Caleb Williams had no shortage of doubters after last season ended. His rookie season was far from the worst the NFL has seen in recent years. However, because Williams was a #1 pick and because of the hype surrounding him, nothing short of star-caliber numbers would’ve sufficed. Going 5-12 and taking 68 sacks confirmed to many that the quarterback wasn’t ready for the NFL. He might never be ready. The Chicago Bears weren’t willing to admit that. They believed in Williams’ ability and knew they had to put him in a better situation.
That meant bringing in somebody with the knowledge and credibility to develop a quarterback. Enter Ben Johnson. The former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator authored the resurrection of Jared Goff over the past three years. His intelligence and background as a quarterback gave him the necessary tools to help Williams improve. Joe Theismann knows something about that. The former Super Bowl champion thought his career was over in the late 1970s. Then Joe Gibbs arrived and turned him into a star. He spoke with Bill Zimmerman of Windy City Gridiron about Williams.
Theismann sees a young quarterback who has significantly evolved his game.
“The first thing that jumps out in my mind is the growth he’s shown from year one to year two,” Theismann stated. “Last year, he was a true rookie in the National Football League, trying to survive. He thought he could outrun defensive linemen at this level. He thought he could get away from a lot of people. He found out he couldn’t, and he held onto the football a bit longer. What Ben’s got him doing right now is get back, get the ball out of your hands, and let the guys that are supposed to run with it and catch it do their jobs… I think this year, he’s been much more disciplined.”
Theismann probably sees a lot of himself in Caleb Williams.
While he was never a #1 overall pick, the former Washington Redskins quarterback was known in college for his mobility and a knack for making off-script plays. However, that didn’t save him from the realities of the NFL. It took him years to master the pro game. He had more interceptions than touchdowns in his first six seasons. He drastically improved in 1982 and became an MVP, boasting a 2-to-1 touchdown-interception ratio. He understood that sometimes it’s the right situation that helps a young quarterback find his footing.
Theismann was fortunate to play in an era where organizations were more patient. These days, you’d better show progress by your second season or you’re in big trouble. Thankfully, Johnson’s arrival seems to have put Caleb Williams on the right path. It hasn’t been perfect, but compared to last year, it’s been a lot better. Given some time, we may see the same blossoming Theismann enjoyed all those years ago.
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