Caleb Williams' Development Continues Amid Inconsistencies

Caleb Williams' performance as the Chicago Bears' quarterback continues to draw mixed reactions following his recent game against the Pittsburgh Steelers. Despite leading the Bears to a 31-28 victory, Williams displayed notable inconsistencies that have raised questions about his development.

Head coach Ben Johnson commented on a specific play where Williams threw a pass that sailed over wide receiver Luther Burden's head, noting, 'I would like to see [the throw] brought down a little bit.' This inaccuracy was one of several that left both Williams and Johnson feeling that there is significant room for improvement.

Williams himself acknowledged, 'In the beginning, it didn't feel like I got into a good rhythm. I was missing passes, and it was kind of weird.' This sentiment reflects a broader concern about his accuracy, particularly with deep throws and passes over the middle, areas where he has struggled throughout the season.

According to Pro Football Focus, while Williams achieved a 104.3 passer rating—his third-best this season—his adjusted completion percentage of 66.7% was his third-worst. Johnson pointed out that Williams' footwork, often a factor in his errant throws, was relatively clean during the game.

However, the coach emphasized the need for Williams to settle into a rhythm, stating, 'Some quarterbacks can get back into a rhythm by making a few easy throws in a row. Williams isn't one of those.' Johnson also highlighted that the game plan focused on throwing in the middle of the field, which may have contributed to the high number of incompletions outside the numbers.

Johnson remarked that while Williams has improved in throwing from under center and off play-action, consistency is still a work in progress. Williams expressed a desire to learn from his mistakes, stating, 'It's nice when you get to learn from wins...

But also understand that we have so much left in the tank and that we can be so much better.' Interestingly, a designed run by Williams on a fourth-and-one situation sparked a skirmish on the sidelines, which Johnson noted ignited the team's energy.

He remarked that even though the hit he took from Steelers cornerback Jalen Ramsey was legal, the reaction from the sidelines was positive for team morale. As the Bears move forward, all eyes will be on Williams as he seeks to refine his game and address the inconsistency that has marred his promising start with the Bears.