After missing last week’s Hall of Fame game, Houston TexansCaleb Williams made his long-awaited NFL debut on Saturday. Buffalo Bills.
It didn’t take long for expectations for the rookie quarterback and future No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft to reach the stratosphere.
Williams started Chicago Bears Williams led his team on two first-quarter scoring drives in Saturday’s game against the Bills. The Bears ended both of Williams’ attempts with field goals, and he finished the game completing 4 of 7 passes for 95 yards and rushing for 13 yards.
But it was Williams’ play that showcased both his playmaking skills and subtle play from the pocket that got Bears fans excited Saturday.
The first glimpse of those playmaking skills came on a first-down play against Buffalo, when Williams struggled in the pocket only to throw the ball to running back D’Andre Swift, who had released him out of the backfield after helping with pass protection.
As the replay angle shows, rather than fleeing the collapsing pocket, Williams stayed put, fought and simply flicked the ball to Swift, turning what could have been a disastrous play into a big gain for the Bears.
As the NFL’s social media team pointed out, the play was made with the rookie’s hand in his face.
Later in the first quarter, Williams again showed a bit of magic on this boot-action play.
Williams came out of a run fake and started to roll to his right, but was pressured by Buffalo pass rusher D’Awuan Smoot. As Williams continued to roll to his right, he quickly used a pump fake to buy himself some time and then threw an absolute strike to tight end Cole Kmet for a 26-yard gain.
Replay angles of this throw show how Williams buys himself a little more time and space to make the pass, as well as the torque he generates with his upper body to throw this throw with as much velocity as possible.
But the play that got Bears fans most excited, and rightly so, may have been his first completed pass of the game. Facing a long pass on third down for Chicago, Williams again struggled in the pocket and this time fired a pass to DJ Moore.
What stands out about this play? Williams makes a great read and demonstrates subtle pocket movement before throwing this pass. While we don’t have an “all 22” perspective on this play, it appears the Bears are running a “stick” or “all curl” concept with three receivers running curl routes right at the first down marker and check-down receivers releasing in the flat on both sides of the field.
Williams opens up to the right to read the concept, but then looks to the left side of the formation and Moore’s curl route. As he does so, the edge of the pocket starts to loosen, but he uses subtle footwork to climb and move in the pocket and make a powerful throw to move the chains.
Chicago ended that drive with a field goal, just like their second attempt.
Williams’ day ended with just two scoring drives, but it was a strong debut for the rookie, showing off some magic in the pocket as well as the finer elements of a quarterback that Bears fans love to see.
So, if the Chicago fan in your life (Ricky O’Donnell, anyone) is feeling a little excited this weekend, now you know why.
