The noise has been loud over the weekend with Tyler Dunne's explosive article on Caleb Williams and the 2024 Chicago Bears.
A lot was discussed, including Williams struggling to learn the offense, his walking away from a coach while being given directions, and even being accused of having a learning disability. There's a lot in there that will make Bears fans uneasy and even question the validity of the article.
Looking back at the facts of last year, the Bears went 5-12, had three different offensive play callers, two head coaches, and Williams being sacked 68 times with 16 turnovers. Those are the only facts Bears fans will know from the 2024 season.
This article isn't about living in the past of what sounds like a turbulent season for the franchise. It's about moving forward to what Williams has done to progress and become the face of the franchise that Chicago needs him to be.
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The sole reason the Bears hired head coach Ben Johnson was his plan to develop Williams and make the franchise quarterback the team drafted him to be. Johnson's plan has been clear from the beginning, and it has seemed to be working.
First part of the plan was to coach Williams hard. Johnson has not been afraid to get after his quarterback in practice and make sure he is doing all the small things right on the field.
The second part of the developmental plan for Williams was to get him to make quicker, smarter decisions with the football. Enough of the days of him playing backyard quarterback and stepping into the pocket and making a throw within two seconds. That will eliminate the sacks and get the offense rolling with high percentage completions.
Speaking of completion percentage, Johnson has a goal for Williams to hit over 70% for the season. This will show in the data that Williams is making the best decisions on the field and cutting down on negative plays.
Lastly, Johnson wants Williams to be different as a leader. Last year, he showed his frustration more than he should have. This year, it's about hiding those emotions and being more supportive on the sidelines.
What's the progress report on the development plan so far? It was rough at training camp in the first week, but it has all come together with more consistency from Williams. During the preseason, Williams completed 17 of 25 passes (68% completion percentage) for 220 yards and two touchdowns in two games.
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Last year is in the rearview mirror. The Bears' culture has changed, and Williams appears to be more mature in his second season. Chicago fans have plenty to be excited about with Williams, as he's shown in the last month that he's ready to be the player the city needs him to be.