Are the Training Camp Struggles for the Bears Quarterback By Design?
Training camp has been officially underway for all 32 NFL teams, including the Chicago Bears. Through the first few days, the Bears have had major success on the defensive side of the ball while the offense has struggled to get any momentum. Specifically, quarterback Caleb Williams has had trouble getting the ball into his wide receivers’ hands and less so in the hands of the defense. While the struggles may seem concerning, not only is it way too early to press the panic button as a Bears fan, but it also may be by design from head coach Ben Johnson.
Williams had a good rookie year last season, where he threw for 3,541 yards, 20 touchdowns, and six interceptions. This would be a season in which Williams would go through two head coaches and three offensive coordinators. Despite the inconsistency of the Bears’ coaching staff, the former USC Trojan would show why he was drafted first overall with all the potential in the world. Coming into Chicago, Johnson would make it known that one of the biggest factors that intrigued him to join the Bears was the impressive potential of Williams. The offense would be completely centered around his brand new quarterback, with the idea that they would maximize Williams’ strengths while also working more on his weaknesses, like staying calm in the pocket. Now that we are a few days into training camp, we can see Johnson is throwing Williams into the fire on purpose.
“Sometimes you’ve got to get burned by a hot stove to learn you don’t want to do that again,” said Johnson in a recent press conference. The former Detroit Lions offensive coordinator would create quarterback Jared Goff into a star, but it wasn’t overnight. The process Johnson is taking Williams on will be similar to what he did in Detroit, which also means it could take quite a bit of time to perfect. The buzz surrounding this brand-new Bears offense may be exciting, but it will also be important for fans to remember this isn’t a quick process. As we head into the 2025 season, Williams will certainly be a player to keep an eye on the rest of the training camp.
