CHICAGO — The Chicago Bears exited Week 2 with main questions on their protection after giving up 52 factors to the Detroit Lions on Sunday. Misplaced within the blowout that marked Chicago’s (0-2) second NFC North loss in six days, nonetheless, was enchancment from quarterback Caleb Williams.
In his second sport beneath coach Ben Johnson, Williams threw for 207 yards, two touchdowns and an interception whereas finishing 63.3% of his passes. The Bears have scored a landing on the offense’s opening possession in back-to-back weeks, one thing that didn’t occur throughout Williams’ rookie season.
“I did see vital progress,” Johnson stated. “It isn’t excellent but. There’s nonetheless plenty of performs the place our eyes aren’t fairly in the correct place or we’re holding onto the ball only a tick longer than what we’re teaching. However I did see great progress by way of going by way of the development. There have been just a few instances there the place we needed to get to quantity three or 4 within the learn and he was trusting his ft and his footwork and was capable of get there.”
Williams was at his finest on in-rhythm dropbacks, the place he launched the ball between 2.5 and 4.0 seconds, in keeping with Subsequent Gen Stats. Williams accomplished 14 of his 21 makes an attempt for 191 yards and two touchdowns on such dropbacks, in comparison with 5 of 9 for 16 yards and an interception on fast or prolonged move makes an attempt.
The previous No. 1 choose related with receiver Rome Odunze on each of his landing passes, bringing their whole to 3 by way of two video games. Whereas there are a number of areas that each Johnson and the quarterback felt he wanted to enhance — like throwing the ball out of bounds within the second quarter as an alternative of attempting to suit a throw down the sideline to receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, which resulted in an interception — the quarterback feels progress will present up with extra reps.
“I feel it is simply [the offense] being constant,” Williams stated. “In the best way of our approach — the performs which might be known as. And going on the market and being technical about it and beating the person in entrance of you. That features myself. I feel we simply do this over and over and over. Do not attempt to create any explosive performs. Do not attempt to be superman and so they’ll come. Everyone simply did their one-eleventh and we maintain shifting on.”
Accuracy was a difficulty for Williams throughout the Bears’ 27-24 season opening loss to the Vikings. His completion share dropped from 81% within the first half (13-of-16) to 42% within the second half whereas his off-target share (29.4%) was the worst amongst all quarterbacks in Week 1.
Williams stated final week that some off-target throws may be associated to his footwork and being hesitant as an alternative of “letting it rip.”
“I imply first sport, I missed a pair passes,” Williams stated. “I feel [against Detroit], hit some key passes and did not really feel like something was off. My footwork was strong and was hitting my guys, so I feel I’ve bought to go have a look at the tape and work out this sport how I may help us bodily and mentally possibly on the sideline or one thing. Or speaking to the fellows, regardless of the case could also be.”
Nonetheless, there’s work to be completed to get Williams acting at his finest persistently. The Lions pressured the Bears quarterback on 43.2% of his dropbacks, and it led to Williams taking 4 sacks. Chicago was flagged six instances on offense, together with two false begins and two holding penalties. The Bears did not convert on two fourth-down makes an attempt, together with a quarterback sneak, and turned the ball over twice.
“With a staff like that on the opposite aspect, they make you pay…” Williams stated.
The stakes of one other sport with a revenge angle are excessive coming into Week 3. The Bears welcome the Dallas Cowboys and defensive coordinator Matt Eberflus to city on Sunday (4:25 p.m. ET, FOX) 10 months after the previous Bears coach was fired throughout Williams’ rookie season.
The aim for Johnson as he prepares his quarterback for a defensive coordinator who is aware of him properly is to construct on the regular enchancment he is seen by way of two video games.
“I did assume he bought higher from Week 1 to Week 2,” Johnson stated. “I am inspired by what I noticed and I am hopeful that we’ll proceed to see one other leap right here this week.”