While Caleb Williams faces scrutiny after the Bears’ 21-16 loss to the Colts, Marshall Faulk sees a silver lining in the situation. The NFL Hall of Famer believes in Caleb’s potential to emerge as an elite player, just as Peyton Manning did following his 3-13 rookie season.
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Expectations are sky-high for Williams as the draft’s No. 1 pick, but the QB has only been able to score two touchdowns with four interceptions for 630 yards in the first three weeks. While the quarterback’s stats seem disappointing, the former Super Bowl champion feels there is still hope.
“It’s the struggles that he’s going to have, you know,” said the HOF on The Rich Eisen Show. “When you’re confident in your talent as he is, as Peyton was, you’re going to challenge the narrative.”
Faulk knows that Caleb will have to face a load of criticism in Chicago. As the first overall pick, it’s quite easier for everyone to throw shades at him. But if the 22-year-old rookie quarterback must brave this phase. And only then, he can shine in the big league.
“You know he’s trying to see how good he is and if he can, if he can deal with the backlash in Chicago. There are a lot of experts who know a lot of football in Chicago that sit and watch games that know exactly what they should do with him.”
Faulk also added that in addition to tuning out the outside noise, Caleb must learn from his mistakes, which will help him emerge as a better player next year.
When viewed from the outside, Faulk’s optimism toward the rookie quarterback might seem far-fetched. However, if we consider how Justin Fields has fared with a change of scenery, we can understand that he has a valid point.
Marshall Faulk thinks Justin Fields “wasn’t that bad”
The former quarterback of Chicago was traded after the franchise got their hands on the top pick in this year’s NFL Draft. With unimpressive stats under his belt, Fields was traded to the Steelers, wherein comes the twist in the tale. Covering for an injured Russell Wilson, he has managed to maintain Pittsburgh’s perfect 3-0 record.
“Listen hey, hey, hey, Chicago Bears fans, Justin Fields wasn’t that bad,” Faulk said about Fields’ success and emphasized the coach’s role in a player’s development.
“Here’s what I’m gonna say: good coaching is hard to find. When you know how to develop people, and you know how you relate to them, and you find out their strengths, and you coach to their strengths, not calling players that you like as a coach to the players’ strengths.” he continued.
Manning endured 11 sacks in his first four games, while Williams has reached the same number in his first three. If the NFL legend’s experience is any indication, Williams has a tough road ahead.
However, the journey is still long, and considering the Bears’ history, it’s highly unlikely they will develop the rookie into a franchise quarterback.
