NFL News NFL News, Reports and Updates
‘Special’ Caleb Williams offers glimpse into Bears’ bright future in preseason debut vs. Bills originally appeared on NBC Sports Chicago
ORCHARD PARK, New York — Rome Odunze and his teammates saw Nsibmba Webster come open immediately. The play-action bootleg slide call from offensive coordinator Shane Waldron worked to perfection, and quarterback Caleb Williams had an easy completion in his grasp.
“We was like, ‘throw it,'” Odunze said after the Bears’ 33-6 preseason win over the Buffalo Bills on Saturday at Highmark Stadium. “Take it. Take the five.”
But Williams saw something different. The Bears have been repping this concept ad nauseam over the last three weeks, and Williams knew a bigger gain was on the table. He could feel what was about to happen.
Williams hit the corner on the bootleg with speed, pump-faked an oncoming rusher, and then ripped a dart down the sideline to tight end Cole Kmet for a gain of 26.
“That’s him,” Odunze said. “He saw the play develop before we did.”
The off-platform rope to Kmet was the highlight of Williams’ preseason debut. The rookie quarterback went 4-for-7 for 95 yards for a passer rating of 101.8. He also rushed for 13 yards. Williams led the first-team offense on two scoring drives, both of which were field goals. He showed innate pocket poise, elite play-making ability both in and out of structure, rare arm talent and velocity, and the type of unique mind that allows him to be both surgeon and artist as a quarterback.
“Man, woooo, I’m not going to lie now. That boy special. He special,” Odunze said, smiling from ear to ear while looking over at Williams. “I thought he was very calm, cool and collected back there. He was poised. He made plays with feet. Making plays with, of course, his tremendous arm talent.”
Williams and the offense started their day behind the sticks after a holding penalty on right tackle Darnell Wright. But on third-and-12, Williams quickly went through his progressions and delivered a laser to wide…
Source link : https://sports.yahoo.com/special-caleb-williams-offers-glimpse-033426140.html
Author : NBC Sports Chicago
Publish date : 2024-08-11 03:34:26
Copyright for syndicated content belongs to the linked Source.
