Caleb Williams has shown significant improvement in his first two games played under interim offensive coordinator Thomas Brown.
The difference is undeniable. After struggling through three straight losses from Weeks 8-10, the Bears fired Shane Waldron, replaced him with Brown, and watched Williams jump from an average of 156 passing yards per game during the aforementioned stretch (and zero passing touchdowns) to an average of 285.5 passing yards, plus a two-touchdown outing in Week 12.
Williams spread the credit around the organization when speaking with reporters on Tuesday, even thanking the passage of time for his progress.
"I definitely think time on task has helped," Williams explained. "Through all the games, practices, back to the spring and summer I think time on task has been extremely important. You can't ever beat that, being able to have time on task. I think that has provided a sense of clarity, a sense of belief.
"The confidence that you spoke about, it stays in the valleys and in the peaks you maintain and keep going. When you come out of those valleys and you get those peaks, you want to find ways to stay on that and plateau instead of having those valleys and peaks. All of that has come from time on task and being able to be decisive and have an open communication with all the players and coaches. From there we have grown."
That's a logical explanation for Williams' uptick in production, but we'd be remiss if we didn't mention Brown's elevation. Since the assistant has taken over as the offensive play-caller, the Bears have appeared more organized, protected Williams more consistently and simply performed like a professional offense. Williams has thrived, trading in running for his life amid constant pressure for more confident, precise passing. He's still making plays with his legs and playing sharp football; now, though, the rest of the offense is helping him out, nearly leading the Bears to an upset win over the NFC North rival Vikings this past Sunday.
"Our connection -- my playing ability and his coaching I think so far has connected pretty well," Williams said of Brown. "He's done a great job understanding me even though we have not had many talks in the past, many opportunities to do something like that. I think he has done a good job understanding me and the players we have on this team. I think that is going to keep growing. Us going into this week and facing this challenge will be another testament to that."
Despite losing five straight, the Bears are operating with a renewed optimism after proving to be a tough out in their last two games, both divisional clashes against NFC contenders ranking above them in the NFC North standings. Their road doesn't get any easier, as they embark on a brutal stretch that includes two games against the 10-1 Detroit Lions, trips to San Francisco, Minnesota and Green Bay, and a home date against Seattle.
The final results might not suggest a bright future, but Williams has silenced his doubters in his last two games. The only question Bears fans have now: Would things be different if Brown had been the OC the entire time?
"Not having somebody jump in halfway though the season, you get a better opportunity to understand them, talk to them more, be around them and their family a lot more," Williams said. "It would have helped, but that's not the situation. This is week three with Thomas. Us going out there and performing well helps our relationship. Us having the open communication that we have during games and on the practice field and in the rooms is only building that."
Williams is right -- wondering what could have been is a waste of time for these Bears. They have their franchise quarterback in place, and their eyes are rightfully trained on the future, which looks much more promising after the last two weeks.
