One common misconception regarding quarterback is the belief that only the strongest arms have success in the NFL. That is not true. Yes, having a strong arm can be a huge asset to a team. It means the quarterback can make almost any throw in any window. Few guys can fit a ball between two defenders 40 yards down the field. However, one of the most critical abilities never talked about enough is whether those strong-armed quarterbacks can take some zip off their throws, applying more touch in certain situations. Baseball enthusiasts would equate it to a 100 mph fireballer having a good 80 mph changeup. This is where Caleb Williams may separate himself from the rest of the 2024 draft class.
Albert Breer of the MMQB has collected details on the USC quarterback for months. During an appearance on the Toucher & Hardy Show in Boston, he revealed some fascinating data points he received courtesy of Williams’ quarterbacks coach, NFL veteran Rich Scangarello. Based on biometric measurements going back years, most quarterbacks have a four-mile-per-hour difference between their slowest throw and fastest throw. Williams has a ten-mile-per-hour difference, which is absolutely absurd.
This means he can throw a 56 mph heater 60 yards down the field or a 46 mph blooper over a dropping linebacker. It is becoming easier to understand why Williams is so hard to defend.
Caleb Williams has no restrictions on throwing the football.
There is no situation where he wouldn’t be able to get the completion if there is a window open. The big question with him, as it is with most young quarterbacks, is whether he’ll be able to see the windows. They open and close much faster in the NFL. Processing speed is what separates the great ones from everybody else. Time will tell if he has it or not. Everything else isn’t an issue. He can throw the ball better than anyone else in this class, has uncanny improvisational skills, and has high marks as a teammate and leader.
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Aside from his shorter stature at 6’1, there isn’t much to complain about. Caleb Williams has earned the right to be the #1 pick in the draft. Nobody knows for sure if he will live up to the hype or not. Everybody thought Jeff George was the next John Elway in 1990. He was not. The Bears have done all the research they possibly can to make sure they’re taking somebody who can be great. Most people around the NFL feel Williams has that capability. Now it is a matter of getting him on the field to prove it.
