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Counting on Caleb Williams: Coach Dave Wannstedt breaks down Bears QB’s recent performance

3 weeks agoScott Bair
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Bears quarterback Caleb Williams is going through a rough patch. The No. 1 overall pick as struggled mightily, along with the entire Bears offense, since establishing a late lead versus Washington that was erased by a Hail Mary.

The Bears haven’t scored a touchdown since then. Williams has been sacked 15 times and his completion percentage has sunk significantly, as the offense as regressed to the point where it’s virtually immobile.

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Williams doesn’t look like the same guy who was near perfect in Week 6, playing free and confident and churning both smart and impressive passes.

That’s a major reason why Shane Waldron was fired on Tuesday and Thomas Brown was promoted to play caller and offensive coordinator.

Coach Dave Wannstedt breaks down Williams’ latest performance and what comes next, plus all the metrics from his performance.

Week 10 stat line

Box score

16-for-30 passing (53.3 comp%), 120 yds, 4.0 ypa, 0 TD, 0 INT, 63.2 passer rating; 2 rushes, 15 yards, 9 sacks, 0 fumbles

PFF Metrics

PFF Passing pressure

Kept clean (61.0%): 15-for-23, 116 yds, 5.0 ypa, 0 TD, 0 INT

Under pressure (39.0%): 1-for-7, 114 yds, 0.6 ypa, 0 TD, 0 INT

Not Blitzed (53.7%): 7-for-17, 63 yds, 3.7 ypa, 0 TD, 0 INT

When Blitzed (46.3%): 9-for-13, 57 yds, 4.4 ypa, 0 TD, 0 INT

PFF Passing direction map

Screenshot 2024 11 12 At 4.02.10 pm

Overall evaluation

Coach Wannstedt’s break down

“With nine sacks and being hit almost every time he threw the ball, that’s very difficult for a quarterback to function under those conditions. I would look a little bit closer on how was Caleb with his processing mentally. For the most part, he was pretty good. He admitted in his post game show that there were two or three plays that he was wrong on. I hope the lesson he learns is that, when you are in the red zone and there’s a chance to score points, don’t change the snap count and don’t take a sack. … That was the biggest lesson he learns. We noticed it, I noticed it and he addressed it, which I really like.” — Coach Wannstedt

Eberflus, Williams on Caleb’s Week 10 performance

“The situation is very frustrating because you want to go out there and execute. You want to go out there and help a defense that gets you the ball or special teams that gets you the ball on the 50- or 40-yard line three times, four times in this game. And it’s tough. But to be able to get up each time and do it again and again and again, it provides me learning experiences.” — Williams

“Every experience is different. He’s got to learn from that experience and that exposure. It’s a developing thing. It’s never going to be like this (upward hand motion) all the way through. Again, we’re going through some adversity right now. The only way to pull through that is to pull together.” — Eberflus

Rookie rankings

Williams is among four rookie quarterbacks making regular starts for their respective teams at this time. Here are their overall stats through 10 weeks:

Jayden Daniels (Washington): 180-of-262 passing (68.7 comp%), 2,147 yds, 9 TD, 2 INT, 8.2 ypa, 101.7 passer rating; 85 rushes, 464 yds, 4 TD; 20 sacks, 3 fumbles

Bo Nix (Denver): 206-of-324 passing (63.6 comp%), 1,968 yds, 10 TD, 6 INT, 6.1 ypa, 82.9 passer rating; 61 rushes, 290 yds, 4 TD; 17 sacks, 0 fumbles

Caleb Williams (Bears): 178-for-294 passing (60.5 comp%), 1,785 yds, 9 TD, 5 INT, 6.1 ypa, 81.0 passer rating; 40 rushes for 236 yds; 38 sacks, 4 fumbles

Drake Maye (Patriots)*: 97-of-150 passing (64.7 comp%), 954 yds, 7 TD, 5 INT, 6.4 ypa, 84.1 passer rating; 25 rushes, 233 yds, 1 TD; 14 sacks, 3 fumble

* Maye assumed the starter’s role in Week 6

Looking ahead

Williams must adjust to a new play caller in Thomas Brown, without a bye or extended stretch to comprehend how gets the signals in. That might be a complication to the offensive operation, but Williams and Brown must push through that issue. Brown can also help Williams out with shorter-range options early in the progression, which could allow the quarterback to decrease the number of hits he’s taking.

Williams also must find that balance of taking shorter profits while still being himself and finding opportunities to make big plays down the field. He has done that several times before. He can do it again despite a downturn in his recent performances. — Scott Bair

Eberflus on what comes next

“Caleb’s strong. He’s strong inside. He’s strong outside. He’s a strong individual, and he’s been through adversity. He knows how to do this. He knows how to get through adversity by pulling together. We’ve got to pull it together with everybody else too. It’s important we get that done moving forward.”  — Eberflus

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