Williams on rivalry win against Packers, Ben Johnson's offensive scheme |
CHICAGO—Surely, this season was not how quarterback Caleb Williams pictured his rookie season going. It was filled with adversity, including three different offensive coordinators and two head coaches throughout the season and a 10-game losing streak.
However, that losing streak will not extend into his second season in the league after Chicago defeated the Green Bay Packers this past Sunday 24-22 to finish off the year. “Being able to get that win and end the season with a win was big, at least for me internally, just because (the) guys, (they’ve) been great to be honest,” Williams said. “They’ve been awesome in that locker room and so, to be able to end with a win versus Green Bay, (couldn’t) ask for a better way because we’ve been through a good amount this year and to be able to go out there and fight and come out with the win and do it the right way was really cool to see and really cool to be a part of and important, I would say, to me.” A quarterback’s rookie year is often the most important year of their career as they develop their foundation of how to be an NFL quarterback. Given the disaster of former offensive coordinator Shane Waldron and former head coach Matt Eberflus, it was a fair question when Williams was asked following the Green Bay game if he was coached well this season. As is typical of Williams, he responded with poise and professionalism. “I think I was coached well for the task at hand. I think coaches being fired, only being here for a certain amount of time, trying to build a relationship between the coaches, I think that’s a challenge in itself to have different coaches throughout the season and different terminologies and the way they believe in stuff and trying to run somebody else’s offense, things like that,” Williams said. “So, I think the collective or the overall part of the year, I’d say that I was coached well.” Once again, the Bears are looking for a new head coach. Numerous candidates are out there, including former Tennessee Titans head coach Mike Vrabel, former Seattle Seahawks head coach Pete Carroll, and Detroit Lions defensive coordinator Aaron Glenn. Whoever the new head coach is, Williams asks just one thing—that they challenge him so he and the rest of the team can become better. “Just challenge me whether it’s pulling me aside, whether it’s saying whatever or having talks consistently or maybe not or maybe having a list of things that we want to accomplish,” Williams said. “From there, find ways to help set other goals and things like that. However it may work out, just a challenge and just to find ways to help better myself but also better the team and so, really excited about that. But, I would say any way, any shape (or) form. I don’t have an issue with being challenged. I don’t have an issue with speaking truth between the coach and I or whoever it may be.” An offensive mind as head coach would potentially be more beneficial as the offense struggled more throughout this season. The offense averaged just 18.2 points per game this season and had the second-least passing yards out of any team this year. However, Williams had one of the best statistical performances of any quarterback in franchise history with 3,541 passing yards, which is fifth most in Chicago Bears history. He also only had six interceptions, the least interceptions by a Bears quarterback who started at least 14 games since Jim Harbaugh in 1990. Because of Williams, coming to Chicago may appeal to a coaching prospect like Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson. Johnson has led the Lions to be one of the league's best offenses the past two seasons, particularly in the run game. Williams got the chance to see Johnson’s offense in action on multiple occasions, including the two games the Bears played against Detroit. “I was fascinated to watch (Ben Johnson’s offense) because he always (had) wrinkles for counters and things like that throughout the game (when the Bears played the Lions), and so, I think he’s obviously done really well, and so, it’d be cool to see how that all goes down,” Williams said.
