Sports Scott Polacek @@ScottPolacek Featured Columnist IV September 17, 2024
Ken Murray/Icon Sportswire by potential of Getty Photos
C.J. Stroud will seemingly be in barely his second season in the NFL, nevertheless he’s a longtime megastar and for certain among the lisp quarterbacks in the league.
There are some distance worse of us for a rookie signal-caller to catch advice from, and that is precisely what came about for Caleb Williams after Stroud’s Houston Texans defeated his Chicago Bears on Sunday.
“Quit taking those hits,” Stroud suggested Williams after the sport. “Be taught from those errors. The entirety that you just bought, bro, is in you already, bro. You are going to be a hell of a player on this league.”
NFL @NFL .@CJ7STROUD had some words of encouragement for @CALEBcsw.
“You’re gonna be a hell of a player on this league.” š¤ pic.twitter.com/EkGCMOl0ew
Chicago’s protection performed effectively satisfactory to get in the 19-13 loss, nevertheless the offensive line’s total failure to provide protection to Williams became once the fundamental storyline. The No. 1 total pick of the 2024 NFL draft became once sacked seven occasions and hit 11 occasions.
Kevin Patra of NFL.com smartly-known Subsequent Gen Stats published Chicago’s five starting offensive linemen by myself gave up 28 quarterback pressures, which is entirely unsustainable with a rookie quarterback making his second profession begin in opposition to a likely Shining Bowl contender.
“I’m rather bruised up,” Williams suggested journalists. “I took a pair hits this day. I’m going to derive in ice tubs and abolish the entire things I want to abolish to substantiate my physique is interesting for the next day and apply thoroughly different thoroughly different days and clearly subsequent game.”
The stress bought to him as the sport improved, as he started 12-of-15 for 91 yards and a 91.9 passer ranking sooner than halftime nevertheless went 11-of-22 for 83 yards, two interceptions and a 21.6 ranking in the second half of, per Patra.
Chicago didn’t abolish him many favors either, as there had been more than one unsuitable begins out of timeouts and two unhappy challenges from head coach Matt Eberflus that imprint the guests timeouts. Working encourage D’Andre Swift additionally finished with 18 yards on 14 carries and struggled to safe holes unhurried the identical porous offensive line.
Stroud became once one thing of a ideally suited-case scenario for a rookie quarterback, as he gained Offensive Rookie of the Year and led the Texans to an AFC South crown. He additionally gained a playoff game.
Chicago completely envisioned one thing identical when it paired Williams with DJ Moore, Keenan Allen, Rome Odunze, Cole Kmet and Swift, nevertheless its offensive line will want to know drastic strides as the season progresses to produce that a truth.