The season hasn’t gone as expected for the Chicago Bears and rookie quarterback Caleb Williams. What was supposed to be a season filled with optimism has quickly diminished, and Williams has been the center of attention. The consensus No. 1 draft choice hasn’t lived up to expectations, and former Super Bowl-winning head coach Jon Gruden shared his unfiltered thoughts on Williams.
Jon Gruden Shares Unfiltered Thoughts on Bears QB Caleb Williams
During a Pardon My Take podcast, Jon Gruden shared his thoughts on Caleb Williams:
“He [Caleb Williams] is going to be a hell of a player unless we [Chicago Bears] screw it up. Let’s be honest with you. You’ve had a lot of guys come through here but this guy’s a unique talent. Right now, he needs support and he needs it most from his coach and the blue chip leaders we have on the team. I don’t know what kind of leadership they have on this Bears football team. I think they’re all searching for an identity but we better figure it out. But you gotta get excited about Caleb Williams and keep putting your arm around this guy and challenging him and helping him get through it.”
Honestly, the Bears are screwing this up. How can a consensus top draft pick who garnered comparisons to Patrick Mahomes suddenly lose all his swagger on the field? It’s coaching. This coaching staff is doing the same things they did that messed up Justin Fields’ career. Instilling the stigma that throwing interceptions and turning the ball over is the worst thing that can happen. It ruined Fields’ career, and now it’s starting to ruin Williams.
The Big Issue Caleb Needs to Work On
Pardon My Take host Big Cat proceeded to ask Jon Gruden, “What do you see on the tape that’s bad.” Here’s what Gruden responded with:
“There’s too much of him [Caleb]. There’s 40 times he’s carried the ball, 40 times he’s been sacked. I just encourage him to get rid of the ball. Sometimes the best play you can make is throwing the ball away because that’s the only good play you can make. I think he’s waiting for receivers to get open and I think it’s hurting him. A lot of the sacks are on the quarterback holding the ball. You can’t blame the offensive line for all of these.”
It’s true. As much as the blame should be on the coaching staff, part of the Bears’ struggles has been entirely on Caleb Williams. It’s easy to criticize how bad the offensive line is, how receivers aren’t creating separation, or how the offensive playcalling hasn’t worked, but it’s also been on Williams’ not getting rid of the ball. It’s hard to gain momentum on offense when it’s second and manageable, and Williams takes an 11-yard sack.
It sucks to throw the ball away, but this is the NFL. It’s hard to hold the ball for over three seconds and expect a clean pocket. That’s just the reality of it. So let’s hope new offensive coordinator Thomas Brown can help Williams get back on the right path, and the offense starts to take some positive strides.
Read More: Chicago Bears’ Identity Crisis: Trapped in a Cycle of Mediocrity
Main Image: Mike Dinovo – USA Today Sports
