Cubs News: Williams on accuracy issues, holding onto the ball too long |
CHICAGO—Things looked incredibly promising for rookie quarterback Caleb Williams going into the bye week. He was coming off a four-touchdown performance in which he distributed the ball well, read the Jacksonville Jaguars defense well, and had his highest completion percentage in a game in his NFL career thus far, at 79.3 percent.
Since the bye week, the Bears have been tumbling downward. They have been atrocious on the road, losing all four of their road games thus far this season. In three out of four of Chicago’s away games, Williams has failed to throw a touchdown; he also has four interceptions in road games. His accuracy in the past two games is quite poor; he hit a season-low with a 41.7 percent completion percentage against the Washington Commanders in the Bears’ Hail Mary loss. Against Arizona, his completion percentage was 53.7 percent. These two games are two of the worst of his young NFL career. Given how much he takes pride in being an accurate quarterback, this is certainly bothering Williams, but he said that things are going to improve. “I’ve worked hard over the years (when) I wanted to become a quarterback of accuracy being the most important thing and I still pride myself on that and so, not being accurate, not being on time with things is frustrating just because (that’s) kind of been my thing, something I’ve been at least pretty solid at and right now, I’m not as solid as I’ve been, not as solid as I pride myself on and definitely going to get there,” Williams said. “We’re going to get there. But, I think it starts with me, and then it boils down from there.” It certainly does not help a quarterback’s completion percentage when they are not on the same page as their top wide receiver. Despite throwing the ball to wide receiver DJ Moore 13 times in the past two games, Moore only has six receptions for 60 yards. In addition, tight end Cole Kmet only has one target; he was not targeted in Chicago’s 20-point loss against the Arizona Cardinals. Specifically concerning Moore who had such immediate chemistry with quarterback Justin Fields last season, his lack of production is quite troubling. Williams admitted their chemistry is not where he wants it to be but says he and Moore will figure it out. “It’s not in a place from the past games (where) we would like it. Both of us, it’s frustrating because you got a guy so special and not being able to connect and hit on certain passes is frustrating for myself and I know it’s frustrating for him (because) as a wide receiver especially, you only get so many chances so many times the ball comes your way in a game. So, I wouldn’t put it past him that it’s frustrating,” Williams said. “But, we got to figure it out. That’s the whole point about football is figuring out why things are certain ways and finding ways to overcome or get better at them.” Another problem has been sacks. Through the first eight games of the season, Williams has been sacked 29 times. With numerous offensive linemen now injured as five were on the injury report Wednesday, Williams could face much more pressure the remainder of the season. That is particularly true as Chicago has not played a division game yet this season and all three of their division opponents have good defenses. The Minnesota Vikings blitz the most out of any defense in the league through the first nine weeks while the Detroit Lions are No. 6 in blitz rate. All three NFC North opponents are in the top three in hurries through the first nine weeks as the Vikings are first, Lions second and the Green Bay Packers are tied for third in hurries. With opponents like these in Chicago’s future, Williams cannot hold onto the ball too long like he has done in previous games. “I have to do better at certain times of getting the ball out, understanding the situation. It may be a third down and those are times where you may hold the ball longer. But, if there’s something underneath that can get us the first down instead of trying to hit maybe one of the outs or the bench routes or the dagger routes. Take the check down, give it to one of your guys in space and let him go to work. I think I can do a better job with that,” Williams said. “I’ve gotten better. I’ve been better with protections. I think (center) Coleman (Shelton)’s helped out a lot with protections and so, that’s just finding ways and within that, myself finding ways to be better.”
