Whenever people talk about Caleb Williams, the first thing they mention about what makes him an elite prospect for the Chicago Bears is always the same. His improvisational skills and accuracy on the run make him a nightmare to defend. This is why he draws so many comparisons with Patrick Mahomes. However, Shane Waldron didn't go there. The Chicago Bears offensive coordinator has now spent months with his new quarterback. At that time, he had gotten a good grasp of what his young quarterback was capable of.
When asked about what stands out the most with Williams, it wasn't the mobility or the accuracy. For Waldron, it was something far more encouraging. Something a lot of people don't see.
“His spatial awareness, his understanding of the field, his ability to recall, we really got a chance to see it in the first [preseason] game on the sideline. Each play as we’re going through and recapping the drive, he can tell you what all 11 people on defense were doing each snap, the why he got to on each read, the why on when he went to a scramble versus two-man. Seeing that part of it and hearing that recall just shows you where his football IQ is at.
“All the other stuff is just a matter of when we talk about the offensive system, cadence. All those things, that’s repetition. The understanding of the game, he’s got that part down.”
Shane Waldron knows what separates the good quarterback.
Arm strength and accuracy are important, sure. However, the top QBs always think the game at a high level. They're able to absorb, retain, and recall information at both high capacity and high speed. He saw it with Tom Brady in New England, again with Jared Goff in Los Angeles, and finally Russell Wilson in Seattle. It appears he sees similar qualities in Williams. There is evidence to back this up. Multiple times, the rookie has been asked questions about certain plays after his preseason appearances, like the 13-yard scramble against Buffalo or the 43-yard pass interference against Cincinnati. Both times, he broke down the plays in deep detail.
That ability will only become more deadly as he gains experience in the NFL. Shane Waldron knows this, and it is why he has the utmost confidence in his rookie quarterback. One can't remember the last time the Bears had a quarterback with this capability. While previous ones have been smart, few have possessed such a photographic memory.
