Is Caleb Williams Becoming Another QB Draft Bust for the Chicago Bears?
The city of Chicago has been desperate for a true franchise quarterback for decades. Last year, the Bears thought they were on an upward trend after going 8-9, and all that separated them from seriously contending was a true quarterback to command the offense. Therefore, the Bears went out and got Caleb Williams with the first overall pick and additionally got him a lot of help at the receiver position by bringing in Keenan Allen and Rome Odunze. However, through nine games there are already a lot of questions about Caleb Williams and if he can really make it in the NFL.
It was known coming into the season that the Bears’ defense would hold down opposing offenses which would give Caleb Williams and his new shining offensive weapons a chance to dominate the league and its easy opening schedule. However, the Bears offense has been a far cry from where it was expected to be at this point in the season. The Bears are 4-5, and over the past three games, the offense has only generated an average of nine points a game. The biggest problem is that these offensive struggles have come against bottom-tier defenses. With their latest loss to the Patriots at home, the loyal fans of Chicago are starting to wonder if it is time to panic, again.
There is a lot of blame that can be thrown around the Bears organization starting with their head coach Matt Eberflus. Eberflus has been on the hot seat since the start of this season because he is primarily a defensive head coach and the NFL is now focused on the offensive side of the ball. With the struggles primarily coming from Caleb Williams and this offense, it may be time for Eberflus to go. However, now let’s evaluate how much Caleb Williams has contributed to the downfall of the Bears this year.
The Bears have been dedicated to surrounding Caleb Williams with a plethora of weapons, but he is 23rd in passing yards this season despite having the 11th most passing attempts of quarterbacks in the NFL. Additionally, he is first in sacks taken in the NFL with 39, which is double the number of sacks fellow rookie, Jayden Daniels, has taken despite the same time in the pocket. He has the second-lowest completion percentage among starting NFL quarterbacks which has contributed to the Bears having the second-worst third-down conversion percentage in the league. With an inconsistent passing game, the Bears’ offense can stagnate quickly, especially if Williams gets sacked on an early down. If Caleb Williams cannot avoid sacks and distribute the ball effectively and accurately to his dynamic receivers, he may lose his confidence as a quarterback early in his career.
