Effectively, Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams obtained into triple-digits passing on Sunday evening?
That is not more likely to make anybody really feel higher when Williams’ last stat line in opposition to the Texans in Houston was 23 of 37 for 174 yards, no touchdowns and two interceptions. Williams did lead his first landing drive for the Bears. It was an eight-play, 49-yard sequence that was capped off with a two-yard landing run by Khalil Herbert.
There have been incremental enhancements.
However there is no method round how ugly the ultimate outcome appeared, particularly within the second half and particularly in direct comparability with the league’s Offensive Rookie of the Yr on the other sideline. With the roster and scenario Williams was coming into, there have been expectations all throughout Chicagoland that Williams would find yourself having a 2023 C.J. Stroud-type season this yr.
And he nonetheless may. It wasn’t all sunshine and rainbows for Stroud in his first season. To not point out, Stroud’s 2023 season should not be the expectation for any rookie. He was the exception, not the rule.
However for posterity’s sake, let’s have a look again on Stroud’s first season: Stroud took 11 sacks in his first two video games. He additionally handed for 626 yards and two touchdowns in that span.
Williams has taken 9 sacks to this point this season, with a whopping seven of them approaching Sunday evening. It was a mixture of issues, with Williams holding the ball a bit too lengthy, his offensive line and offensive line scheme failing him, the play calling not doing Williams any favors. The Bears are nonetheless trying to find a run recreation. We did not see sufficient screens or fast passes for my liking.Â
As an alternative, Williams went 0-for-7 on cross makes an attempt over 15 yards. There was a play-action the place Williams needed to flip his again to the protection solely to must whip round and course of/reset shortly.Â
Oh yeah, and the Texans recorded an insane 36 pressures on the evening, in keeping with NFL’s Subsequent Gen Stats.Â
Williams was pressured on 36 dropbacks. He tried 37 passes. Oof.
What was purported to be the most effective scenario round a quarterback taken first total hasn’t been by the primary two weeks of the season. The Bears did not must pay the worth going up in opposition to the Tennessee Titans in Week 1, nonetheless pulling out a win because of the protection and particular groups. However in opposition to the AFC South favorites in primetime, it was a complete totally different ball recreation.
What’s extra, the protection almost pulled it off a second time.
Williams and the Bears offense may need struggled in Week 1, however Week 2 was Williams’ “Welcome to the NFL” recreation. We noticed Williams be taught in actual time the issues he can and might’t get away with within the professionals.
As an example, a prayer thrown up within the first half that may have been accomplished in school ended up being intercepted. Williams was bailed out by a Texans’ defensive holding penalty on that one however it was an in depth name. Williams’ Houdini-esque escape makes an attempt which he was so good at doing at USC, resulted in a sack and an precise interception on this recreation.Â
Williams joked that he was “slightly bruised up” after the sport. It is nothing severe however it’s laborious to disregard absolutely the defeat on his face towards the tip of the sport after being harassed by the likes of Danielle Hunter and Will Anderson all evening. That they had three sacks between the 2 of them.
It isn’t that Williams does not have the expertise all of us noticed in school. It isn’t that he cannot elevate the crew round him. It is simply that he hasn’t had sufficient time to completely grasp it himself. The system must be second nature in order that when stress is bearing down on him, he does not must assume so as to make the fitting resolution.Â
That being mentioned, the Bears roster all of us talked about being cohesive and full this offseason wants to begin taking part in prefer it. There is not any purpose Williams needs to be going through 36 pressures in a single recreation. Veteran gamers cannot be false beginning and incurring penalties. The offense needs to be extra balanced from a play-calling standpoint. Within the early days, Williams wants to have the ability to lean on his crew as he is creating. It should not be his job to hold the crew so early.
However Stroud was in a position to do it, anyway.
Positive, Stroud had larger yardage totals. However the Texans nonetheless misplaced video games within the early aughts. They had been 3-4 to begin the season and misplaced their first two. Even because the yr went on, there have been nonetheless hiccups. Stroud threw for zero touchdowns in a loss to the Carolina Panthers in Week 8. He adopted it up with a five-touchdown recreation in opposition to the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in Week 9. Stroud had a 54.8 passer ranking in a Week 14 loss to the Jets the place he additionally suffered a concussion. He got here again in Week 17 to trounce the Titans and end the season with two straight wins to earn the Texans a spot within the postseason.
The purpose I am making is that progress is not linear. That is one thing I saved stressing all through the offseason and into the preseason. With a brand new scheme and new items and a new-to-the-league quarterback, I mentioned it may not look good to start with. I am not going to make any sweeping conclusions about this crew till at the very least the midway level — and neither must you.
It is two weeks. The Bears are 1-1. The protection is taking part in out of their minds.Â
Simply give it extra time and we may but be gushing about Williams like we do about Stroud with the good thing about hindsight. It is simply too early to be leaping ship but.
Alter your expectations, Chicago, and simply search for incremental enhancements for now.
Carmen Vitali is an NFL Reporter for FOX Sports activities. Carmen had earlier stops with The Draft Community and the Tampa Bay Buccaneers. She spent six seasons with the Bucs, together with 2020, which added the title of Tremendous Bowl Champion (and boat-parade participant) to her résumé. You possibly can comply with Carmen on Twitter at@CarmieV.Â
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