The Chicago Bears are going to need quarterback Caleb Williams to continue to make strides in his development as they look to replicate their success from last season.
Working with first-year head coach Ben Johnson, Williams took a major step forward as the franchise quarterback for Chicago, throwing for 3,942 yards (a franchise record for a single season), but falling just short of becoming the franchise’s first 4,000-yard passer.
Upon Johnson’s arrival before last season, he brought in a well-respected staff of assistant coaches around him, including quarterbacks coach J.T. Barrett, who worked with Johnson with the Detroit Lions. That relationship helped both coaches to rebuild the development and growth of Williams, and now in their second season together, Barrett is hoping that Williams can do more with taking less chances.
“We don’t have to work as hard for our money,” Barrett said, via Jason Lieser of the Chicago Sun-Times. “There’s times where we could just work through our progression and get the ball out on time instead of having to create and extend plays. Late in some of those games, we were making some heroic plays . . . but it wasn’t necessary if we execute in the first quarter and second quarter, We might be up two touchdowns by the time we get to the fourth quarter. We can be efficient and take what the defense is giving. You don’t necessarily have to put the cape on and make those crazy plays because you already were killing them in the first three quarters.”
Williams was well-known for putting on a mythical cape for the Bears in the fourth quarter last season, leading the team to an NFL record seven fourth-quarter comebacks, leading the way to a NFC North title. One of the biggest keys for Chicago’s offense will be to turn up the success and consistency earlier in games, rather than wait for late-game heroics.
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This article originally appeared on Bears Wire: JT Barrett on where Bears QB Caleb Williams needs to improve
Reporting by Mike Pendleton, Bears Wire / Bears Wire
USA TODAY Network via Reuters Connect
