Usually, head coaches aren’t focused on the actual stats for their quarterbacks. All they want is for them to lead scoring drives. It doesn’t matter how it gets done. However, Ben Johnson isn’t naive. He knows the nature of the modern game runs through the quarterback position. The better the numbers, the more likely the team wins. That said, not all numbers are created equal. Everybody is so focused on passing yards these days. In reality, that is the least telling quarterback stat there is. Touchdown passes are obviously better. That said, there is a specific one Johnson wants Caleb Williams focused on for this season.
Completion percentage.
A primary goal for the Bears’ quarterback going into this year is to reach 70% completion of passes. While a definite challenge, he believes Williams is capable of reaching it.
The idea behind a high completion percentage is pretty straightforward. It leads to more first downs, fewer incompletions that stall drives, and increased opportunities for scores. It also helps quarterbacks find a rhythm, leading to better efficiency. No Bears quarterback has ever reached this mark in a full season. Mitch Trubisky came the closest in 2018 at 66.6%.
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Ben Johnson continues to show an understanding of NFL offense.
Explosiveness is great, but also hard to come by in this league. The best offenses are the ones that can execute at a high level. They limit turnovers, churn out first downs, and take advantage of the scoring opportunities they get. Last season, five quarterbacks reached the 70% mark. Two made the playoffs and the other three had winning records. Jayden Daniels reached 69% and was in the NFC championship. Jalen Hurts, the eventual Super Bowl champion, sat at 68.7%. No quarterback who won the Lombardi since 2021 had a rate lower than 67%. Ben Johnson wanting to shoot for 70 is smart.
Even if Williams comes up just short, he’ll still be in the range of where title-winning QBs sit. Can he get there? Williams reached 68.6% in his final year at USC. He seems capable of doing it. The hard part is getting him to take the layup throws more often rather than constantly seeking big plays. That is where Ben Johnson must earn his money.
