Caleb Williams and Trevor Lawrence will take to the Tottenham turf this week united by a mutual need-not-be explained understanding.
There are No 1 picks at the NFL Draft, and then there are Williams, Lawrence and the exclusive pool of Truman Show case studies from whom the cameras and eyeballs have never been too far as consensus No 1 pick quarterbacks since childhood.
Lawrence and his famously-marketable locks became the new face of the Jacksonville Jaguars as the long-awaited first overall pick out of Clemson in 2021, touted as the most accomplished quarterback prospect since the Andrew Lucks and Peyton Mannings of the world.
Williams and his out-of-structure pyrotechnics became the new Chi-Town poster boy as the Heisman-winning first overall pick out of USC earlier this year, touted as the next Patrick Mahomes-esque angle-defying, off-platform artist.
There is a reason Lawrence started slowly (other than Urban Meyer), a reason Mahomes sat as understudy for a year, and a reason Williams is taking some time to settle into life in the NFL. The transition from college remains gruelling for the most gifted of play-callers, Williams embracing as much in his bid to ignite a fresh chapter of contention for the Bears.
“It’s been fun, I think the progress and finding my routine, finding my way, getting more comfy playing football again, playing my natural game, it’s been what I’ve been getting used to,” Williams told Sky Sports NFL.
“It’s everything I expected, all football, all day every day, you can’t ask for a better life!”
Williams has completed 107 of 170 passes (62.9 per cent) for 1,091 yards, five touchdowns and four interceptions with a passer rating of 81.3, while ranking 26th in EPA+CPOE composite (Expected Points Added combined with Completion Percentage Over Expected) and taking a tied-third most 17 sacks. He has also rushed for 113 yards from 21 carries in his five starts, across which the building Bears are 3-2.
The 22-year-old has teased continuous, albeit gradual, progress in the face of modern defenses more equipped than ever to make a young quarterback’s life difficult with simulated pressure, read-muddying rotating coverages and two-high looks.
He is no stranger to outside noise, such are the soaring expectations his talent has warranted. Williams knows he has left throws out there, knows his field diagnosis has a way to go, knows his accuracy could level out, but it wouldn’t be the NFL were there not teething issues.
“I think that’s one thing you learn to understand, there’s always going to be a rollercoaster on the outside and it’s how straight and boring of a rollercoaster you can be on the inside, understanding about staying level-headed, who you are and how hard you work,” Williams continued.
“It’s the old saying, hard times don’t last, tough people do. It’s just understanding that, tough things for me might not be tough for other people but when you are out there and not doing exactly what you want to do, stay steady, keep going. That’s what I always say to myself.”
Jest-enthused noise came from inside his own organisation this week, wide receiver DJ Moore joking that Williams can be a ‘little bossy’ when it comes to the work ethic and execution he demands of teammates. Williams found the humour in it, insisting it was ‘sassy’.
But nobody gets a harder time than that given to Williams by himself, who holds himself to high standard in his pursuit of greatness. Sometimes too hard, he admitted.
“I’m pretty tough on myself, I don’t pay attention to the outside noise other than maybe a few screenshots to remember,” he continued.
“I keep some receipts, but other than that everything motivation-wise is internal, I push myself really hard to be the best.
“I say all kinds of things about myself, so when people say things about me it doesn’t bother me and so me doing that, pushing myself and being super critical of myself is a challenge. That’s one thing, being a little more gracious with myself.
“I think I’ve got to this point by being super hard on myself.”
Passing production across the NFL had been down on average through the opening weeks of the season, among the possible reasons being both the immediate introduction of young quarterbacks and so too the light boxes and umbrella coverages seeking to stamp down on deep shots and put the onus on the run.
Williams finished 14 of 29 for just 93 yards and a 28.5 quarterback rating in his debut win over the Tennessee Titans, but is coming off the best performance of his season to date after completing 20 of 29 for 304 yards and two touchdowns in a 36-10 win over the Carolina Panthers.
With that said, he is in no mood to dwell. Sit down for a second in the NFL and it might well come back to bite you.
“For me there’s always a certain standard and then things I need to improve on from game to game,” he said. “Those small things throughout the week, you go into the game and you don’t do it, I like to try and do everything to the best of my ability and be perfect if I can, obviously I understand that isn’t possible but I push myself to do all that.
“You enjoy going out there and helping your team win by throwing a bunch of passing yards and touchdowns, but it’s about understanding that regardless of how good a game that was you have another game next week and a lot to work on, especially being a young rookie like me.”
With each week comes new signs of Williams growing in confidence, one play in Sunday’s win over the Panthers underlining his ability to manipulate defenders with his eyes on a no-look strike to DJ Moore while rolling to his right.
Another would see him slither and slalom away from pressure in a crumbling pocket to scurry for an unlikely first down in a reminder of his athleticism on the ground, running back D’Andre Swift subsequently referring to him as ‘Houdini’.
Five weeks. It took just five weeks for Williams and his marauding adventures to draw illusion references. At the same time, he remains tuned in to the value of in-structure production from the pocket.
“It’s super important, there are things throughout the weeks I didn’t like how I did certain things,” he said.
“I text my coach and said ‘I want to get better at this’ and there were certain things we were running that I wasn’t seeing as well this past week.
“It’s knowing yourself, being true to yourself and understanding that no matter how good a game you play there’s a lot you can correct and get better at.
“There were a couple of plays last week that I said would help our team and help our offense move more efficiently, so definitely understanding that. Obviously playing in structure is super important, playing out of structure is super important.”
Williams is the only Bears rookie ever to log multiple 300-yard passing games, and just one of five players to manage multiple 300-yard passing games in the league so far this season. Despite narratives suggestive of early struggles, Williams has flashed brilliance while playing with a winning record through five weeks.
“It’s not an overnight thing for anyone, but he’s done a great job,” right tackle Darnell Wright reminded all earlier this week.
The partnership with Moore is beginning to come to fruition, with Keenan Allen still yet to enjoy his breakout game with the Bears following his offseason arrival. Swift has meanwhile come to life as a multi-purpose threat out of the backfield within an offense still finding its place.
“I have numerous amount of people that are special off the field and on the field,” said Williams. “They are unbelievable, they are all wanting to grow and wanting to win.
“The wide receivers, running backs, tight ends, you get the ball in their hands and they do special things.”
Williams has been tipped for stardom for perhaps as long as he can remember, though not once did he imagine taking his talents to London. Never one to shy from expressing his emotions, he will afford himself a moment to enjoy and acknowledge Sunday’s unique stage amid his unfolding story.
“First time playing here I’ll definitely enjoy the moment, soak it in, enjoy it for a quick second and once you finish running out the tunnel it’s time to zone back in.”
Watch the Chicago Bears face the Jacksonville Jaguars at Tottenham Hotspur Stadium on Sunday October 13, live on Sky Sports NFL, with kickoff at 2.30pm; Also stream with NOW.
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