CHICAGO – Chicago Bears tight end Cole Kmet got a taste of Caleb Williams’ aggressiveness during a recent trip to Topgolf. Kmet, Williams, and backup quarterback Brett Rypien were among the group that stayed at the facility until 1 a.m. The expedition lasted into the early morning hours because Williams was determined to catch Rypien in the standings.
“I was competing to catch up to Brett, then the game turned off, I got cold and after that I tried to reset it,” says Williams. “And I ended up coming in third place instead of second or first, which I was shooting for first.” Dennis Simmons, USC passing game coordinator, is familiar with Williams’ competitiveness, both in large and small moments, having worked with him for three seasons, first as the passing game coordinator at Oklahoma and then at USC. He recently spoke with the Chicago Tribune about Williams’ drive, the myths that surrounded him throughout the predraft process, and why he believes Williams is a quarterback who teammates will want to play for.
– At what point, either when recruiting him or after he arrived, did you realize Caleb was special? It was really early in the recruiting process. COVID had struck, and we were unable to do commerce or do other such activities. He and his family were planning visits for other players we had as prospects across the country in an effort to complete the class. So you knew he had some form of leadership and organizational abilities.
Then he would go out with the talent men and perform private throwing sessions with them on his own, which he coordinated and executed. Some of the kids simply said, “This guy is more than just a good quarterback.” This is a guy from a different generation.” When it comes to recruiting athletes, it’s evident that talented players want to connect with other talented players. Just hearing those accolades and remarks said about him by his peers made you realize you had something wonderful.
When he got his chance, you think back to the game where he came in, the Texas game. He bobbled on his first snap. He fumbled the snap. Where most men would have taken a knee and eaten it, he grabs it and scrambles for around 80. You recognized this guy from the start; if something goes wrong or is off script, he’s not going to give up under pressure or on the big stage under the lights. You realized immediately away that you don’t actually coach things. It’s something that men are inherently born with. – What aspect of his skill set stood out the most when he left?
The most astounding aspect of his skill set, particularly at his position, is when the players around you want to play for you rather than just with you. That reveals a lot about you as a player. Think of all the great quarterbacks you’ve heard about. Most people want to play not only with those guys, but for them. You increase their level of play by being there in the huddle and on the field.
Coming in here (at USC) in Year 2, this was a team that had not been recruited together. It was a newly formed squad that had to unite and discover the brotherhoods, friendships, and trust aspects that most teams spend years creating. And they worked it out and discovered it in a couple of months, which speaks to the quality of those young men on that roster, of whom he was a major contributor. – What is it about him that draws individuals to play for him?
He’s a selfless team player who will bring energy to every practice. And he’ll be one of the first guys in the building, studying movies and honing his skills. So, obviously, having one of your best players who is giving and eager to share while also working hard motivates you to improve your game.
– What were the most common misconceptions about him that you had to clear up throughout the predraft process? Only about his emotional state. Most people were thinking, “OK, is that just for show or is that really who he is?” I was like, obviously you don’t understand or know this child because he actually cares about winning championships and football. That emotion stems from his belief that he did not complete all of his responsibilities and hence failed his brothers. That was not an act. – At rookie minicamp, he mentioned that he dislikes making errors and that he needs to learn how to deal with them at this level. How does he deal with these situations?
That’s why he devotes so much time to the film room and extra time on the field to reduce them. But he’s just one kid, and I believe his teammates respect the fact that if he makes a mistake, he admits it. It’s not like he’s trying to point the finger or assign blame to someone else. – Matt Eberflus has lauded Williams’ ability to learn. How did you observe him handle that throughout his time with you? He has good retention and memory skills. There will be looks and disguises that will catch him off guard for the first time.
But he has a really excellent memory rate, so you won’t be able to present it to him too many times and have him forget it, even if it’s from a prior team.
– We’ve already heard from Bears players about his competitiveness off the field. Have you got an example of that? Most of the time it was after practice. Those guys were attempting to toss balls from 50 yards out that would land in the center of the goal post. That was funny. That was something they were all aiming to win at. – Was there an in-game moment that demonstrated his competitiveness?
There have been several moments when he has done something that makes you say, “OK, wow.” When we played Oregon last year, he scrambled and threw a pass that resembled a hook shot. It was either him sprinting out of bounds or finding the back and moving the ball there. The back slid inside of him and behind the defender, and he lobbed it above his head. It was like, “OK, that’s not normal.” – The off-script performances are undeniably captivating, but others are wondering if he’ll be able to play within framework at this level. How would you respond to that?
I mean, I don’t think he’d throw for as many yards as he has if he couldn’t play by script. So, last I checked, they weren’t going to let him sit there forever and pick them apart. Throughout his career, whether here or elsewhere, he has been under pressure.
Yeah, do things go faster in the NFL than in college? I would not debate that point. But I would argue that at every stage of his career, especially given his accolades and who he is, people have tried to approach him when he is playing. How did you see him handle the hardship he faced last year, with the team not meeting his expectations? How did you imagine him leading through that?
He was always the optimist, trying to emphasize that it was never over, looking on the bright side and figuring out, “OK, we may not have gotten it done in that situation, but there’s still room for us to possibly reach the end goal.” So he wasn’t one of those men who gave up as soon as something went wrong.
– Ryan Poles discussed how the Hollywood perception that surfaced about Williams throughout the predraft process was incorrect. What can you tell me about him as an individual? Ryan expressed it best. For those who know him and work with him on a daily basis, he is exactly what you want on your team. He’s the ideal person to represent your franchise. He’s not going to be one of those men you need to worry about.
When you walk into an NFL locker room, the players know what’s real. Those people understand professionalism. And I believe that all of those things can be answered by what the men in that building who have worked with him and are playing with him have said about him so early. He hasn’t even begun his rookie season. – Chicago has not been a welcoming environment for quarterbacks, and playing here comes with a lot of criticism. Why do you believe he can manage it?
Los Angeles is certainly the largest media market, so he’s had some practice with it. It’s the Los Angeles market. People express a desire to perform on the biggest stage possible. This was the largest stage. It’s like, “Alright. You asked for it. “Here it is.” – Have you communicated with him much since he was drafted?
He and my 9-year-old kid were texting each other the previous Friday. He was at dinner. My nine-year-old wanted to show Caleb a play from his flag football game, and he answered. It kind of reflects the type of man he is. He had a million other things on his mind, and it would have been easy to say, “Eh, I’ll hit him back later or I won’t.” After sending the text, he responded within minutes. – Is there anything you would like to add?
I believe he will have some extremely good moments, as well as occasions when he will need to surmount a learning curve. But it is the process that each rookie quarterback in that league must go through, and he will weather the storm.
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