The Chicago Bears came into the season with high expectations. After going 7-10 last year, the Bears held the number one pick and used it to select what many believed to be a can’t-miss prospect in USC’s Caleb Williams. In addition to picking up Williams, the Bears drafted star wide receiver Rome Odunze and traded for veteran wide receiver Keenan Allen. Most considered Williams to have the best situation of any top pick in NFL history, considering the Bears brought back a top-ranked defense.
The team is 4-5 this season and has a slim chance of making the playoffs. The season has been a major disappointment, and fans are beginning to question if the Heisman Trophy winner was the right choice to lead the franchise. This week, contributors Jacob Hypke, Umar Syed and Steffen White give their takes on the Bears newest quarterback.
Yes, don’t count him out yet
By Steffen White
Despite his struggles, you cannot give up on Caleb Williams yet. He has only played nine NFL games. Has he struggled? Sure. However, dismissing that his offensive coordinator, Shane Waldron, was just fired for calling a stagnant offense would be ignorant. If you haven’t seen it, check out the viral clip of Jaxon Smith-Njigba’s reaction to being asked about him.
In addition, this offensive line couldn’t stop a nosebleed, giving Williams no time to go through his progressions. He has been sacked three or more times in seven of nine games so far this year. The only defenses who did not sack him more than twice were the Titans in his first NFL game. We saw what made Williams worthy of the number one pick in college, and you cannot give up on that kind of talent halfway into his rookie season. Give it time, Bears fans. It will all work out.
It’s too early to tell
By Jacob Hypke
It’s hard to judge a rookie quarterback with only nine games under his belt. Early in the season, Williams showed the ability to improve on a game-by-game basis during weeks one through six. The results weren’t always on his side due to poor play-calling or blocking, but to the eye, you could tell he was improving.
Like most rookie quarterbacks, Williams has flaws. He holds the ball too long, resulting in unnecessary sacks. He also has poor deep-ball accuracy, resulting in tons of unrealized air yards for Odunze. These air yards indicate the success the duo will have once Williams improves his deep-ball accuracy, as most quarterbacks do in their second and third years. It’s too early in his career to know if Williams was the right selection, especially given the Bears’ long history of organizational malpractice and quarterback ruin.
No, I’ve seen enough
By Umar Syed
The Chicago Bears have put all their hopes in Caleb Williams and have made it seem that he is the one who will save the Bears’ franchise and lead them to a Super Bowl. William is not the answer to the Bears’ problems, though. While he has elite arm strength and can throw the ball in the pocket, Williams’ height makes him a liability, seeing as he is not the typical height for the position.
Williams panics under pressure and he lets his emotions dictate his game. He hasn’t scored a touchdown in the Bears’ last 23 drives. Williams lets outside noise impact his play and it seems he needs to trust D.J. Moore or Allen to catch the ball. In clutch situations with the game on the line, I do not trust him to go and get the win, especially if it’s against a team like the Lions, Packers or Vikings. Yes, he is a Heisman winner and was good in college, but the NFL is a new animal. What he did in college won’t work at this level.
