The start of the season has been challenging for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and the 1-2 Chicago Bears, particularly regarding their offensive performance.
Currently, Williams, a former Heisman Trophy winner, holds a passer rating of only 65.3 and has a completion percentage below 60%.
With four interceptions and just two touchdowns so far, the Bears find themselves ranked 30th in total offense. Recently, NFL analyst Greg Cosell appeared on the Ross Tucker Podcast to discuss the areas in which Williams needs to improve as a young player.
“You can tell that he’s not really comfortable from the pocket, overall, and he’s not really sure what he sees right now,” Cosell remarked on Friday. He also emphasized that these types of struggles are typical for rookie quarterbacks.
Nevertheless, this isn’t USC, where Williams could easily score over 50 points and still secure a win. In the NFL, putting points on the board is challenging, especially when a rookie quarterback is working with a new offensive coordinator.
The Bears opted to hire Shane Waldron as their offensive coordinator, a decision stemming from his success in helping Geno Smith emerge as a franchise quarterback for the Seattle Seahawks.
Interestingly, they could have also chosen Kliff Kingsbury, one of Williams’s former college head coaches, who is now thriving as the offensive coordinator for the Washington Commanders.
For the Bears to turn things around, Williams and Waldron must collaborate to produce more effective offensive performances, especially given the franchise’s and fans’ desire for success. If they fail to improve and the team continues to struggle, the pressure will surely mount.