LAKE FOREST, Sick. — Moments after celebrating the Chicago Bears drafting him with the No. 1 total decide on April 25, quarterback Caleb Williams was backstage watching a montage of the best moments in franchise historical past.
Narrated by Corridor of Famer Mike Singletary, the previous Bears linebacker listed the greats who had performed for Chicago and the way Williams was anticipated to be subsequent.
However of all of the accolades and accomplishments Singletary listed, there was one thing lacking. The Bears are the one NFL franchise by no means to have a quarterback throw for 4,000 yards or 30 touchdowns in a season.
“You look into it and also you marvel why,” Williams mentioned later that evening. “I requested questions, clearly. I’ve no disgrace in asking questions.
“They informed me and my dad the reality about why and what and the place and the way it will change. That is what we’re enthusiastic about.”
Williams’ quest to erase that blemish begins Sunday towards the Tennessee Titans (1 p.m. ET, Fox).
The staff’s single-season passing report is held by Erik Kramer, who reached 3,838 yards and 29 TDs throughout the 1995 season. Jay Cutler, who was the closest the Bears have needed to a franchise quarterback, is the staff’s all-time passing chief with 23,443 yards, however he by no means threw for greater than 3,812 yards in a season.
Chicago’s rookie report for passing touchdowns is 11 by Charlie O’Rourke in 1942 and a couple of,193 passing yards by Mitch Trubisky in 2017.
ESPN BET has Williams’ season totals at 22.5 passing touchdowns and three,451 passing yards as the previous Heisman Trophy winner from USC is predicted to interrupt a number of staff information.
However will he attain 4,000 yards or 30 TDs as a rookie? There have been 5 rookie quarterbacks to throw for 4,000 yards in NFL historical past:
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Andrew Luck, 4,374 in 2012
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Justin Herbert, 4,336 in 2020
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C.J. Stroud, 4,108 in 2023
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Cam Newton, 4,051 in 2,011
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Jameis Winston, 4,042 in 2015
Herbert threw 31 TD passes in 2020, the one rookie to prime 30.
“I believe if Caleb Williams can keep wholesome, I do consider he’ll throw for effectively over 4,000 yards, and he will convey one thing to this staff,” Corridor of Fame quarterback and ESPN “Monday Night time Soccer” analyst Troy Aikman mentioned throughout the Corridor of Fame Recreation on Aug. 1. “… I simply suppose he is a particular, particular expertise, and I am actually optimistic on what sort of profession he will have.”
The most important cause to be skeptical is the franchise’s historical past of being unable to supply a prolific quarterback, however there are causes for optimism. Listed below are three why Williams would possibly finish the Bears’ lengthy historical past of quarterback futility and will attain 4,000 passing yards and 30 touchdowns.
Three No. 1 receivers
Two extensive receivers accounted for the majority of Kramer’s passing manufacturing throughout the 1995 season: Jeff Graham (1,301 yards) and Curtis Conway (1,037).
Williams has extra weapons.
After DJ Moore set profession highs in catches (96), receiving yards (1,364 yards) and touchdowns (8) final season, the Bears fortified their receiving corps by buying and selling for Keenan Allen and drafting Rome Odunze with the No. 9 decide. Allen posted the second-most receiving yards (1,243) of his 11-year profession with the Los Angeles Chargers in 2023, and Odunze led all FBS applications in receiving (1,640) throughout Washington’s run to the nationwide title recreation.
Williams would be the first rookie quarterback in historical past to start out a season opener with two receivers who had at the least 90 receptions throughout the earlier NFL season (Allen had 108). He additionally has a stable tight finish in Cole Kmet, who had a career-high 73 receptions in 2023, plus D’Andre Swift, who was prime 5 amongst working backs in targets (78), receptions (62) and yards (452) throughout a profession yr as a go catcher with the Detroit Lions in 2021.
“I do not know if we’d like a No. 1 receiver,” Williams informed ESPN. “I believe we acquired a pair No. 1s, and that is what makes it enjoyable for us on the offensive facet of the ball, as a result of it makes it a hell of quite a bit [more] troublesome for the protection on the opposite groups for the subsequent 18 weeks. …
“They can not double DJ since you’ve acquired Keenan and Rome. They can not double Rome since you’ve acquired Keenan and DJ. I am gonna unfold the ball round, Keenan’s gonna have enjoyable, DJ’s gonna have enjoyable, Cole [Kmet], Gerald [Everett], Rome, the working backs — Swift and all of them.”
Cross-first mentality
Two performs throughout the Bears’ 27-3 preseason win over the Bengals on Aug. 17 make clear Williams’ mindset.
Nearing the top of the second quarter, Williams prolonged a play along with his legs earlier than firing a go to Odunze within the again proper nook of the top zone that might have been a landing had the receiver stored his ft inbounds. Two performs later, Williams stored his eyes downfield throughout a scramble whereas searching for an open receiver. The play resulted within the quarterback working in a 7-yard landing, which was his lone TD of the preseason.
Caleb. Williams.
📺: FOX pic.twitter.com/2YcTQ98uB2
— Chicago Bears (@ChicagoBears) August 17, 2024
In comparable conditions over the previous three seasons, Justin Fields typically selected to run the ball earlier than surveying the downfield choices.
Realizing when to maneuver off his pass-first mentality and run when crucial is one thing Williams has labored on all through coaching camp.
“It is a little bit robust as a result of I wish to go the ball, even in scramble mode,” Williams mentioned. “I are likely to lean much more in the direction of throwing the ball, throwing the ball for completion, proper in entrance of me, nonetheless it could work, one thing loopy, or simply throwing it to the top zone.
“They have been teaching me about attacking the road of scrimmage and issues like that on my scrambles, on the rollouts, the keepers. So, I have been making an attempt to get a little bit bit higher with balancing that and taking what they offer me, whether or not it is a run for yardage or fast go in entrance of me. It is at all times a continuing battle to do issues like that. You simply proceed to get higher at these conditions.”
Williams is a succesful runner, having rushed for 26 touchdowns in school (2021 at Oklahoma and the subsequent two seasons at USC).
Playcalling
Williams completed his school profession with 120 passing and dashing touchdowns. His 45 completions of 40-plus yards over three school seasons had been probably the most in FBS.
Bears offensive coordinator Shane Waldron has been tasked with constructing a scheme that performs to Williams’ strengths. Getting his quarterback on the transfer through play-action and designed rollouts had been highlights of Williams’ restricted motion within the preseason when he accomplished 10 of 20 passes for 170 yards with a 79.2 passer score.
Williams reaching 4,000 yards passing will depend on a heavier passing emphasis than the Bears have beforehand proven. Chicago ranked thirtieth in designed go share beneath former OC Luke Getsy (2022-23). Throughout that very same stretch, Waldron’s offenses in Seattle ranked seventh. Additionally, Seattle handed the ball on first down on the sixth-highest charge (56%) in 2023, in comparison with the Bears, who ranked twenty fifth on first-down passes (49%).
Placing a stability between taking part in inside construction and going off script has been one thing Waldron has emphasised to his QB throughout coaching camp. It was reiterated final week when coach Matt Eberflus mentioned he needs Williams to “play level guard” on early downs by distributing the ball to the ability gamers first, earlier than, as common supervisor Ryan Poles put it, “[letting] these wild performs occur on the proper time.”
Whether or not on the transfer or throwing off-platform, Williams has demonstrated a capability few different Bears quarterbacks had been able to. Harnessing that skill has been a objective for Waldron.
“He can play in rhythm, discover these throws,” Waldron mentioned. “After which what’s fairly cool to look at is when the play breaks down, it virtually looks as if it is in gradual movement for him, and he can discover a completely different rush lane, being sensible with the ball, breaking comprise and creating some explosives down the sector.”
