When Caleb Williams extends a play, that’s when he is at his best.
The 23-year-old quarterback can throw off-platform, with multiple defenders in his face, and somehow connect with his intended target. It’s that X-factor that intrigued Ben Johnson well before he became the Chicago Bears head coach.
It’s those types of plays that have also stood out to Johnson throughout the offseason training program.
“There’s always a throw or two every single day; the movement stuff outside of the pocket, it’s what we thought coming into town here, the ability to create,” Johnson said on the final day of OTAs. “Sometimes you get wrapped up when you’re in the multiple play call game, being in the perfect play all the time for the perfect coverage, that look of the defense, and really with him, it doesn’t matter so much what the play call is. If it’s the perfect play, then it’s great, it’s there. If it’s not, then he’s able to find a way to make it work.”
Style Williams needs to learn in Johnson's offense
Williams’ rookie season featured plenty of those off-schedule, on-the-move throws, which opens up the possibilities for Johnson and his playcalling. But for Johnson’s offense to operate effectively, Williams must learn to play more consistently on time and in rhythm.
That’s a part of the reason why Lions quarterback Jared Goff threw for over 4,000 yards in each of the last three seasons while Johnson was Detroit’s offensive coordinator. The Bears are the only NFL franchise without a 4,000-yard passer.
If Williams can learn how to play on time in Johnson’s offense, there is no reason why the former No. 1 overall pick can’t be the first player to break that record in Chicago’s history. The Bears revamped their offensive line and invested in more pass-catching targets.
Everything is shaping up for Williams to have a big jump in year two.
“I think he’s gonna play on time when the receivers present themselves that way,” Johnson said. “And if they’re not there, if No. 1 or No. 2’s not there, I think he’s got the ability to make it right for us.”
Johnson has confidence that Williams will overcome instances when the defense has all the answers for a particular play call, but the young quarterback must also do his part to run the plays his head coach calls as intended.
On day two of mandatory minicamp, Williams connected with Roschon Johnson in the flat during a 7-on-7 period. Johnson was displeased with the rep and for good reason.
“No, he was late,” Johnson said. “He needs to get there faster.”
Johnson has no issue with demanding perfection and Williams has certainly seen that Johnson wants his plays run a certain way. The longer the two are together, the better the connection will grow as they work on building Chicago's offense. A similar process that occurred while Johnson was in Detroit.
“I thought that was some of the best things that I did when I became coordinator was the quarterback and the play caller need to see the play exactly the same, so you don’t develop that trust unless you spend a lot of time together and for whatever reason if you do that in the room with all the other quarterbacks, sometimes you can get a little defensive, whereas when it’s one-on-one, the truth can come out and no one’s feelings are going to get hurt and each person can speak the truth,” Johnson said. “I guess those are some of the things that I have learned over the years.”
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Williams is dedicated to learning Johnson's offense, and that's why he showed up and participated in Tuesday's practice at Halas Hall – a few days after mandatory minicamp ended.
“We’re not where we need to be yet as a team and he understands that,” Johnson said. “Any chance he gets to get a few more full-speed reps, it sounds like he wants them.”
The next time Williams and his teammates will be with their coaches will be in July for training camp. That will also be the next opportunity to continue working on the timing and details required to effectively operate Johnson's offense.