Bears’ message to Caleb Williams amid struggles strikes right chord for rookie QB originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
LAKE FOREST, Illinois — Caleb Williams isn’t the first quarterback to enter the NFL with high expectations only to struggle from the start.
He won’t be the last.
Williams arrived in Chicago to a hero’s welcome. The “generational” signal-caller was expected to step right into an offense loaded with playmakers and lead the Bears on their projected ascent.
Then Williams and the Bears immediately took a hard hit from the NFL.
Through two games, Williams has thrown for just 267 yards and completed just 56.6 percent of his passes. The USC product has thrown two interceptions and has yet to reach the end zone.
Football is the ultimate team game. The blame for the Bears’ offensive woes doesn’t rest solely with Williams. He was erratic in his NFL debut, missing several passes he normally connects on. He played much better in Week 2 but fell victim to a porous Bears offensive line, which allowed him to be sacked seven times and pressured on 23 of 48 dropbacks against the Houston Texans, according to Next Gen Stats. The Bears’ offensive line ranks 30th in pass-block win rate through two weeks, according to ESPN Stats.
Still, 267 yards and zero touchdowns weren’t what Williams and the Bears expected after an offseason that saw them crowned the NFL’s next up-and-coming team.
However, the Bears have also spent the past eight months working to build the right support system for Williams to help him navigate the expected turbulence that rookie quarterbacks face.
Williams expected more to start his career. Everyone expected more. But the Bears are focused on helping Williams overcome the bumps as he grows into the star his talent suggests.
That requires one thing above all: patience.
“Just be calm,” head coach Matt Eberflus said Friday at Halas Hall when asked about his message to Williams. “The NFL, if you want to ride the roller coaster, you can, but you don’t have to. You’ve got to be calm. You’ve got to make sure you’re playing and you’re processing and those things are coming together.
“Caleb is 22 years old and he’s going through this for the first time, and he’s learning that process. He’s got a good plan. He just has to stick to it, do his own thing. You can listen to this, that, or the other. You can’t listen to the outside noise. You have to do it right, do it right, and you’ll get the right result. He does.”
NFL history is full of super-talented quarterbacks who were hit in the face early in their careers but went on to have brilliant careers, in some cases even making it to the Hall of Fame.
Peyton Manning is the best example. In his first two starts, Manning went 42-for-70 for 490 yards, two touchdowns, and six interceptions. His brother Eli Manning completed less than 50 percent of his passes while throwing for 310 yards, one touchdown, and four interceptions.
Matthew Stafford threw five interceptions and just one touchdown in his first two games. John Elway went 10-for-28 for 120 yards and one interception.
Houston Texans star quarterback C.J. Stroud got off to a hot start, throwing for 626 yards and two touchdowns in his first two games. However, Stroud hit a rough patch after his first month, completing less than 50 percent of his passes in three straight games from Week 5 to Week 7. Stroud threw just one interception during that span, but the Texans went 1-2 as the offense sputtered.
Stroud quickly recovered and finished the season on a rocket to fame, throwing for 4,108 yards, 23 touchdowns and just five interceptions in 15 games, en route to being named Offensive Rookie of the Year.
Texans head coach DeMeco Ryans, who was the defensive coordinator in San Francisco during the failure of Trey Lance and the subsequent emergence of Brock Purdy, understands the need to create a supportive environment that takes the burden off a young quarterback when the inevitable problems arise.
“One thing we all have to take a step back from is we can’t expect every young quarterback that gets drafted to just tear up the league right away,” Ryans told Texans media on Thursday. “That’s not how it works. You look at Peyton Manning and his career and how he started his freshman year. One of the greatest quarterbacks of all time, he didn’t start out tearing up the league right away as a rookie. So we have to be patient with all of these quarterbacks. Some quarterbacks take a little longer than others.
“But it’s about everyone being patient and not rushing to crown the next superstar. Because it’s hard to win in this league. It’s hard to lead in this league, especially with how young these quarterbacks are and the pressure that’s put on them. I think it’s too much, personally. Everyone out there expects them to come in and be the best in the league and that’s not it. You’ve got to grow. You’ve got to learn. You’ve got to go through some growing pains. That’s how you get better and become a real pro in this league.”
Williams welcomes the early challenges of the NFL. He entered the league with high expectations and the understanding that things would not go smoothly. There would be lessons, and he would have to adapt and grow.
“It’s awesome. It’s really awesome,” Williams said after the Bears’ loss to the Texans. “You sign up for this position. You sign up for games like this. That was a playoff team last year, and to be down by six points with a chance to win with the ball in your hands, that’s all you can ask for.”
For the Bears, it’s their job to help Williams steel himself for the frustration that can come if the early issues persist. They know Williams is their valuable asset. This season should be about encouraging the growth and development of a rare talent who, if successful, can take the franchise to coveted heights.
Patience. Patience. Patience.
“I think it goes back to last week for him, which was be where your feet are planted,” offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said. “I think the turnaround in the NFL happens so quickly. It’s a long season. There’s going to be good things and bad things for every team in the league. And how do you come back Monday, whether it’s coming off a great win or a great loss. … It’s still not what everybody’s looking for — but how do you show up to work on Monday with a positive mindset for the future? Be where your feet are planted. You can’t change the past, but you can affect the future by the actions you take that day.”
Williams has reportedly remained calm as he processes the blows he has taken, the lessons he has learned, and makes the necessary efforts to improve himself.
“I’d say he’s handling it pretty well,” left guard Teven Jenkins said Friday. “His body language is the same here. He hasn’t shown any frustration. He hasn’t shown any hesitation to outside noise or anything like that. I’d say he’s handling it pretty well.”
Williams will get a good chance to show the fruits of his labor in Sunday’s game against a struggling Indianapolis Colts defense. He doesn’t have to set the world on fire, but a game in which he finds the end zone and consistently displays his rare talent will show that the roller coaster is on its way up after an early decline.
Much is expected of him. His expected launch has been delayed by poor pass protection, questionable play-calling and essential early NFL lessons.
Williams and the Bears will persevere and eventually his talent, combined with the Bears’ process, will put him on the path that Manning, Stafford, Elway and Stroud have found at their own pace.
“I think he’s been great,” wide receiver DJ Moore said. “He’s not vocally frustrated or anything like that. He’s come in and he’s still learning. So I’m just waiting to see how he bounces back this week.”
We all are.
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