Caleb Williams’ impressive return against Falcons wasn’t as perfect as it initially looked, and why that’s a great thing for the Bears
Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams played lights-out in his return to action against the Atlanta Falcons, yet still left more out there even with a near perfect game on the box score.
Before we get into this, let me first say that the game quarterback Caleb Williams had on Sunday was incredible. It was one of the best games he’s ever had for the Chicago Bears and even more remarkable considering he was coming off a three-game absence.
Williams’ play on Sunday against the Atlanta Falcons likely brought a smile to head coach Ben Johnson’s face when the two sat down on Monday to go over the film. Williams processed his reads, didn’t force anything, and played within the structure of the offense.
That’s all the Bears need out of Williams in every game, and when it comes time to win in a clutch moment, that’s when Williams can become Superman. That wasn’t needed for this game, and what Williams showed on Sunday was more Clark Kent than Superman, and that’s perfectly fine.
Caleb Williams play on Sunday should provide a ton of optimism for his growth in this offense
All offseason long, everyone harped on how Williams needs to play more in structure. He needs to learn to stay in the pocket, be more on time with his reads, and throw an accurate football. Many even doubted whether or not he could actually do that.
Williams showed in this game that he absolutely can. When playing from inside the pocket, Williams completed 24 of 27 passes for 255 yards. He was surgical with his reads and finding the open receivers. Even when he had to move out of the pocket (either designed or on a scramble), he still was throwing accurate balls completing six of nine passes for 50 yards and a touchdown.
“I think he just did a good job of taking what the defense gave,” offensive coordinator Press Taylor said. “It didn’t feel like there were forces. I think we had five or six incompletions and most of them were throw aways. And there were times too, honestly, where we felt the throw aways we can a completion that for one reason or another didn’t go there. But, I think you’ve watched him mature and grow in the system.”
That’s exactly what the Bears wanted Williams to show. We saw some glimpses of it in Week 1 but this game really was next level stuff from Williams. Yes, there are a few plays he’d like to have back or he could have seen better, but you’re not always going to be perfect in the NFL. Sunday’s game was as close to perfect as Williams could have been.
“There’s just some days where you see it pretty good,” Taylor added. “You see what the coverage is, you see the concepts come to life pretty well in your mind. I think if you honestly got to sit down with him, I feel like there’s one or two he felt like he could have been even more on time with.”
That’s the scary part. Williams, just like his head coach, is a perfectionist. He strives to be at his best on every single play and isn’t satisfied if he isn’t.
For a good break down on areas where Williams could have improved in a near-flawless game, watch this break down by Hall of Fame quarterback Kurt Warner because I’m sure it’s similar to the conversations Williams and Johnson had today watching the tape.
It’s important to remember, and something Ben Johnson himself noted on ESPN1000, that this has only been a small sample size. It’s something everyone needs to see happen over the course of multiple weeks.
But, this is finally a game you can certainly file into the “best” category for Williams, even if there were ways to be even better. But again, they’re chasing perfection here and you’re not always going to reach that. Landing just below it is a very good spot to be in, especially in your first game back in three weeks and that’s where he was on Sunday. Really really encouraging stuff and I’m excited to see how Williams improves from this.
