Defensive lineman Chris Jones is one of the best players of his era. After he retires, the three-time Super Bowl champion will end up in the Hall of Fame. During his stellar career, he has gone against several different quarterbacks. They include Tom Brady, Philip Rivers, Ben Roethlisberger, Aaron Rodgers, Drew Brees, Matthew Stafford, and Josh Allen. He is also a teammate of Patrick Mahomes, the undisputed best in the game today. It is safe to say Jones knows what good quarterbacks look like.
Marc Silverman of ESPN 1000 revealed that the defensive lineman told him outright that Mitch Trubisky, who’d taken the Bears to the playoffs a year earlier in 2018, was not the guy. Kansas City had thumped Chicago that season 26-3. Trubisky managed only 157 yards passing and was sacked three times. The same was probably true of Justin Fields, who managed 99 yards, a touchdown, and an interception in a 41-10 drubbing last year. However, it appears Jones holds a different stance on #1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
Chris Jones will likely see some of his own quarterback in Williams.
By now, everybody has heard the comparisons to Mahomes. Both have an almost supernatural ability to make plays outside the pocket. However, Williams still has to prove he can win as a pocket passer as well. Some fear he won’t be able to play point guard as a distributor the way Mahomes has in recent years. Those close to the rookie laugh at such a notion. They know Williams has the poise, vision, and quick release to do exactly that. All he needs is time to master the NFL speed.
If someone like Chris Jones is already a fan, that should tell you a lot. The Bears may have finally gotten the position right. They also managed to build a supporting cast that could actually help him. Most #1 picks are saddled with atrocious situations. Williams has two Pro Bowl-caliber receivers, a Pro Bowl-caliber tight end, a sturdy offensive line, and a potential top-10 defense. If he learns to lean on the people around him, this can be a season of immediate success.
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@Dr. Sallie: I expect that DE Hunter will get a heavy dose of Marcedes Lewis chipping on him, as well as Braxton and Darnell getting in his way. I’m pretty sure they will have a game plan for Hunter that includes a lot of, let’s call it ‘attention’.
That’s right! The Bears need a sturdy offensive line. They better have one in time for the Texans game. Might have to double team DE Hunter!