Caleb Williams overextended himself as a newcomer. The Bears’ new coach can address that.

If you’ve ever had a memorable dinner with friends or special someone, you know how chaotic things can get. Orders come in fast and hot, there’s hardly any time, and everything can go wrong in the blink of an eye.

If you’re not one to shy away from a bit of culinary chaos, you might enjoy shows like *Kitchen Nightmares*. Gordon Ramsay dives into some of the worst-run kitchens, trying to turn them around before they go completely belly up. A common theme? Head chefs attempting to juggle too many tasks, which often backfires, even with the best intentions.

Now, let’s consider Caleb Williams’ rookie season with the Chicago Bears. It resembles a rushed play in a high-stakes game, tangled up in the chaos of a *Kitchen Nightmares* episode. There was an overwhelming number of adjustments to be made, both before and after the snaps. At times, the team resembled a high school squad rather than a professional NFL franchise. There was even a point where the Bears seemed, well, on fire—figuratively, at least, as they struggled under pressure, as pointed out by center Coleman Shelton while Williams navigated a challenging tagged-out route.

To put it simply, the Bears’ offense seemed like a disaster, with plays falling apart due to poor offensive line performance and receivers running incorrect routes. It felt as if the entire offense had been hastily thrown together just days before the game, like an amateur team. Yet, Williams didn’t place blame on the play itself. Even with impressive stats—3,500 passing yards and 20 touchdowns—he ranked 35th out of 47 qualified QBs concerning success rates and earned very little EPA per play. He was sacked 68 times, and among QBs who attempted over 100 pressured throws, he was brought down 27.4% of the time. While other rookie QBs like Jayden Daniels had slightly better sack rates, Williams seemed to struggle with frequent pressure during his season.

Given the offensive misfires with Williams, the Bears have set out on a major revamp this offseason. The standout move? Hiring Ben Johnson as head coach. Johnson led the Detroit Lions’ offense last season, which was one of the most explosive in the league. Now, the focus shifts to how Johnson can optimize Williams’ capabilities. The answer seems quite straightforward.

What Was the Issue?

Let’s discuss the major factors that impacted Williams’ season in Chicago through both his eyes and those of other rookie QBs. As the first overall pick, I think Williams was perhaps handed expectations that were too hefty. Playing QB in the NFL is notoriously difficult (surprise!), but the best teams ease rookies into the complexities and pace of the game through simplified offenses. Williams was thrown into the deep end early on. Starting in Week 1, he was expected to lead and reshape the offense at the line of scrimmage. Essentially, it was like asking a novice student to teach a class. This led to confusion, especially with a struggling offensive line and a rookie quarterback trying to manage multiple pressures.

Most times, Williams did well in diagnosing where the pressure was coming from. However, the responses from his protection were less than ideal. For instance, against the Cardinals, he could see safety Buddha Baker creeping up but ended up getting hit anyway.

Communicating adjustments to pressure was a recurring issue throughout the Bears’ season. Even when the necessary adjustments were made, they often didn’t hold. The Bears had the 11th highest blown block rate in the NFL last year. It often felt like every pressure faced was overwhelming, undermining any chances Williams had to respond effectively. One game against the Packers perfectly illustrated this. There was a mismatch, with six blockers against five rushers, yet a miscommunication meant the running back didn’t block effectively.

“Five people pressure vs. six people protection: I’m still under pressure, lol. It looks like the Bears are sliding full left, but the running back is still blocking off-ball linebackers, not the edge.”

If pressure was accounted for better, the passing game would have felt less chaotic. Johnson echoed sentiments about the difficulties visible in game tape from last season.

When asked about Caleb Williams’ timing: “I believe he’ll play on schedule when the receivers present themselves. If not, he has the ability to make adjustments.”

There seemed to be a fundamental lack of communication and trust between the receivers and Williams. Many times, receivers wanted to keep running when Williams expected them to halt. These kinds of issues are typically resolved early in the season, not by week 14. In one instance, Williams made a nice movement in the pocket but threw too high, with wide receiver Roma Odunze stopping in the zone rather than continuing on his route.

Furthermore, the chaos seemed to sap Williams’ confidence. He appeared to second-guess his offensive line and receivers, treating every play as a grueling challenge. Under such constant pressure, he sometimes reverted to poor habits, which led to rushed throws. There were missed opportunities, as he seemed eager to find the big plays, but at times, neglected easier chances to keep the offense moving. When all is chaos, it’s easy to see how a chef might falter while trying to manage everything on fire, akin to the Bears’ offense last season.

What Needs Improvement?

So, how can Ben Johnson unlock Caleb Williams’ potential, as the top draft pick? It starts with building a foundation. Bringing in experienced linemen to help alleviate pressure and manage adjustments will be crucial. Chicago traded for Jonah Jackson from the Rams—who has experience with Johnson’s style—and veteran guard Joe Thuney from the Chiefs. By securing a solid interior line, Williams can better manage protection without taking on all responsibility himself. In Detroit, Frank Ragnow effectively organized protections for Jared Goff, simplifying the process.

There seems to be a solid framework to build around Williams and this offense. Johnson’s early statements suggest the strategy will be “QB-friendly.” This doesn’t mean he’ll magically transform into Aaron Rodgers, but it hints at a tailored approach where Williams can select plays based on defensive alignments, almost like playing Madden. It seems wise to start young QBs with limited requests early on—often, they’re thrust into complex dropbacks like Williams was, while peers have smoother introductions to simpler options.

How Rookie QBs Managed Their Passing Plays

Among the silver linings of Williams’ tape last season was his ability to pass well on the move. When the Bears rolled him out of the pocket, his lower body mechanics and ability to find passing windows were evident—skills that most quarterbacks don’t easily possess.

Williams is a talented athlete, and it often felt like the Bears weren’t fully leveraging that last season. If Johnson aims to aid Williams, he should let him excel in open space, utilizing his athleticism during action and bootleg plays. Whereas play-action was heavily featured in Detroit’s offense with Goff, Williams has even more potential to create plays outside the pocket. There’s definitely excitement brewing for plays that might emerge with new tight end Colston Loveland and the potential for better offensive execution.

On the ground, the Bears might adopt a more zone-oriented running approach, which reflects trends from Johnson’s time in Detroit. It seems that the Bears’ offensive line is suited for external zone blocking strategies.

Ultimately, I think this offense will lean into areas where Williams struggled last season, aiming for improvement. Rookie quarterbacks like Daniels and Bonnix found better footing as their coordinators adapted their strategies over time. Expect a similar evolution with Williams, where clearer communication and the freedom to improvise will lead to a more effective offensive scheme.