Former Super Bowl champ Andrew Whitworth analyzes Caleb Williams' issues after 4-5 record
Former Super Bowl champion Andrew Whitworth didn't mince words when assessing Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams' struggles this season.
With the Bears mired in a 4-5 record and three-game losing streak, Whitworth pointed to a fundamental flaw in Williams' playstyle that might have contributed to the team's offensive woes.
Whitworth appeared on the "Up & Adams" show on November 11, 2024, to offer his perspective. He emphasized that as Williams continues to struggle, the offensive line must step up and provide better protection for the young quarterback.
"When you start to struggle like this, these offensive linemen, they got to take some pride in protecting him," Whitworth said. "He's also got to help them. He holds the football way too long ... so if you're going to ad lib as a quarterback, if you're going to extend plays, that's, it becomes on you."
Whitworth pointed out that after the initial play design and timing, Williams should make quick decisions, rather than prolonging plays and taking unnecessary risks. This seemingly has led to the Bears' offensive line being overwhelmed and Williams taking a beating.
"So once we've gotten through the timing and rhythm of the play, it's really you making solid decisions, getting the ball out of your hand, taking go ahead and throw the incompletion, and let's move to the next down, because that's a whole lot better than us having negative yards or if you're going to extend it, make something happen that's on you to make a play," Whitworth added.
Looking at the broader rookie quarterback class, Caleb Williams' performance so far has him trailing behind standouts like Jayden Daniels and Bo Nix.
Daniels has emerged as the frontrunner for Offensive Rookie of the Year, while Nix has helped lead the Broncos to a surprising 5-5 record. In comparison, Williams' struggles have contributed to the Bears' start, raising questions about his development and the team's ability to properly support their prized first-round pick.
Can Eberflus and the Bears salvage a tumbling offense under Caleb Williams before it's too late?
Whitworth's critique of Caleb Williams' decision-making and pocket awareness highlights a key issue that has plagued the Bears' offense this season. The pressure might be mounting on head coach Matt Eberflus to find a solution before the season spirals further out of control.
With the Bears' offensive coordinator Shane Waldron also facing scrutiny, Eberflus acknowledged after Sunday's defeat that he'll evaluate "everything from the top to the bottom." This could include a potential change in the play-calling position to provide Williams with a more streamlined and efficient offensive system.
The Bears' offense has been a disappointment this season, averaging just 2.4 yards per play in a recent 19-3 loss to the New England Patriots. Caleb Williams finished that game 16-of-30 for 120 yards and was sacked a season-high nine times, highlighting the struggles of both the quarterback and his offensive line.
In the first nine starts of Caleb Williams's career, the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft has completed 60.5 percent of his passes for 1,785 yards. He has thrown nine touchdowns compared to five interceptions.
While there have been occasional flashes of brilliance, Williams appears to be running for his life and unable to consistently find a rhythm.
As the Bears cling to their potential fading playoff hopes, the onus falls on Eberflus and his staff to quickly identify and address the root causes of their offensive woes.