offense
Williams has openly acknowledged the need to improve his protection of the offensive line after he was sacked a league-leading 68 times last season. Johnson emphasized that part of the plan to assist Williams involves achieving consistency and steadfastness in his pre-snap decision-making. Williams must maintain focus on his reads and timing to reduce pressure on the line and improve offensive execution. Johnson highlighted the importance of this area by saying Williams has to focus on
“being consistent and true to his thought process”
before snapping the ball.
Preparing for the Upcoming Regular Season
As the Bears prepare for their 2024 regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on September 8, Johnson admitted that there hasn’t been an exhaustive breakdown of Williams’ progress on intricate details, but rather a broad focus on overall improvement.
“I don’t know that we’ve sat down and talked through any minutiae like that. We’re just focused on the entirety of it, and getting better in every little area right now,”
Johnson remarked. This approach demonstrates the coaching staff’s eagerness to polish every facet of Williams’ game to boost the Bears’ chances this year.
Implications for the Bears and Expectations for Williams
The Bears enter the season with +160 odds on DraftKings Sportsbook to secure a playoff berth. Should Williams show readiness and poise in their upcoming Monday Night Football game against Minnesota, it could mark a memorable start to Johnson’s first year as Chicago’s head coach and generate optimism among the fanbase. Williams’ advancement will be key as the Bears seek to reverse last season’s struggles and build momentum toward postseason contention.
“I saw a guy with immense potential,” Johnson recently said about Williams, as shared by Albert Breer of Sports Illustrated. “Every week, he made throws that made you drop your jaw a little bit. …But what you also see is a lack of anticipation at times, which — that comes with reps— you gotta do things over and over again. That’s not abnormal for a rookie quarterback. And it’s some of the presnap stuff he could improve on, the shifts, the motions. There were times when his eyes weren’t quite in the right spot.”
—Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears Head Coach
“I’ll be honest with you,” Johnson said about how Williams will look during Chicago’s regular-season opener against the Minnesota Vikings on Sept. 8, compared to where the signal-caller is as of the final Monday of July. “I don’t know that we’ve sat down and talked through any minutiae like that. We’re just focused on the entirety of it, and getting better in every little area right now.”
—Ben Johnson, Chicago Bears Head Coach
Our Reader’s Queries
Q. Was Caleb Williams number 13?
A. He was among six quarterbacks picked in the first round, matching the record set by the 1983 NFL draft. Since Keenan Allen already had the number 13 jersey, Williams chose his high school number, 18, for the NFL. This decision was announced less than 30 minutes after he was drafted.