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Last year was a struggle for Bears QB Caleb Williams and not the season anyone in Chicago envisioned after he was the No. 1 overall pick. However, Williams says he’s focused on taking last year in stride as he finishes up his preparations for this upcoming season.
“I put it in perspective as last year was good, needed it,” Williams said via the Athletic’s Kevin Fishbain. “I’ve had a lot go (right) for me in the past probably six years or so. … To have a year like that was a good reset for me.”
New Bears HC Ben Johnson came in with a long list of things he wanted Williams to work on improving for his second season, from his ability to manage the different play-calls and parts of the overall offensive operation to his footwork under center and throwing to his left. And after some controversy about how the last staff managed or didn’t manage Williams and his time, Bears GM Ryan Poles said he’s noticed a “recalibration” in that area.
“There’s just the time on task,” he said. “And it really wasn’t all that different last year. But he’s here all the time, and there’s a level of urgency in terms of how he wants to get better and spending time on it, which is good to see.”
Poles believes the overall environment around Williams is going to be much more conducive to the quarterback’s success in his second season.
“When you’re in survival mode, when you’re trying to figure out the speed of the game, maybe things don’t make sense,” Poles said. “So then, when you finally do get clarity and understanding of why we’re doing what we’re doing, there’s structure to it. Like even if things are blocked up a little bit better, you add more talent around you, so everything should slow down significantly.”
Lions QB Jared Goff is entering his fifth year in Detroit after being acquired in 2021. Goff reflected on playing under HC Dan Campbell, calling the coach a true leader who knows how to push players.
“I think the No. 1 thing that I think about with him is his emotional intelligence, how well he can read the room and know people,” Goff said, via Colton Pouncy of The Athletic. “And that’s maybe characteristic No. 1 of being a leader and why he’s so good at that. But he knows when to push, when to pull, when to tell you he needs a little bit more from you, when to love you up. He’s got such a great feel for all that, which is why he’s so special.”
Campbell said he’s always tried to support Goff with quality players around him to make sure he’s comfortable playing “at a high level.”
“This thing is set up for Goff to have success with our playmakers, (Lions WR Amon-Ra) St. Brown, our running backs, the O-line, the whole deal,” Campbell said. *“And so, I want to keep that...
