Williams says he needs to adjust fast to new offensive coordinator |
CHICAGO - Heisman winner. Started the season as the favorite for Offensive Rookie of the Year. Now, rookie quarterback Caleb Williams is 4-5 after a three-game skid and has a new offensive coordinator in Thomas Brown because the offense has been so underproductive in those three games. Williams said it is difficult getting a new offensive coordinator midway through the season, but that it is time to adapt.
“It’s tough just because you work (for about six months) and kind of new (former offensive coordinator) Shane (Waldron) before being drafted here because of the process and stuff and then trying to build that relationship, building that relationship,” Williams said. “Then the guy that you’ve been trying to get on the same page with isn’t here anymore and so, now you have to adjust and you have to adjust fast because we’re in divisional (play) now.” Throughout college, Williams took a lot of pride in his accuracy and consistency. So far, those are two things that have not translated to the NFL, particularly in the last three games. Per SportsCenter, during Chicago’s three-game losing streak, his completion percentage is 51 percent and he has just 468 passing yards. In Chicago’s three-game winning streak earlier in the season, his completion percentage was 69 percent or better every game. The last time the Bears won a game, in their London contest against the Jacksonville Jaguars, his completion percentage was nearly 80 percent. “Obviously, there’s passes that you miss and going to miss throughout (your) career that you’ll want back or that you’ll want to make and that’s why you work hard at in practice (and) throughout the weeks and then obviously just some passes (I) think I’ve done well, protecting the football, not turning it over,” Williams said. “But, I think getting on a better page with the guys throughout the week of practice, talking about routes even if we don’t get the look that we’re going to talk about (and) discuss, sideline or after practice. At least hearing it so when it happens in-game, (I’m) able to rip it and throw it.” With the turmoil during the losing streak, there have been questions whether head coach Matt Eberflus and / or quarterback Caleb Williams had lost the locker room. Williams stated he has the “full support” of the locker room. However, he does acknowledge he has made some rookie mistakes, such as holding onto the ball too long. According to ESPN, he has been holding onto the ball an average of 3.26 seconds before the pass, which is No. 30 in the NFL. “I think these past couple weeks, I’ve probably been holding (it) a little bit longer than I’ve wanted to or expected. I definitely think I can do a better job with that, just being a little bit more keyed in on (making) sure I handle the details and then obviously, just understanding situational game,” Williams said. “I think this past game, I didn’t do as good of a job as I wanted to with the situational game and held the ball a few times too long and that stat goes on the offensive lineman as if they weren’t doing their job. But, I took a few sacks on me that I shouldn’t have. So, I think getting back to getting the ball out my hands, being decisive, is really important and it needs to start now.” This week marks the beginning of division play for the Chicago Bears. For many years, the Bears have struggled against the Green Bay Packers who they play this Sunday (Noon / FOX). Chicago has lost the last 10 games against the Packers. If the Bears did not pull out the victory, it would break the record for the longest losing streak against Green Bay in Chicago’s over 100 years of playing against them. “Playing the Packers this week, obviously (a) big game for not only just us but it’s (Green) Bay Packers versus Chicago Bears,” Williams said. “It’s an important game for us not only because it’s divisional, but because it’s the Packers and we have to handle it like that and we have to handle the situation I’m in.”
