Kirk Herbstreit has coated Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams from his time on the College of Oklahoma to the College of Southern California. Throughout Thursday night time’s broadcast of the Seattle Seahawks and the Chicago Bears, Herbstreit steered Williams could not know what it takes to be an NFL quarterback.
“We’ve seen Caleb Williams tonight along with his playmaking capacity,” Herbstreit mentioned. “Keep in mind that low snap? And he was capable of decide it up, find a receiver and make a throw to Keenan Allen. He makes so many spectacular performs and he’s acquired such a bodily capacity.
“I believe the factor that is still to be seen — and solely time will inform — is that if he understands what it takes to be an NFL quarterback so far as the preparation, so far as first man there, final man leaving. And I’m not suggesting he’s not doing these issues, however all of these little issues that actually make the nice quarterbacks particular.”
Herbstreit’s feedback are intentionally obtuse. Right here’s why.
The Chicago Bears are presently an absolute catastrophe. Offensive Coordinator Shane Waldron was fired on November twelfth after ten months on the job. Earlier than Waldron, Luke Getsy was fired on the finish of the 2023 season. Each Getsy and Waldron have been employed by former Head Coach Matt Eberflus. Eberflus’s hiring failures didn’t get a lot headlines outdoors of the Windy Metropolis. Eberflus was on the clock after the Bears drafted Williams with the primary general decide within the 2024 NFL Draft. Finally, Eberflus was fired after mismanaging the clock and fumbling their Thanksgiving Day recreation towards the Detroit Lions. With a 14-32 report in almost three seasons, Eberflus turned the primary head coach in Bears franchise historical past to be fired throughout the season.
Williams takes the excessive highway
In the meantime, Caleb Williams has been sacked 67 instances this season. His offensive line has been, by all accounts, a catastrophe. As for the sport, Williams accomplished 16 of 28 passes for 122 yards and a 53.0 passer score and rushed for 37 yards on 5 carries. He was sacked six instances. Throughout his publish recreation press convention, Williams accepted the duty of the defeat.
“I believe at the moment was a kind of video games that I believe we performed two sides of the ball at the moment fairly properly, particular groups, and protection,” Williams mentioned in response to the staff transcript. “After which offense, we didn’t play properly. There have been miscues. There have been silly sacks that I used to be taking, shedding 10, 14 yards, which is irritating. However I’ll say that I’ll undoubtedly take the warmth for this one simply because among the conditions that I put us in, like I mentioned, that sack that I took that I didn’t must take, which put us — we have been empty and I introduced a man from the boundary. Simply throw it over the man’s head. And also you’re nonetheless taking part in, clearly you wish to get a constructive play there. However in that sense, it’s a constructive play. So acquired to be higher.”
That recreation featured 13 punts and no touchdowns.
The Evolution of the Black Quarterback
Nobody on the Chicago Bears has ever criticized Williams for missing dedication. No teammate says he’s shying away from management roles, or turning performs down throughout their ten-game shedding streak. As for Herbstreit, the followers are onto his schtick. The place does he get it from?
From Joe Gilliam, Doug Williams, Warren Moon, Randall Cunningham, Steve McNair, Michael Vick, Lamar Jackson, and now Caleb Williams, the Black quarterback has all the time been underneath the microscope. Why? Traditionally, scouts have described them as “athletes” and may’t play the sport from the pocket. Deadspin revealed a narrative in 2014 highlighted the variety of instances the phrase “athletic” was used. “Athletic” was used 82 instances for white gamers. By comparability, “athletic”, was used 221 instances for Black gamers.
In 2003, the late Rush Limbaugh mentioned, “I believe what we’ve had here’s a little social concern within the NFL. The media has been very desirous {that a} Black quarterback do properly.” The Black quarterback in query was Donovan McNabb.
It’s one factor to research what it takes to be a fantastic quarterback within the NFL. Sure, there’s a distinction between being a playmaker and quarterback. Kirk, it’s one other to criticize somebody with out totally proudly owning the very fact you’re lobbing these baseless sizzling takes whereas on air.
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