Caleb Williams' Impressive OTAs Start
Caleb Williams' OTAs Performance Indicates a Promising Start
Caleb Williams began his first OTAs Monday, marking his initial on-field experience against an NFL defense within the Bears offense.
Most rookie quarterbacks are expected to start with basic steps at this stage, but the Bears have aimed to accelerate Williams' development since before he was even drafted.
Williams' early preparation included a brunch meeting with Tom Brady, organized by Fanatics billionaire Michael Rubin.
SI's Albert Breer, in his Monday Morning Quarterback column on May 20, highlighted the three Zoom meetings the Bears had with Williams before the draft and after his visit to Halas Hall as crucial for his development.
The plan was for Williams to be ready to run the offense by rookie camp and to take command of a veteran-loaded offense by the start of OTAs.
The Bears went beyond Zoom calls before the draft, setting up his personal QB coach, Will Hewlett, with the basics of their offense to work with Williams during his downtime before OTAs and rookie camp. This was possible because offensive coordinator Shane Waldron had a past relationship with Hewlett.
"There is always a unique thing about the NFL where we have the players for a certain amount of time during the year but there is also a good portion of individual time and time in the offseason," Waldron said. "Having that comfort level with Will where after that 30 visit and those things where we could start getting him some information, he understands it and sees it well through a quarterback lens. He (Hewlett) has done a great job of developing different quarterbacks along the way. And then this also gives a chance during the offseason and during time away to consistently work on the same approach for 12 months out of the year rather than just 'We're here now and then you're off and then you're here now working on two different things.'"
"It's been a great thing and obviously moving forward, we'll see which direction that goes. But it was a great start and a great benefit to Caleb to be able to hear some of those things and be able to have somebody who was helping him out," Waldron added.
The Bears emphasized they haven't turned the entire offense over to Hewlett but provided just enough to get Williams started on the right foot.
"It's more just fundamentals, route tree stuff. Just basics," coach Matt Eberflus said.
The goal was to ensure Williams knew the language of the offense and could function within it earlier.
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20 MAI | 51 ANSWERS Caleb Williams' Impressive OTAs Start Do you think Caleb Williams will start for the Bears this season? | ||
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