Bears encouraged by QB Williams' growth in loss

CHICAGO -- The Chicago Bears exited Week 2 with large questions astir their defence aft giving up 52 points to the Detroit Lions connected Sunday. Lost successful the blowout that marked Chicago's (0-2) 2nd NFC North nonaccomplishment successful six days, however, was betterment from backmost Caleb Williams.

In his 2nd crippled nether manager Ben Johnson, Williams threw for 207 yards, 2 touchdowns and an interception portion completing 63.3% of his passes. The Bears person scored a touchdown connected the offense's opening possession successful back-to-back weeks, thing that did not hap during Williams' rookie season.

"I did spot important growth," Johnson said. "It's not cleanable yet. There's inactive a fig of plays wherever our eyes aren't rather successful the close presumption oregon we're holding onto the shot conscionable a tick longer than what we're coaching. But I did spot tremendous maturation successful presumption of going done the progression. There were a fewer times determination wherever we had to get to fig 3 oregon 4 successful the work and helium was trusting his feet and his footwork and was capable to get there."

Williams was astatine his champion connected in-rhythm dropbacks, wherever helium released the shot betwixt 2.5 and 4.0 seconds, according to Next Gen Stats. Williams completed 14 of his 21 attempts for 191 yards and 2 touchdowns connected specified dropbacks, compared to 5 of 9 for 16 yards and an interception connected speedy oregon extended walk attempts.

The erstwhile No. 1 prime connected with receiver Rome Odunze connected some of his touchdown passes, bringing their full to 3 done 2 games. While determination are respective areas that some Johnson and the backmost felt helium needed to amended -- similar throwing the shot retired of bounds successful the 2nd 4th alternatively of trying to acceptable a propulsion down the sideline to receiver Olamide Zaccheaus, which resulted successful an interception -- the backmost feels advancement volition amusement up with much reps.

"I deliberation it's conscionable [the offense] being consistent," Williams said. "In the mode of our method -- the plays that are called. And going retired determination and being method astir it and beating the antheral successful beforehand of you. That includes myself. I deliberation we conscionable bash that implicit and implicit and implicit again. Don't effort to make immoderate explosive plays. Don't effort to beryllium superman and they'll come. Everybody conscionable did their one-eleventh and we support moving on."

Accuracy was an contented for Williams during the Bears' 27-24 play opening nonaccomplishment to the Vikings. His completion percent dropped from 81% successful the archetypal fractional (13-of-16) to 42% successful the 2nd fractional portion his off-target percent (29.4%) was the worst among each quarterbacks successful Week 1.

Williams said past week that immoderate off-target throws mightiness beryllium related to his footwork and being hesitant alternatively of "letting it rip."

"I mean archetypal game, I missed a mates passes," Williams said. "I deliberation [against Detroit], deed immoderate cardinal passes and didn't consciousness similar thing was off. My footwork was coagulated and was hitting my guys, truthful I deliberation I've got to spell look astatine the portion and fig retired this crippled however I tin assistance america physically and mentally possibly connected the sideline oregon something. Or talking to the guys, immoderate the lawsuit whitethorn be."

Still, there's enactment to beryllium done to get Williams performing astatine his champion consistently. The Lions pressured the Bears backmost connected 43.2% of his dropbacks, and it led to Williams taking 4 sacks. Chicago was flagged six times connected offense, including 2 mendacious starts and 2 holding penalties. The Bears didn't person connected 2 fourth-down attempts, including a backmost sneak, and turned the shot implicit twice.

"With a squad similar that connected the different side, they marque you pay..." Williams said.

The stakes of different crippled with a revenge angl...