Ex-Player Defends Caleb Williams' Improvement With Actual Evidence

Criticizing Caleb Williams seems like the low-hanging fruit to grab among the media these days. Perhaps that comes from being one of the most hyped quarterback prospects in years. People seem almost eager to see you fail, just to prove their narrative that you're overrated. It is ridiculous and unfair. Yes, Williams had an inconsistent rookie season for the Chicago Bears. He took 68 sacks and played some ugly games where his fundamentals broke down constantly. Many were convinced his problems would never get fixed. He's a lost cause.

At least one person already sees a difference one month into the 2025 NFL calendar year. Brian Baldinger is a former offensive lineman who spent a decade in the league. Since then, he's become one of the most trusted tape analysts in the national media. He decided to take a look at Williams in the preseason finale against Kansas City. Where most people saw the same guy who flailed around uselessly last year, Baldinger saw something much different. He saw a young quarterback already starting to break those bad habits.

Caleb Williams is learning how to play quarterback.

What you saw in college at USC was a tremendous athlete who made things happen with natural talent. His ability to improvise and sling bombs was a big reason for his success. You rarely saw him play with timing and precision. The problem was that his style of play rarely works in the NFL. Defenses are too smart and too fast. To become a true success, you must learn to operate from the pocket and play within the structure of the offense. So many young quarterbacks get overwhelmed when confronted with this reality for the first time. There is a reason many have said college football is no longer a great developmental system for the position. It can take years to learn it.

Williams seems to have taken big steps forward. He's unloading the ball on time much more often. His accuracy has improved. The footwork has improved. It is clear he has embraced the work necessary to grow his game. The fact that he hasn't mastered it yet shouldn't be surprising. Baldinger is correct. The bad habits aren't gone, but they're fading.