Caleb Williams becoming a good quarterback isn't a huge shock to many. He was a superstar in college and the #1 overall pick for a reason. The kid has a bottomless pool of talent. However, it is how his recent ascent has transpired that has many people baffled. During his time at USC, Williams earned a reputation for his physics-defying ability as a scrambler, weaving out of trouble and finding open guys down the field once outside the pocket. That is why he kept drawing comparisons to Patrick Mahomes. There was one problem. Many felt this meant he wasn't any good from the pocket. Kliff Kingsbury tried everything possible to dispute that claim.
The former USC assistant coach and current Washington Commanders offensive coordinator spent a year working with Williams. He recognized early on that the quarterback wasn't just good in the pocket. It might be his actual strength. Yet the rumors about it being a weakness kept filtering through the national media and even NFL circles. National insider Jordan Schultz revealed on The Herd that Kingsbury did everything he could to counter them.
The Bears were smart enough to meet with Kliff Kingsbury.
They flew to Los Angeles earlier this year to speak with him about their offensive coordinator position while also using the opportunity to learn about Williams. It is a safe bet he told them the same things he told Schultz. Don't let the frequent scrambling paint a picture. When allowed to play from the pocket, he could do it as well as anybody. GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus took the advice to heart. By March of this year, the decision was all but made. Williams would be their pick at #1.
After a tough three-game stretch to start the season, the rookie has evolved rapidly since the start of October. In his past three games, Williams has seven touchdowns and only one interception. No doubt Kliff Kingsbury has a sense of self-satisfaction seeing that. Unfortunately, he may soon be the victim of it with the Bears coming to Washington this weekend. This is another reminder that the situation plays a big part in how a quarterback plays, not just ability.
