The overreaction to Caleb Williams' short and unimpressive performance against Cincinnati failed to take down Ben Johnson's view of his quarterback, even if he didn't like the target choice on one play that day.
Prior to the Bears' practice at Nashville Thursday, Johnson spelled out the improvements his QB has made. The pass receivers, the pass rush, the run defense, forget it. The best part of the team's play is the Iceman.
"I think that’s been probably the best thing so far this camp, just the anticipation, the timing, the understanding of where we want to put the football," Johnson. "He is not afraid to fit it into tight windows. He trusts his pass catchers.
"But a year ago I think a lot of the things we’re foreign to him and now you can tell he has some banked reps and he’s able to anticipate where he wants to go with the football."
All of this could mean plenty for wide receiver Rome Odunze and tight ends Colston Loveland and Cole Kmet. They're the receivers most likely to be involved in contested catches based on past operation of this offense. If Williams isn't as afraid now to put it at risk, they'll need to come down with it.
