How a practice TD pass shows why Bears drafted Caleb Williams No. 1 overall — and where he still holds unlocked potential

LAKE FOREST, Ill. — Caleb Williams and his offense lined up at the 35-yard line to cap off their first padded practice with situational work.

Just after the No. 1 overall draft pick snapped the ball, the Chicago Bears’ pass rush began to swarm.

So Williams clutched the ball, scrambled to his right and unleashed.

He wasn’t looking in short or midrange.

Williams sailed a touchdown pass to receiver Tyler Scott, who sped up just in time to separate from safety Jaquan Brisker and haul in the catch.

Fans erupted.

It’s not that Williams has completed every pass as he adjusts to a pro offense nor is that he’s already intuited each of his receivers’ tendencies on their go balls. Williams and fellow 2024 first-round pick Rome Odunze, for example, missed on some go balls in Thursday and Friday practices attended by Yahoo Sports. Odunze explained that he and Williams needed to better detail when he should expect the ball over the top and when it will be back-shoulder; when his route would primarily dictate the ball placement and when the defense may be showing Williams something that Odunze’s vantage point didn’t allow.

July practices are the time to learn each other’s tendencies and trying new things.

(Grant Thomas/Yahoo Sports)

But as Williams found Scott for yet another deep touchdown in training camp, members of the coaching staff thought to themselves: Look at his ability to extend the play. Look at his grasp of the field.

Earlier in camp, Williams had nailed Scott on a similar deep ball. The read didn’t dictate that, but a coverage mistake created an opportunity. Williams spotted it in time and attacked.

“He had that natural feeling, that natural spatial awareness [that], ‘Hey, there’s a void that shouldn’t have been there based on what the coverage structure might have played out as, but it played out a little different,” offensive coordinator Shane Waldron said. “He’s starting to feel the tight-window throws that are a part of the NFL.

“He’s able…

Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/how-a-practice-td-pass-shows-why-bears-drafted-caleb-williams-no-1-overall–and-where-he-still-holds-unlocked-potential-010552584.html

Author : Yahoo Sports

Publish date : 2024-07-27 01:05:52

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