Is Caleb Williams Being Set Up For Success?
On Sunday Night Football, Caleb Williams and the Chicago Bears faced off against CJ Stroud and the Houston Texans. The Bears lost 19-13 in Houston because of another lackluster offensive performance.
This game left fans questioning why the offense wasn’t working. Is it the quarterback? Could it be the offensive line? How about the offensive coordinator? Bears fans have been asking these questions for quite some time, wondering who’s to blame.
They drafted a potential superstar quarterback in Caleb Williams, but is he truly being set up to succeed?
History
The Chicago Bears are one of the most historic franchises in all of football. They’re known for their defense and toughness. Seriously, who hasn’t heard of the ‘85 Bears? But for the 105 years of their existence, they have never had an elite offense.
Caleb Williams and the revamped offense are supposed to change that narrative.
The Offensive Line Is in Shambles
The offensive line always seems to be a concern for the Chicago Bears, and yet they never seem to address the issue. Last year, the O-line was subpar. They gave up the seventh most sacks in the league. Having a quarterback who likes to run and hold on to the ball in Justin Fields doesn’t help, but the offensive line was still not good enough.
After seeing their poor performance last season, the front office decided to make one small change to the starting lineup. They signed veteran Coleman Shelton to replace Lucas Patrick in the center position. So far, one adjustment isn’t proving to be enough.
Caleb Has Taken A Beating
PHOTO: Troy Taormina/Imagn Images
In the first two games of the 2024 season, Caleb Williams has been sacked nine times, the most in the NFL. Against the Titans, the line struggled, but they were much worse against Houston. Caleb attempted 37 passes and had 44 total drop-backs on Sunday. He was pressured 36 times on 44 drop-backs, which equates to an 81.8% pressure rate.
This might be the most absurd statistic I’ve seen in quite some time, even for a Bears offense. Caleb was doing everything he could to keep them in the game, but he was given no chance back there.
Weapons Galore
One way the Bears tried to set Caleb up for success was by giving him many weapons to surround him. They acquired Keenan Allen (a six-time pro bowler), Rome Odunze (the ninth pick in the 2024 NFL draft), Gerald Everett (a veteran tight end), and D’Andre Swift (a 1,000-yard rusher who can catch out of the backfield). These all seem to be great additions to the team, but there have been some hiccups so far this season.
Keenan Allen has a long list of injury history, and as a 32-year-old, that doesn’t seem to be stopping anytime soon. He did not play in week 2 against the Texans because of a heel injury. Rome has also been dealing with an injury. He suffered a sprained MCL against the Titans and has been limited during practice. They also haven’t been able to utilize D’Andre Swift very effectively. Swift has rushed for only 48 yards on 24 attempts.
It has only been two weeks, but these new offensive additions haven’t lived up to expectations. Something has to change to get these weapons involved, whether it’s the offensive line, Shane Waldron (the new Bears offensive coordinator), or the quarterback.
New OC, Same Bears?
During the offseason, the Bears fired offensive coordinator Luke Getsy and hired former Seahawks’ OC Shane Waldron. Waldron had a lot of success in Seattle and is partially credited with reviving Geno Smith’s career. In his three years with the Seahawks, their offense ranked third in yards per touch (7.8), third in big passing plays (110), fifth in completion percentage (66.6%), eighth in yards per catch (11.2), and tied for first in turnovers (53).
It’s safe to say that Waldron did a great job in Seattle. Through the season’s first two weeks, the Bears offense hasn’t looked anything close to the previous Seahawks. Hopefully, they just need time to iron things out, and Shane Waldron doesn’t turn out to be another Luke Getsy.
A Young QB’s Best Friend
An elite defense can be a rookie quarterback’s best friend, and that’s exactly what the Bears have. Caleb doesn’t have to be Superman and win the game himself.
He can rely on his defense and make special plays when necessary. At USC, Caleb had to put the team on his back to win. But in Chicago, he’ll just have to play smart, methodical football.
Conclusion
Is Caleb being set up for success?
Yes and no. Ryan Poles and the front office did a phenomenal job bringing in talent across the majority of the roster. For the first time since Brandon Marshall and Alshon Jeffrey, the Bears have legit pass-catching threats. They have a play-caller who has succeeded at calling plays in the past. And they have one of the best defenses in the entire NFL.
But what they don’t have is a great offensive line. Ryan Poles deserves a failing grade for his construction of the offensive line up to this point. Nate Davis looks like a terrible signing, Braxton Jones has played well for a 5th-round pick, Darnell Wright has been up and down, Tevin Jenkins has underperformed to start the year, and the center position has been a complete disaster. While these guys aren’t uber-talented, they should be able to gain enough camaraderie to be an average O-line in the league.
Caleb Williams has a lot of support around him on paper, but it’s time for the players to perform on the field.
PHOTO: Troy Taormina/Imagn Images
Discover more from Chicago Sports Nation
Subscribe to get the latest posts sent to your email.
Categorized:Bears