Analyst names ‘biggest wart’ in Caleb Williams’ game

Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams has been the topic of criticism all through the primary half of 2025 coming off what was a disappointing rookie season for the primary total decide of the 2024 NFL Draft. 

For a chunk printed on Tuesday, ESPN’s Ben Solak famous how “the most important wart” in Williams’ recreation as he went 5-12 throughout the primary 17 begins of his professional profession was his sack charge.

“He led the league in strain dropbacks final season with 227, and that uncooked quantity issues,” Solak wrote. “The extra a quarterback will get hit, the more durable it’s to belief his offensive line, and dangerous pocket habits blossom or worsen. However his 33.5 p.c strain charge was simply above league common, and he was sacked on 30 p.c of his pressures.”

In line with Solak, Williams’ sack charge of 10 p.c final season was higher than solely these possessed by Will Levis of the Tennessee Titans and Deshaun Watson of the Cleveland Browns. The Titans are making ready to have rookie Cam Ward function their 2025 Week 1 starter, whereas Watson could by no means take one other in-game snap for the Browns earlier than these two sides half methods subsequent yr. 

Williams acknowledged earlier this spring that he “dropped just a few tears” through the second half of his rookie season, partly as a result of he “was simply so beat-up mentally, bodily, spiritually” as he took a league-high 68 sacks. This offseason, Chicago gave Williams marketed offensive guru Ben Johnson as a brand new head coach earlier than the Bears acquired offensive lineman Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson and Drew Dalman.

For a chunk printed on Could 12, Andrew Ites of Professional Soccer Focus wrote that the Bears ought to function one of many league’s most-improved offensive strains this coming season. As Solak identified, although, “habits die laborious” for a younger quarterback who “was accustomed to his play power and quickness getting him out of hassle unfailingly on the school stage.” 

It stays to be seen if Johnson and Co. will be capable to coach sure tendencies out of Williams earlier than September. 

“Amongst 40 quarterbacks with no less than 200 dropbacks final season, Williams ranked thirty third in success charge, thirtieth in (anticipated factors added) per dropback and thirty second in adjusted internet yards per try — fairly tough,” Solak added. 

In line with Professional Soccer Reference, Williams additionally ended this previous common season ranked thirty first out of 36 certified gamers with a 46.7 adjusted QBR. He tossed 20 landing passes and 6 interceptions over his 17 begins. 

Williams’ present coaches reportedly really feel that the 23-year-old bettering his “presnap process” and his in-game “physique language” will assist him put all that went improper final season behind him. If he fails to satisfy such expectations, a employees that did not draft him could start asking related questions about his future with the membership which have been voiced by some analysts this spring.