Bears’ plan to support Caleb Williams threatening to devolve into nightmare

Bears’ plan to support Caleb Williams threatening to devolve into nightmare originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago

HOUSTON, Texas — It has looked too familiar. Like a nightmare that you can’t escape.

There’s a young quarterback clad in orange and blue, the hopes of a city on his shoulders, under siege for 60 minutes. There are no receivers creating easy separation. The run game is non-existent. There’s just a young quarterback doing whatever he can to survive and give his team a chance to win.

Things were supposed to look different with Caleb Williams. But through two games, the Bears’ new-look offense has looked a lot like the type that has been destroying quarterbacks in Chicago for decades.

Williams has thrown for just 267 yards through two games, no touchdowns, and two interceptions. During Sunday night’s 19-13 loss to the Houston Texans, Williams was sacked seven times, hit 11, and pressured on 23 of 48 dropbacks. Williams was pressured 36 times, and non-Williams runners gained 1.6 yards per carry.

Last week, the Tennessee Titans’ defensive front mauled the interior of the Bears’ offensive line. On Sunday, Texans edge rushers Will Anderson Jr. and Danielle Hunter had left tackle Braxton Jones and right tackle Darnell Wright in the torture chamber.

There were very few easy throws to get Williams in rhythm, the play-calling was suspect, and the adjustments either didn’t occur or didn’t work.

Either way, it has taken just two weeks for the “best situation ever for a No. 1 overall pick” to look like a toxic safety hazard that could damage Williams’s development instead of accelerating his takeoff.

“When it finally connect and well in the same cylinder, it’s going to be good,” wide receiver DJ Moore said after the loss. “Right now, we’re building a puzzle together. Until we get that puzzle fully complete, it’s going to be an up-and-down road.”

Every member of the Bears’ offense knew it would take time for Williams to get comfortable and find a groove. But the product…


Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/bears-plan-support-caleb-williams-091722306.html

Author : NBC Sports Chicago

Publish date : 2024-09-16 09:17:22

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