With all the changes in Chicago this past week -- a new offensive coordinator being the biggest -- the one change the team did not make is at quarterback.
No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams is still the starter and it will remain that way. Despite speculation to the contrary, the Bears did not nearly bench Williams ahead of Sunday's game against the Packers.
Instead, as sources explained, the possibility of starting Tyson Bagent over Williams was brought up in a broader context during a meeting with team brass and several of the team's leaders prior to Tuesday's firing of OC Shane Waldron. The idea would have been to give Williams a break for a few games, similar to what the Panthers did with Bryce Young (the 2023 No. 1 overall pick) earlier this season.
Sitting Williams was never truly considered, but part of a thorough evaluation prior to Waldron's dismissal.
As head coach Matt Eberflus said this past week, Williams will remain the starter. While the last three games have been a struggle for the rookie, he had appeared to hit his stride before that stretch when he threw seven touchdowns to one interception in three straight wins.
Bears players publicly supported the rookie this week, one example coming from wide receiver DJ Moore.
"You got to have support for him, no matter what," Moore on Wednesday. "He's going out there, busting his butt, trying to learn everything at once, and the defenses are throwing a lot at him. So, you can't really be mad at him. You just got to still back him."
Meanwhile, newly promoted OC Thomas Brown will take over play-calling from Waldron. And there will be changes, sources say.
The goal will be to get back to basics for Williams, as his transition from college to professional football has been a bit steeper than anticipated.
From using cadence to his advantage (which he never did in college) to identifying protections (which he never did in college) to checking into the proper play at the line (which he also never did in college), it has been a nonstop learning experience for Williams. In fact, the Bears could tell in organized team activities how many adjustments it would take for Williams on the pro level.
By all accounts, Williams has done what's necessary to improve, but it hasn't been a straight line. Prior to the Hail Mary fiasco in the Bears' Week 8 loss to the Commanders, Williams looked like he was rolling.
The focus, sources say, is to simplify, and going back to basics is how Brown put it in a team meeting earlier this week.
As Brown learned last year while doing the same thing in Carolina during Young's rookie season, you can't add new plays and new schemes. It is about figuring out what's next and whittling it down.
Getting the ball out quicker is a focal point some have highlighted, and while some criticism has come of the offensive line, the reality is that everyone is at fault for the sacks. Williams has been sacked a league-high 38 times this season, and that number has been consequential.
The Bears are 0-4 during games in which Williams has taken four-plus sacks and are 4-1 in games that he has taken three or fewer, according to 国产外流网Research. Only the Browns have had more possessions (39) than the Bears' 33 drives (of 100) that involve a sack.
How much does it matter?
Chicago has scored two touchdowns on drives where it has taken a sack and 16 touchdowns on drives where it has not. The Bears average 2.7 yards on drives during which they've taken a sack and 5.2 yards per play on drives where they haven't.
If Williams can get the ball out quicker, that should help minimize the issue.
They will try to build off the run game as well, using motion and shifts to scheme guys open in an effort to find more explosive plays off play-action and keepers. They will continue to home in on Williams being fundamentally sound, knowing in the 国产外流网he can't get away with the same things he got away with in college based purely on his athleticism.
Simply, he needs to play point guard. Teams have thrived after change in the 国产外流网in the past, most notably last year when the Buffalo Bills promoted Joe Brady to OC after firing Ken Dorsey.
The Bears hope they follow suit with their move this past week.
