Caleb Williams didn’t get off to a hot start this year, but the #1 overall pick is making steady progress in recent weeks. After producing a stat-filled game against the Indianapolis Colts in week three, he followed it with a highly efficient outing against the Los Angeles Rams. While his 157 yards and one touchdown weren’t flashy, he avoided turnovers and kept the offense in a rhythm. Fans may not have liked it, but the defense sure did. Williams’ willingness to protect the ball and sustain longer drives kept them fresh all game. Montez Sweat took note of that.
The Pro Bowl defensive spoke with Justin Melo of The Draft Network. When asked about his young quarterback, Sweat revealed the simple advice he gave him.
“I told Caleb Williams to keep doing exactly what he’s doing. He’s a very humble guy, but he’s also confident in his abilities. I told him to keep doing what he’s doing. It’s working for us.”
Believe it or not, this isn’t the first time a young quarterback was given those simple but motivating words from a veteran teammate. Jim McMahon revealed a few years ago in the ’85 Bears documentary for ESPN that Walter Payton told him the exact same thing after his first start in 1982.
Montez Sweat understands what Williams is trying to do.
Back in 1982, McMahon recognized immediately that the Bears’ offense was too predictable. It was his job to ensure that wasn’t the case as often as possible, even at the risk of enduring Mike Ditka’s wrath. For Williams, he recognizes the Bears have a strong defense. It will keep them in every game, provided he doesn’t do anything foolish. That means avoiding turnovers, sustaining drives, and getting points whenever possible. Don’t feel the need to press. Fans don’t like it because it keeps his numbers down. Williams does not care. He’s only interested in winning.
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That is exactly what Payton realized back then and Montez Sweat does now. The last thing Williams should be getting is discouragement. He is doing things the right way. He’s playing from the pocket, adjusting protections, making the right audibles, and contenting himself with check-downs when the big plays aren’t there. This is stuff you expect from a veteran, never mind a rookie. As he continues gaining experience and comfort in the Bears’ system, the numbers will work themselves out.
Haven’t seen an article on it yet, so I wanted to say congratulations to Tory Taylor for earning NFC Special Teams Player of the Week. His outstanding punting made a huge difference against the Rams. Keep it up!
In the piece about the 1985 Bears and the current Bears team, one of my comments about voting between 2025 Caleb and 1985 McMahon was deemed silly by a new ignorant male hyena. Of course it’s viciously amusing, but also sarcastically relevant. I believe this article and that one suggests that such a QB comparison is inevitable. Two things though: I Can See for Miles and I’m Ahead of My Time.