Most coaches have established methods for working with young quarterbacks. If the kid can handle lots of information, they open the entire offense to them. However, in many cases, the sheer volume of information can prove too overwhelming. So the coaches simplify the system to make things easier until such a time that the quarterback proves they can handle more. Matt Nagy did this with Mitch Trubisky and Justin Fields. Head coach Ben Johnson is not interested in that approach. Caleb Williams is finding this out the hard way.
Adam Jahns of CHGO explained on Waddle & Silvy that there have been no changes to the offense since Johnson arrived. He threw Williams into the deep end and told him to swim. That may seem harsh, but there is a method to the madness. Johnson must find out if his young quarterback is capable of handling a professional offense. He won't get answers to that question by simplifying everything. Williams needs to demonstrate that he can learn to handle these challenges because that is what championship quarterbacks do.
If he can't? That tells Johnson everything he needs to know.
Caleb Williams should not expect anything different moving forward.
The Bears quarterback struggled this past week against the New Orleans Saints, throwing for only 176 yards and an interception. It ended up not mattering as the offense chewed up 222 yards on the ground. Still, many have started wondering if Caleb Williams still isn't grasping the system as much as he could. He's missing too many opportunities, reverting to his tendencies of scrambling around and looking for big plays.
Johnson is working hard to break him of those habits. That won't be accomplished by dumbing things down. If Williams wants to be great, he must learn how to play the traditional way. The Bears coach isn't trying to take away the quarterback's superpower. He's interested in making it so that Williams doesn't rely on it, because that will never work in this league.
There is a right way to play the position. Williams has done it at times this year, but not often enough. Johnson will keep up the pressure until either he breaks or finally figures it out.
