Caleb Williams is progressing along nicely at quarterback this season, accounting for 12 touchdowns and just four interceptions. The Chicago Bears are 5-3, winning five of their last six games. Williams is a key part of that, having executed three 4th quarter comebacks. Yet even now, some people are skeptical. Colin Cowherd said on his show recently that he is giving Williams until Thanksgiving to show real progress. If he can't demonstrate true franchise quarterback ability by then, it likely will never happen. Herd told this to his guest, all-time great quarterback Tom Brady, and asked his opinion.
Brady's response was fascinating. He contended that Herd is operating under the assumption that everybody in the NFL knows how to develop quarterbacks. There is more than enough evidence to indicate this is far from the case. It feels like Brady is taking a not-so-subtle shot at former Bears head coach Matt Eberflus and offensive coordinator Shane Waldron. Both were widely criticized for their plan, or lack of one, when working with Williams last season. That inevitably stunted the quarterback's development.
Tom Brady seems to think we're finally seeing Williams in good hands.
Head coach Ben Johnson and his staff have already demonstrated clear common sense on how to handle a young quarterback. They've given him a strong running game to ease the pressure on him while also staying on top of his fundamentals every day, grinding him about footwork, cadence, pre-snap reads, and so on. The results speak for themselves. He is showing more and more confidence from the pocket, reading defenses better, and learning how to work off the run game with precision.
These are all things Tom Brady learned in his early days with New England. He was fortunate to work with Charlie Weis, one of the better offensive coordinators of his time. Aside from turning Brady into a star, he got career-best seasons from Vinny Testaverde and Matt Cassel. Johnson might be even better. Forget Thanksgiving. This is Williams' true first year of development in the NFL. Let it play out.
