“Stupid” to Blame Offensive Line for Record Spate of Sacks
A Personal Responsibility
Caleb Williams is one bad day away from becoming the most-sacked NFL quarterback in a single season, ever.
The Bears’ rookie quarterback doesn’t want you to blame anyone but him.
“The stupid connotation behind my offensive line being bad is not the truth,” he said. “I’ve taken a good amount of sacks that have been my fault.”
Williams used the word “stupid” three times after the Bears’ walk-through Wednesday, apologizing for his word choice in defending his linemen. But he meant what he said.
Faulty Technique
Instead of blaming his teammates, Williams acknowledges that he needs to learn to be better at getting the ball out of his right hand.
Per NFL NextGen Stats, 51 of Williams’ 67 sacks have come on dropbacks longer than four seconds. The next closest quarterback has 38.
After being pressured, Williams has held the ball for 1.12 seconds, the second-longest average in the NFL.
Avoiding Blame
“I’ve taken sacks, yes, and, you know, a good amount have been on me,” he said. “Whether it’s small things of getting the ball out of my hands and just maybe dirting it, maybe not trying to find the perfect route, perfect play, all of that for that situation. Maybe, it’s just throwing it out of bounds, dirting it, finding the checkdown faster and then the other one is just not trying to make plays all the time and understanding that.”
Williams pointed to a first-and-10 play from the Seahawks’ 49-yard line late in the third quarter Thursday. The Bears had two players split left and three split right when the Seahawks showed blitz at the line of scrimmage. Linebacker Tyrice Knight rushed between left guard Larry Borom and left guard Jake Curhan and threw him to the ground.
Rather than change the protection or the play, Williams took the snap. Rather than throw the ball over the head of one of his receivers, Williams ran backward, pirouetted and was sacked for a loss of 14 yards. The Bears punted three plays later and never scored again.
Pre-Snap Awareness
“Tried to make a play and took a sack instead of, ‘OK, I messed up, didn’t make the flip or check, throw it out of bounds over the dude’s head, or over the hot or checkdown’s head,’” Williams said. “Took a 14-yard sack on that one I think it was, put us in a bad situation.”
Interim coach Thomas Brown listed his quarterback’s pre-snap awareness when asked what responsibility Williams took in the spate of sacks.
“Pre-snap mechanics when it comes to understanding potential pressure threats,” Brown said.
It’s Not the Line’s Fault
Pro Football Focus blamed a specific Bears offensive lineman for just one of the team’s seven sacks on Thursday. The rest came through holes without a blocker, or on scrambles or broken plays. Or, in one instance, Williams running out of bounds.
“I think obviously when people just see sacks, they’re just thinking about the offensive line in general,” Brown said. “Which is also just a misunderstanding of how football works and not watching football games.”
A Season to Learn
Williams vowed to try to fix his faulty technique this offseason — it will be up to general manager Ryan Poles to work on the line.
“Getting better with throwing the ball out of bounds,” Williams said. “There have been many times where my right arm is free and I can chuck it out instead of trying to make a play. There’s been many times where a free guy comes, and that happens. Getting better at not trying to hold in there. I may see space and try to rip a pass instead of just finding the checkdown.”
Williams believes that once he masters these skills, his teammates will start to benefit, too.
Conclusion
Caleb Williams is ready to take personal responsibility for the record number of sacks he’s taken this season. He recognizes that his mistakes are contributing to the problem, and he’s committed to correcting them. Only time will tell if his teammates will follow his lead and learn from their mistakes as well.
FAQs
Q: Is Caleb Williams planning to work on his technique in the offseason?
A: Yes, Williams vowed to improve his technique, focusing on getting the ball out of his hands and avoiding holding the ball too long.
Q: Will the offensive line be the focus of improvement for the team?
A: According to Coach Brown, general manager Ryan Poles will likely focus on strengthening the line.
Q: Has Caleb Williams addressed his teammates about the issue?
A: As the article shows, Williams has spoken publicly about taking responsibility and improving his skills, but it’s unclear whether he has discussed the issue directly with his teammates.
Q: How many sacks has Caleb Williams taken this season?
A: 67, which is one away from becoming the most in a single season in NFL history.
Q: What is Williams’ average hold time on pressures?
A: 1.12 seconds, the second-longest average in the NFL.
