Caleb Williams is in a weird place. When talking to fans, most of them feel the Chicago Bears quarterback is average. His numbers aren’t anything special and his accuracy issues are an Achilles heel for this football team. Meanwhile, if you speak to people who have played or coached the game, they see a young player who is maturing rapidly and learning the game at its fundamental level. The signs are there that a breakthrough is coming. All it takes is a little more patience for him to bring it all together.
One person who is convinced the Bears found a real one is Ron Rivera. The former linebacker and defensive coordinator for the franchise had a part in the team’s last two Super Bowl runs. He knows what it takes to win a championship in this town. From what he’s seen, Williams has the goods. Rivera explained on Good Morning Football that the only thing holding the QB back at this point is learning not to force things. Don’t be afraid to dump the ball off or throw it away. Play within the game.
Once that happens, everything will fall into place.
Don’t dismiss Rivera’s assessment of Caleb Williams.
Yes, he’s a defensive guy, but this is a coach who understands the challenges of developing a young quarterback. He was the one who helped turn Cam Newton from a raw #1 overall pick into a league MVP. Newton had the same questions about him as Williams does. For all his incredible athletic gifts, he was a strong-armed passer with serious questions about his accuracy. While Newton never became a true pinpoint surgical type, he learned how to play efficiently. As a result, Carolina won a lot of football games and reached the Super Bowl in 2015.
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Rivera has seen this blueprint work before. If Newton could do it, so can Caleb Williams. One could argue that the Bears quarterback is the more natural passer. He also has a much better coach guiding his development in Ben Johnson. This is a man who played the position himself and is widely considered one of the best offensive minds in the game today. Given enough time and patience, Williams should blossom into one of the best quarterbacks the franchise has ever had. It’s about trusting the process.
