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For sure. And I also think DA scouts film for tendencies, and puts players, by scheme, in position to get INTs too. I think Byard actually said something about it in a post game interview a couple weeks ago, something like 'he told me it would be there'

Yeah but Caleb had 3,500+ yards his rookie season with nothing around him and coaches being fired. Justin has never exceeded 2,562 in ANY season. You might use some of the same words to describe what they need to work on, but they were never at the same level of that? Caleb made plenty of in rhythm throws every week, even as a rookie, Justin rarely did, ever. They are both athletic, but Fields has never shown the ability as a pocket QB that Caleb started with right out of the gate. So I don't think they really compare at all? But i do agree with your point that Caleb is progressing and getting better.

thats very needed. thank you for finding that.

excellent article - says everything. Caleb's not some middle of the pack Trubisky type. He's a guy that shows many plays of being elite, but he still makes inconsistent errors too. Its one thing to try to get a QB to elevate their play, its another to have a QB who already does that, and just needs to iron out inconsistencies. The flashes say he is going to be great. IF Caleb is disciplined and has good coaching (both of which seem evident) then he will make fewer mistakes and all that will be left is an elite QB.

Interesting - I hope this isnt bad news on TJ Edwards. Maybe it's special teams help? Or just playing with the bottom of the roster, which every team should always be doing anyway.

For me, I can see the road ahead for Caleb - I see him improving every week in the mechanics of being an NFL QB. His footwork, his eyes, his timing get better each and every week. For example, Tim Jennings and Chase Daniel both praised multiple plays this week from Caleb that were incomplete. I think some people just watch the game, and count completions and the like, and others watch things like footwork etc. I think we all see an incomplete package, both in Caleb and the offense as a whole. And that's fair. I see that too, and I agree with it. But if you look at Caleb's trajectory week to week and the mechanics of playing the position, you see he is making steady progress every week. So if you trust in Ben Johnson, all the evidence says we are on our way to something special. Of course at each level, you have to reach it before anyone can say you've arrived there. But it can also be seen that so far, the progress has been steady, so it's a pretty good bet that Caleb will get there. As for comparisons to Trubisky - I really don't see it. Not if you look at the mechanics, and the growth curve. Not if you look at what's happening, and WHY. The media narrative is shifting on him, soon they'll be overpraising him. Maybe some already are. And maybe that will change some minds, but it shouldn't. You've got a young QB here who has all the tools to be one of the greatest ever. He's obviously not there, but I can't think of another young QB I'd rather ride into the future with. The guy is special. It's hard to miss. It's just not consistent yet. But it's getting better every single week.

Sold? oh for sure youre right. No one is sold. He isnt top 5 until he's top 5, I think we all agree that. I just meant sees the talent, the ceiling.

for sure unpopular opinions can be true. I've had some here, and they turned out to be true. So have other people. But if anyone thinks Caleb and JF are similar players, that's like arguing that a football is square? Or that we should fire Ben Johnson right now. Its CRAZY.

Hell, Caleb is 13th in the league by yards right now. Honestly, everyone on this board sees it except for one person. Im not trying to be mean, but we spend an awful lot of time on this one person's awful takes - myself maybe most of all, to be fair.

well said

This was my early stat sheet that year before i started watching film. You can see what McCarthy was (very) good at and what the concerns were too. Plus he's younger.

Caleb is 1,000 times better right now than JF ever has been. His body language was not pouting because we ran the ball at the end, it was because the offense didnt play better the whole game. The pundits who are saying Caleb is in trouble in Chicago are morons. This is an awful take - it is ignorant and says people who think it know nothing about football. It's not even close. Fields was terrible, and Caleb is on his way to greatness. If you cant see that, you cant see anything.

LOL excellent

I have TMobile, and I can sign on with safari on my iPhone when on cellular - I hope that helps?

amen. it's ridiculous. Absolutely. Caleb is not a finished product by any means. This week, the Vikings blitzed on 67% of the plays, and Caleb was under instant pressure. Benedet has not been great in pass protection. What Caleb can do is somehow magically get out of most sacks. This isnt because he has an ego and is playing USC "hero ball" - thats an old media narrative that should be dead by now for anyone watching the games. Escaping pressure is not big play hunting. Also, the Vikings blitzed and played man to man a lot. That means less or no help over the top. The DBs were playing tight and close, so that means the way you beat them is over the top with the long ball. One of Caleb's biggest weaknesses in my view is his inaccuracy on long balls. The Vikings were smart to play him that way. To dare him to beat them over the top. It plays to a weakness, and it forces the play to take longer, which, when coupled with extra pressure, makes things tough on Caleb. But we will improve his pass protection. We will find another player if necessary to play LT. Caleb's long term future is still bright. But his holding the ball longer and throwing long passes this week wasn't ego or hero ball. It was a consequence of the defensive game plan, and a lack of pass protection. His inaccuracy on those early long passes IS on Caleb. And that would have calmed down the blitz if he'd hit on one. There is blame to go around, but if you think Caleb was playing hero ball, and is likely to be replaced in the middle of next year, then you don't really know football at all.

Totally agree of course. Just watching him, he is getting better each week, and has all the traits of an all time great. Will he reach that height? I dunno, no one can tell, but to think we are going to abandon Caleb Williams based on what weve seen this season is possibly the dumbest thing Ive ever heard. The good news is, when he reaches the next level, which I absolutely think he will, the guy that said we'd get rid of him will probably be talking about how great he is. Instead of how good Justin Fields is (yes still!). There's more to say, but I promised I wouldnt, so I wont. But sheesh.

Well thats an old media narrative for sure. Just so Im clear, youre saying you think the Bears will abandon Caleb Williams in the middle of next season. Thats your take. Astonishing really.

Interesting point. And great analysis in the whole post.

when players are playing well, they do get extended in the season, we've done it before too but i forget the exact example. But it tells the team that good play gets rewarded, and it locks him up before free agency if hes amenable.

hahahaha Get an ad blocker for sure!

and i think had they fired Eberflus before last year, Johnson would have been our coach anyway. And we were fighting about it in here too! I cant think of any decisions that were ever clearer than Eberflus or Fields. Yikes!

ew

yes. CB injuries arent helping, but even bad CBs play better with a pass rush in front of them.

another big 4th quarter meltdown by the D. We need a pass rush.

we should extend him, this week would be a good time to do it - especially with Brisker on the chopping block, and the likelihood of a new player, possibly a rookie at the other safety spot next year. And extend CJGJ too while youre at it. He provides great depth at CB, and I wouldnt be at all shocked if he was our other safety next year.