While there is no debating that this has been an uneven season for Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams, the signs continue to be encouraging. Improvements in decision-making, pocket awareness, and the willingness not to "play hero" ball have all been evident. This version of Williams can make every NFL throw or take off and create a big play with his legs. Something that this week's opponent has clearly taken into consideration when making a move to attempt to prepare for the quarterback.
According to Bears Film Room co-host and writer Dave, the Pittsburgh Steelers brought in quarterback John Rhys Plumlee to attempt to recreate the ability of Williams from the pocket. It is a move that shows a healthy level of fear of the quarterback's legs and ability to make plays, keeping an opposing defense off balance.
This was furthered by Post-Gazette Sports Brian Batko, who spoke to the quarterback about Pittsburgh's coaching staff having him study film of Williams. This was done so the athletic quarterback could do his best to mimic the style of play Williams brings to the table, ideally giving the Steelers a chance to prepare for his elite athleticism.
Bears QB Caleb Williams Clearly Inciting Fear after Pittsburgh's Latest Move
This is in no way to take away the struggles with consistency or the clear need for the quarterback to play at a higher level. Rather, this is a clear example of why Williams and the Bears remain on the right track, one that offers Chicago one of the most talented starters in the league. The Steelers clearly understand that the quarterback can change a game in the blink of an eye.
Even in the less-is-more style that Williams has been operating from the last few weeks of the season, the cape can be thrown back on in a blink. This doesn't always mean that he solely uses his legs to make plays himself, but to open up windows of opportunity and create off-schedule plays.
While it derailed the quarterback early in his Chicago tenure, this was what Williams thrived at during his college days. The star quarterback has an elite ability to play backyard football and create surprise plays. The issue with this was that early in his career, he attempted to adopt this style of play, rather than using it as an emergency approach.
Now that Williams is better at running an offense and not trying to play hero ball too often, the Bears can better utilize his skill set. One that the Steelers and the rest of the league are clearly paying attention to. There is no question that Ben Johnson's offense can still go up a level, and much of this is built around the continued progression of the young quarterback.
With this in mind, the Bears are in a far different position offensively than they have been for much of the last decade. Having a starter capable of inciting fear and welcoming the challenge of a team that has given no shortage of bulletin board material ahead of a Week 12 matchup.