When it comes to the history of quarterbacks in Chicago, it’s not a good one. People might have seen the infamous graphic of every NFL team’s last 4,000 yard passer, with the Bears as the only team to never have a QB throw for 4,000 yards. However, there’s a growing, indescribable feeling among Bears fans—hope that, for the first time, their team may finally have a franchise quarterback. For the Bears, drafting Caleb Williams has to feel amazing, as his ascension from the beginning of the season to now has been extraordinary.
Caleb Williams Offers Something the Bears Never Had at QB
Caleb Williams has that elusive “it factor” that few quarterbacks possess—and no Bears QB has ever had. When the ball is in his hands, there’s always a chance for a big play. The mark of a great quarterback is the ability to control the game at their own pace, not letting the game dictate their actions. With Williams, his exceptional confidence shines through; he believes he can make the play, no matter the difficulty.
That said, here’s a report on how Caleb Williams has performed through six weeks:
- Consistently distributes the ball
- Shows impressive efficiency and pocket presence
- Works through multiple reads throughout the game
- Can make any throw on the field
- Successfully leads a complex, modern NFL offense
- Struggles with deep ball accuracy at times
- Occasionally takes a sack while trying to extend the play
Williams has certainly made mistakes, especially at the beginning of the season, but what’s most important for a rookie quarterback is whether they’re learning and trending in the right direction. For Williams, he’s clearly developed into one of the top quarterbacks in the league as of recent.
If the four week sample isn't good enough, if we showed that Caleb Williams was the best quarterback in the NFL over the last three weeks, does that satisfy you? https://t.co/TLPmLPwE65 pic.twitter.com/A4OXDDIH8S
— Bill Zimmerman (@BillTZimmerman) October 15, 2024
Latest Performance in London
Caleb Williams delivered his best performance yet against the Jacksonville Jaguars, posting impressive stats in an exceptional showing.
Statistics via Pro Football Focus:
- Kept Clean (64.7%): 19-for-21, 178 yards, 8.5 ypa, 3 TDs, 1 INT
- Under Pressure (35.3%): 4-for-8, 48 yards, 6.0 ypa, 1 TD, 0 INT
- Not Blitzed (82.4%): 20-for-24, 184 yards, 7.7 ypa, 3 TDs, 1 INT
- When Blitzed (17.6%): 3-for-5, 42 yards, 8.4 ypa, 1 TD, 0 INT
To add on, according to Next Gen Stats, Williams ranks among the top 10 most-pressured quarterbacks in the league, yet uses his exceptional quick passing game to his advantage. In the game against Jacksonville, he completed 13 of 14 passes for 111 yards and three touchdowns when releasing the ball in under 2.5 seconds. This high level of efficiency on quick throws helped him achieve career highs in completion percentage (79.3%), completion percentage over expected (+12.5%), and drop-back success rate (58.8%).
While it’s true he played against a struggling Jaguars team, it doesn’t take away from the fact that Williams was able to deliver a strong performance.
Meeting the Standards
Despite the competition becoming increasingly harder later in the season, Caleb Williams will have his moment to prove he can still play well against better teams. He’s well aware of the chatter surrounding him—positive and negative—but isn’t letting it influence his game. Williams’ electric outbursts of emotion during games have radiated throughout the team. Former defensive end Chris Long mentioned on his podcast that the Bears offense is starting to keep up with Williams and establish their identity.
It’s noticeable, the difference between a quarterback holding the team back vs. the team holding the quarterback back. Through the first couple of weeks, it was obvious the Bears were holding Williams back. Now, there’s a newfound cohesion and sparks flying everywhere on the field. The party is just getting started for Williams and the Bears.
Caleb Williams has truly come into his own in recent weeks @betmgm pic.twitter.com/Er5i9qVoCJ
— Green Light with Chris Long (@greenlight) October 15, 2024
Main Image: Kirby Lee – USA Today Sports
