Cubs News: Williams on Taylor's exceptional game against Rams, checking down more |
CHICAGO - The offense did not start out the best in rookie quarterback Caleb Williams’ first four NFL games. In his first win, the offense did not put up a touchdown. In Williams’ first two away games, he had five turnovers. But finally, the offense seemed to find a rhythm against the Los Angeles Rams this past Sunday to get to a 2-2 record going into their fifth game of the season against the Carolina Panthers on Sun. Oct. 6 (Noon / FOX).
Williams is optimistic the team is taking steps in the right direction even though things are not gelling as fast as they had hoped. “Being able to get the run game going, be pretty balanced, I would say, run-game, pass-game wise and get all of that going, I think we’re taking the (steps) in the (right) direction,” Williams said. “But, I think especially with all the new additions that we have, I think we expected and want it to happen faster. But this is the process that we’re in, and so I was happy to come out with a win last week. But, definitely figuring it out very soon.” When the Bears drafted punter Tory Taylor in the fourth round of the NFL Draft, Williams sent him a text joking that he would not be punting very much. Through the first four weeks, he is fourth in the league in punts with 20. He has proved himself to be worth the fourth-round pick. While he was solid in the first three games, Taylor was exceptional against Los Angeles, averaging 55.4 yards per punt, pinning three of them inside the 10-yard line; three of his punts were over 60 yards, with his longest being 66 yards. For his performance, he was named NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. “He’s unbelievable. When we drafted him, the night we drafted him, that was the first time I’ve ever looked at a punter highlight type, the night we drafted him and I love the guy. He’s great. It was one of those running jokes on that draft night. I sent him a few other stuff, but that was the thing that came out that I said that and I’m obviously grateful to have him for what he does for this team, how he helps out this team,” Williams said. “He’s such a great human, let alone outstanding punter, to be able to do some of the things he does like the (when) pinned them at the (eight) yard line before we (got) that pick at the end of the game to go and seal it. So, he’s unbelievable, and I'm super happy to have him here. We talk and joke and laugh all the time, anytime we get a chance to, and, like I said, he’s pretty sick.” Some of Williams’ turnovers in the first two away games were because of trying to force the ball downfield. Against Los Angeles, he corrected that mistake by taking check-downs when that was the best option. That proved to be critical for getting running back D’Andre Swift going, as he was the leading receiver in that game with seven receptions for 72 yards. Williams says this was a problem for him in college. But now that he is adjusting to the Bears’ offensive scheme, he is correcting that problem and working on taking what the defense gives him. “When I was in college, I think that was a knock on my game. I think everybody wanted to say that I don’t take check-downs and things like that. But, you also have to adapt to the team. You also have to adapt to the situation,” Williams said. “It’s always a growing and learning process and I think I’ve done, I would say, a pretty solid job of finding checkdowns and understanding that (is) so huge for us and our offense and keeping us on the football field. So, with me doing that and all of that, I think it’s been important for us. I think it’s something that I’ve gotten better with, obviously, and also, I know that when you can steal first down, which is what check-downs do, it helps out tremendously in the long run of the game.”
