The Bears told Caleb Williams to watch the Rams\u2019 Matthew Stafford. There wasn\u2019t much similar about the quarterbacks\u2019 games, especially now, with the Rams quarterback three weeks away from his 38th birthday. Coach Ben Johnson found Stafford\u2019s vision and footwork to be special when he was a Lions assistant and the quarterback played there, though. In the offseason, he wanted his new quarterback to mimic it.<\/p>\n
\u201cHis feet are always under him,\u201d Williams said. \u201cHe can make any throw at any time. The guy\u2019s in his face, O-linemen may be getting pushed back, not looking — all these different things \u2013 and it comes down to his feet.
\n\u201cHe ties the routes with his receivers — the timing, all of that — with his feet.\u201d That\u2019s what Johnson wanted Williams to learn how to do when he was hired almost exactly a year ago \u2014 be as fundamentally sound with his footwork as Stafford was.<\/p>\n
\u201cI think it starts there with him,\u201d Johnson said. \u201cBut then as you talk about an experienced player that sees the field really well, he understands defenses. He knows how to manipulate defenses. He\u2019s got a great feel for the game and that translates to everything he does every single week.\u201d<\/p>\n
Williams only met Stafford once, and briefly \u2014 last year when the Bears beat the Rams at Soldier Field. Still, there\u2019s a lot of Stafford in the new, better version of Williams. Stafford has what Williams calls \u201csnake eyes\u201d \u2014 the ability to look away to get a defender to move with his eyes, and then to throw the ball where the defender used to be.
\n\u201cMoving the defender out of the way without actually having anybody near or around him,\u201d he said.<\/p>\n
And then there\u2019s the throw.
\n\u201cHe has a cannon,\u201d Williams said.
\nMore than anything, though, Stafford has faith in his receivers.
\n\u201cTrusting and believing in his guys to be in the right position at the right time,\u201d Williams said.<\/p>\n
Belief has been a big word for the Bears quarterback this year. He\u2019s spoken often \u2014 usually after wins \u2014 about trusting his teammates. That\u2019s what happened on fourth-and-eight in the fourth quarter Saturday night, when Williams rolled to his left and jumped like a second baseman turning a double play. While hanging in the air, he threw a strike to Rome Odunze, who had doubled back to the line of scrimmage along the left sideline for a 27-yard gain. Five plays later, the Bears scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion to move within three points in a game they\u2019d eventually win, 31-27.<\/p>\n
\u201cIn real time, I was just like, \u2018Dang, this is the play \u2014 it\u2019s fourth-and-you-have-to-make-it \u2026\u2019\u201d cornerback Kyler Gordon said. \u201cI watched him roll out and kind just like jump fade away again. I\u2019m like, \u2018Damn, another fadeaway.\u2019 \u2026
\n\u201cRome was there. And just the way [Williams] led it backwards so that the DB who was undercutting couldn\u2019t get it \u2014 I just thought it was just amazing. So watched it plenty more times on social media and I was just like, \u2018That\u2019s why does what he does. He\u2019s one of them guys.\u2019\u201d
\nThe play has since become a social media meme. And a T-shirt. And a symbol of Williams\u2019 otherworldly athleticism. The quarterback tried to downplay all of that attention Wednesday.
\n\u201cI\u2019ve had a couple passes like that going left where I\u2019ve ended up being in the air in that way \u2014 a few times in college and things like that, and high school,\u201d he said. \u201cI\u2019m kind of used to it.\u201d<\/p>\n
Caleb Williams’ transformation into a quarterback with skills similar to Matthew Stafford’s is a testament to his hard work and dedication. By studying Stafford’s game, Williams has improved his footwork, vision, and ability to trust his receivers. The results are evident in his performances, including the impressive play where he rolled to his left and threw a strike to Rome Odunze. As Williams continues to grow and develop as a quarterback, it will be exciting to see how he incorporates more of Stafford’s skills into his game.<\/p>\n
Q: Who did the Bears tell Caleb Williams to watch?
\nA: The Bears told Caleb Williams to watch the Rams’ Matthew Stafford.
\nQ: What specific skill did Coach Ben Johnson want Williams to learn from Stafford?
\nA: Coach Ben Johnson wanted Williams to learn how to be as fundamentally sound with his footwork as Stafford was.
\nQ: What is "snake eyes" in the context of football?
\nA: "Snake eyes" refers to the ability to look away to get a defender to move with his eyes, and then to throw the ball where the defender used to be.
\nQ: What was the result of the play where Williams rolled to his left and threw a strike to Rome Odunze?
\nA: The play resulted in a 27-yard gain, and five plays later, the Bears scored a touchdown and a two-point conversion to move within three points in a game they\u2019d eventually win, 31-27.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
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