In an unsurprising yet highly anticipated move, the Chicago Bears have officially named Caleb Williams their starting quarterback ahead of this weekend’s rookie minicamp. The former USC star and Heisman Trophy winner was the No. 1 overall pick in last month’s NFL draft.
Bears head coach Matt Eberflus left no room for doubt or controversy with his decisive comments. “No conversation. He’s the starter,” Eberflus firmly stated when asked about Williams’ role.
This declaration merely confirms what was already expected after Chicago drafted Williams first overall. The Bears did their homework, hosting only Williams for a pre-draft visit while no other quarterbacks got the same treatment. The coaching staff even began installing their offensive system with the talented rookie before the draft during Williams’ pro day and his visit to the team facilities.
Williams himself hasn’t been resting on his laurels either. He’s been hard at work with his personal quarterback coach Will Hewlett, diligently studying and internalizing the Bears’ offensive scheme. “You always want to get ahead if you can,” Williams explained. “With the materials they gave me, I would take it to my QB trainer. We used the cadence, drops, all those things so it’s not something on my mind when I actually got here.”
The head start means Williams should be able to hit the ground running at rookie camp. He feels confident enough to take on a leadership role and help others get up to speed too. “Right now I feel pretty good…excited, but I feel pretty good right now,” the fresh-faced QB stated.
However, Eberflus made it clear Williams still has significant benchmarks to meet over the next few months. “Full understanding of the concepts: run, pass, checks and his fundamentals,” the coach listed as key areas of focus. “He’s really good fundamentally but we have some things we want him to work on and improve as well.”
With Williams officially installed as the present and future under center, the Bears are putting their faith in the ultra-talented 21-year-old to lead their offense from day one. All eyes will be on the rookie when training camp opens to see if he can continue exceeding lofty expectations.
