Those were just a few plays out of the 72 snaps Caleb Williams saw in Sunday's game. chicago bearsWon 36-10 carolina panthers.
But the Bears' scoring drive before halftime Sunday, culminating in a 30-yard touchdown pass to rookie quarterback DJ Moore, is perhaps the best example of Williams' growth as a passer in the NFL. It was.
As halftime approached in Sunday's game between the Bears and the Panthers, Chicago took control at its own 38-yard line with less than a minute left in the first half and already held a 21-7 lead. Chicago had a chance to score some points before the break, as the Bears earned all three timeouts.
The drive started innocently enough, with Williams throwing to tight end Gerald Everett on a quick screen route to the left side. The play gained 5 yards and the Bears burned their first timeout after the short gain.
After an incompletion on second down, Chicago found itself on third-and-5 at its own 43-yard line. They dialed up a switch concept along the right side, with Roman Odunze running a post route from an outside alignment and tight end Cole Kmet running a wheel route along the sideline.
Williams reads this perfectly.
Kmet broke along the sideline and Williams made a first throw to the tight end for a big gain. Here's what happens when a rookie quarterback begins his throwing motion.
On this play, the Panthers were in Cover 3, with the cornerback stuck on Odunze's post route. Williams knows that the closest defender to Kmet is a curl/flat defender, and he stays shallow and lets Kmet clear. This creates a big gap in Kmet's route, and Williams puts the throw on the tight end. Granted, the throw could have been better, but given the circumstances, I'd like to see a completion first, put this throw on the receiver, and perhaps hope for better ball placement going forward.
Even if you are improving, there is always room for improvement.
On the next snap, offensive coordinator Shane Waldron went for the big play, dialing up the double-move concept with Keenan Allen running an out-and-up from the left slot. Williams pumps on out routes, but Allen is well covered, as seen on vertical routes from Moore along the left sideline and Kmet from the right slot.
Williams panics a bit, but ultimately runs for a short gain rather than forcing the throw downfield.
This time Moore finishes the drive with a touchdown.
Waldron calls for a three-level concept on the right side as the Bears head to second-and-eight. Allen runs a seam route, Kmet releases to the flat, and Odunze runs a mid-curl route. Moore, a left single receiver, runs post routes.
Chicago has two timeouts, allowing Williams to target the entire field. Therefore, along with Kmet's route to the flat, Allen's seam route is also a possibility.
Carolina went into Cover 3 on this play and used Moore's “MEG” (Man Everywhere) technique to score a backside corner. After the snap, Williams looks to a frontside concept that affects the safety in the middle of the field going for a seam route from Allen.
But once you reach drop depth, your gaze immediately resets to the backside Moore and post route.
Touchdown, Bears.
This is a great example of Williams understanding the situation, the concept, and the coverage. When we see the safety heading towards Allen, we see that there is room to throw backside to Moore's post route. He placed that throw in perfect position and Moore completed the play with a great catch and the Bears were back in the end zone.
Williams finished the day completing 20 of 29 passes for 304 yards and two touchdowns. Over the past two weeks, Williams completed 37-of-52 passes for 461 yards and three touchdowns with no interceptions.
Chicago won both of those games and the Bears are now 3-2 on the young season.
It was a quick move, but it showed some of the traits and growth that Bears fans expected from Williams this season.
