3 signs Caleb Williams is improving with the Chicago Bears

It is hard for fans not to be disappointed with the Chicago Bears' 1-2 start to the season. However, the key to this season is less about the record and more about deciding whether or not the Bears have a future franchise quarterback in Caleb Williams. While there have been plenty of downs in his play through the first two weeks of the regular season, Sunday had some encouraging signs.

3. Caleb Williams has seen his stats improve 

Williams threw for 363 yards in Week 3 after throwing for 267 total yards in Weeks 1 and 2. He had two touchdowns while he did not throw any in the first two weeks.

While he did throw two interceptions on Sunday, he also had his lowest turnover-worthy throw of the season, according to PFF. Williams also had two big-time throws down the field, per PFF, his first two of the season. 

2. Caleb Williams is playing within the Chicago Bears offense 

One of the best things that Williams has done this season is play within the offense. His time to throw this season is 2.76, which is 15th amongst qualified quarterbacks, per PFF.

Williams ranks 27th in the percentage of dropbacks that lead to him holding the ball for 2.5 seconds or more. It is evened out by holding the ball longer when he does, and that is why some in the media are harping on this, but overall, he has played within the offense. 

The issue is that the offense he is playing within is not good. He ranks 33rd in yards per attempt when getting the ball out in under 2.5. So, in the plays he does the most, he ranks awful. Williams ranks 30th in yards per attempt on screens, yet he is sixth in the percentage of his passes that are a screen. If anything, the argument is that Williams is being too constrained and may need to be allowed to play more freely. 

1. Caleb Williams is getting more accurate 

The biggest concern with Williams coming from Week 1 was how inaccurate he was. That was not something that was in the scouting report. Still, as the year has started, we have watched Williams go from outlandishly erratic to a more controlled quarterback. 

According to the completion rate over expected, Williams was at -19.8% after Week 1. He was completing passes 20% less than most average quarterbacks would have completed. In Week 2, he was at 1.3%, and this week he was at 2.7 in the positive. This is impressive because his completed air yards per attempt went from 1.6 in week one, to 1.2 in week two, all the way to 4.7 last week. This goes back to the idea that the coaching staff may let Williams sling the ball down the field a little more and create a little more in the pocket.