The Chicago Bears have approached the Caleb Williams challenge with much more gusto this off-season than last year. It started with hiring Ben Johnson as the new head coach, one of the best offensive play callers in the NFL. He could finally build a coherent system around the young quarterback. Next was the offensive line. After allowing 68 sacks last season, the Bears had to shore that unit up. Two trades and a pricey free agent later, they've completely replaced the interior with Joe Thuney, Jonah Jackson, and Drew Dalman.
They've even improved the depth at wide receiver. Only one area seems left to be addressed, and that should be included in the draft next month. They need a legitimate workhorse at running back. However, one person feels the Bears still have a lingering issue. Will Hewlett has coached Williams privately since he was in 7th grade. He knows the young quarterback better than almost anybody. He believes the Bears made one crucial mistake last year that led to some of the struggles. He explained it to Tyler Dunne of Go Long TD.
A veteran QB is needed on this roster.
One of the negatives with Caleb’s situation last year was the lack of quarterback experience in the building. Who’s the vet, right? Patrick Mahomes had Alex Smith. When you come in as a rookie and you’re going to start right off the bat, it’s like, ‘OK, who’s the guy that he can go to that’s played the position and says, “Hey, I know this read is here to here, but in this situation you have to consider this and this and this?” I’m not saying you can’t be a great coach without playing quarterback. I don’t believe that for a second. But there is a nuance to being a player and having someone in your shoes that can step out of the headset and get in the helmet in some capacity and walk you through, “Listen, here’s how I did it. Here’s what you want to consider. And then find your version of that.” Having the guys in the room — the coaching staff in the room — that seem to be able to speak and talk to a young quarterback is important. That’s less of an issue when you have a seven-year, 10-year vet, those guys know what they are, they know what they like, they’ve worked that stuff out.
Caleb Williams could use a grizzled vet to mine for information.
The organization has done this in the past with reasonable success. When they drafted Jim McMahon, they had Bob Avellini on the roster. He'd started multiple years in the league. Kordell Stewart and Chris Chandler were both brought in the same year Rex Grossman arrived. Mark Sanchez signed on in 2017 when the Bears grabbed Mitch Trubisky. Each of those players ended up having at least some level of success in Chicago. McMahon won a Super Bowl. Grossman reached one. Trubisky made a Pro Bowl and won a division title.
For whatever reason, the organization didn't feel the need to add some experience last year. They preferred to stay the course with Tyson Bagent. While that isn't bad, the former undrafted free agent had little to offer. He'd only been in the league for a year. Meanwhile, viable names like Marcus Mariota and Jacoby Brissett landed in Washington and New England. Is it a coincidence Jayden Daniels and Drake Maye didn't seem to struggle as much as Caleb Williams? Hewlett may have a point.
