We are three games into the 2024 NFL season. Sam Darnold looks like an MVP candidate, Andy Dalton has given the Carolina Panthers life and Derek Carr and Baker Mayfield are tied for 3rd in passing touchdowns.
Needless to say, it’s been a weird start for the entire NFL.. However, one thing that is unfortunately familiar is that the Chicago Bears have a struggling quarterback at the helm. This time it’s the No. 1 overall draft pick and highly-touted rookie out of the University of Southern California, Caleb Williams.
Williams has started all three games so far this season and has contributed to the Bears’ record of 1-2 while sporting a stat line of 2 touchdowns to 4 interceptions as well as 1 lost fumble.
Obviously, none of those numbers are promising, but they don’t tell the whole story. Despite the early struggles, Bears fans should still have hope for the young QB.
O-LINE AND COACHING
To put it simply, the Bears’ offensive line and coaching are among the worst in the NFL.
The line has given up 13 sacks of Williams, which is tied for 3rd most in the league. They are also abysmal in the run game, rushing for 3.0 yards per carry, the 2nd lowest mark in the NFL.
Matt Eberflus has also not proven to be a competent NFL head coach since he took over for Chicago in 2022. He is 11-26 throughout his stint and has not produced a top-10 ranked offensive or defensive unit.
His terrible game planning could be seen in the most recent outing. Against the Indianapolis Colts, who had given up over 200 yards on the ground in each of the first two games, Eberflus called Williams to throw the ball a staggering 52 times.
This is a heavy workload to put on a QB who is still developing, and it isn’t at all beneficial. It is especially detrimental when you have the O-line allowing pressure on 31 of William’s dropbacks and giving up 4 sacks.
This combination of poor coaching and O-line play are bogging down Williams’ potential.
RECEIVERS
Another thing to keep in mind with Williams is his receiving core. It is pretty solid on paper, with veterans like D.J Moore, Keenan Allen and Cole Kmet on the field as experienced and proven pass catchers. Williams also has a young fellow rookie in Rome Odunze out of the University of Washington who looks to be a stud.
That being said, it will take time for the on-field chemistry to flourish between Williams and his wideouts. There have been flashes of it, especially with Odunze who Williams hit six times Sunday for 112 yards and a touchdown at the goal line.
As Williams grows more comfortable and his connection with Odunze, Moore, Kmet and Allen – who still has yet to return from a Week 1 injury – develops, both the receivers and the quarterback will be a lot more dangerous. He just needs time, and three games certainly isn’t enough.
FINAL WORD
Williams has a lot of talent. That’s obvious on tape. His mobility and improvisation show a lot of potential in a league that’s becoming more and more dominated by passers with those skills.
He’s not perfect, and still has a lot of work and improvement needed but the Bears’ struggles hardly fall on him exclusively. Once the team’s more glaring issues are addressed, then Williams can absolutely be the guy for them.
