Bears News: Caleb Williams focused on keeping drives alive and sacks down

Ariana Pensy · Correspondent · 7 hours ago

CHICAGO - The offense has been inconsistent through the first seven games. They were on fire against the Dallas Cowboys and did just enough against the Las Vegas Raiders and Washington Commanders. However, against the Baltimore Ravens, the offense was largely ineffective for most of the game. They only managed to score one touchdown and had a season-low of 16 points.

However, if there is one thing that is unquestionably better for the offense this season than last, it is that quarterback Caleb Williams is getting sacked less. Through the first seven games last season, Williams was sacked 23 times. However, through the first seven games of this season, he has been sacked only 12 times.

While Williams acknowledges that there is more he can do to prevent sacks, he also gives a lot of credit to the talent around him for reducing the number of sacks.

“I don’t want to be one of those guys in year six where I’m one of the highest sacked ever in history and things like that. So, I got a great group in front of me - running backs and tight ends and all of that. They obviously help out in different situations to block DNs, block linebackers, block blitzes and things like that and then I think it’s just us all being on the same page and I think that’s part of it and then the other part is from my side is just being more comfortable and confident within the offense, being more comfortable with being able to deliver (a) good ball,” Williams said. “I think that’s something that’s going to keep growing throughout my career and just finding ways to not have sacks, especially on first and second down is really important in the NFL to keep drives alive and I think that’s something that I went back and looked at (and) it’s been on my conscious mind after taking 60-something sacks last year and so, I think we got to keep going. I think we got to find ways, when they do send these blitzes and things like that to exploit these teams. But, I think we’ve done a good job keeping me off the ground.”

In Chicago’s four wins this season, its defense has 15 takeaways. However, in their three losses this year, they have only one takeaway.

They also have a lot of injuries in the secondary, which is part of why they got some help and signed cornerback C.J. Gardner-Johnson.

“I’m excited. Just the energy that I’ve seen from him. Obviously, over time of him being in the league, I think he has a lot of great ball when he’s on the field, and I think just being around him (Wednesday), the energy, the effort that I saw when he was out there,” Williams said. “He made a good play out there (Wednesday) and just being able to be around him, being able to have everybody put open arms and things like that and we figure out who he is and where he should be and how he fits into us and I think that’s where we’re going to be at and I’m excited to have him.”

With cornerbacks Jaylon Johnson and Kyler Gordon on injured reserve and Tyrique Stevenson on the injury report, the Bears will need all the help they can get in their next game against the Cincinnati Bengals on Sun. Nov. 1 (Noon / CBS) as they will be tasked with defending perhaps the best receiver duo in the league in Ja’Marr Chase and Tee Higgins.