Bears QB Caleb Williams: 'Stupid' to blame offensive line for record spate of sacks

Williams is one bad day away from becoming the most-sacked NFL quarterback in a single season, ever. The Bears’ rookie quarterback doesn’t want you to blame anyone but him.

Caleb Williams is one bad day away from becoming the most-sacked NFL quarterback in a single season, ever.

The Bears’ rookie quarterback doesn’t want you to blame anyone but him.

“The stupid connotation behind my offensive line being bad is not the truth,” he said. “I’ve taken a good amount of sacks that have been my fault.”

Williams used the word “stupid” three times after the Bears’ walk-through Wednesday, apologizing for his word choice in defending his linemen. But he meant what he said.

“I don’t misjudge words,” Williams said.

He was clear that there was no other way to characterize those who blame his offensive line for the franchise- record 67 sacks he’s taken this season. That ranks fourth all-time and nine below Texans rookie David Carr’s record of 76 taken in 2002.

Instead, Williams said, he needs to learn to be better at getting the ball out of his right hand. Per NFL NextGen Stats, 51 of Williams’ 67 sacks have come on dropbacks longer than four seconds. The next closest quarterback has 38. After being pressured, Williams has held the ball for 1.12 seconds, the second-longest average in the NFL.

“I’ve taken sacks, yes, and, you know, a good amount have been on me,” he said. “Whether it’s small things of getting the ball out of my hands and just maybe dirting it, Maybe not trying to find the perfect route, perfect play, all of that for that situation. Maybe, it’s just throwing it out of bounds, dirting it, finding the checkdown faster and then the other one is just not trying to make plays all the time and understanding that.”

Williams pointed to a first-and-10 play from the Seahawks’ 49-yard line late in the third quarter Thursday. The Bears had two players split left and three split right when the Seahawks showed blitz at the line of scrimmage. Linebacker Tyrice Knight rushed between left guard Larry Borom and left guard Jake Curhan and threw him to the ground.

Rather than change the protection or the play, Williams took the snap. Rather than throw the ball over the head of one of his receivers, Williams ran backward, pirouetted and was sacked for a loss of 14 yards. The Bears punted three plays later and never scored again.

“Tried to make a play and took a sack instead of, ‘OK, I messed up, didn’t make the flip or check, throw it out of bounds over the dude’s head, or over the hot or checkdown’s head,’” Williams said. ”Took a 14-yard sack on that one I think it was, put us in a bad situation.”

That started with Williams failing to identify the blitzer at the line of scrimmage. Interim coach Thomas Brown listed his pre-snap awareness when asked what responsibility his quarterback took in the spate of sacks.

“Pre-snap mechanics when it comes to understanding potential pressure threats,” interim head coach Thomas Brown said. “Also a mastery of what happens post-snap. Obviously, having the reaction of how they play it out coverage-wise, what pressures they bring. But also understanding where all of my quick element throws are if we have an opportunity for that. I think at times as well understanding how to maintain proper pocket integrity. … And not run yourself into a potential sack.”

Pro Football Focus blamed a specific Bears offensive lineman for just one of the team’s seven sacks on Thursday. The rest came through holes without a blocker, or on scrambles or broken plays. Or, in one instance, Williams running out of bounds.

“I think obviously when people just see sacks, they’re just thinking about the offensive line in general,” Brown said. “Which is also just a misunderstanding of how football works and not watching football games.”

Still, the line graded out as the fourth-worst in the NFL, in terms of pass-blocking, last week. That’s the same grade ranking PFF has given the offensive line as a whole — on runs and passes — this season. Injuries, starting in training camp, have forced the Bears to use seven different starting lineups and 21 combinations this season.

Williams holding the ball too long and his linemen not holding blocks has made for a gruesome combination. Williams vowed to try to fix the former this offseason — it will be up to general manager Ryan Poles to work on the latter.

“Getting better with throwing the ball out of bounds,” Williams said. “There have been many times where my right arm is free and I can chuck it out instead of trying to make a play. There’s been many times where a free guy comes, and that happens. Getting better at not trying to hold in there. I may see space and try to rip a pass instead of just finding the checkdown.

“Those are just two examples of reasons why. But definitely something to go back on and reflect on and learn and come back — whether it’s this game or next year — and be better at that.”