Caleb Williams praises offensive line, talks 2024 quarterback class | Press Conference

Caleb Williams praises offensive line, talks 2024 quarterback class | Press Conference

What do you think the the what do you think your draft class quarterbacks is going to be known for at the end of the day? Pretty badass class, right? Yeah. Uh six QBs going within first round and first 12. Yeah. So, uh it’s a it’s a it’s a pretty good draft class. Um obviously guys are playing well um just about all the guys. So, um you know um I think it’s going to turn out like a good class. obviously be competing versus these guys for a long time and you know excited about it. It seems like they’re different like every guy’s pretty different. Yeah. From each other. Did that strike you even in the moment? Did you know not only are these guys good but they’re kind of different flavors of quarterback? Yeah. Uh it’s pretty it’s pretty uh unique to get one six different quarterbacks in one draft class that early and then obviously to have, you know, guys that are that are so different but also, you know, very similar in a lot of ways. And um you know I think it’s uh it’s awesome for those guys to be able to go out there and compete the way they you know they’ve been competing uh from you know last year to this year and you know excited to see where they go next. How does a how does Dan Quinn’s defense challenge you? Yeah. Uh obviously playing verse them last year um and and Dan Quinn and and and Joe um they do a good job over there. Their guys play um you know uh sound football. Um they obviously have a a vet right in the middle of you know they got a bunch of vets but they got a vet right in the middle of the um right in the middle of the defense with with Bobby Wag. So um you know just being able to go out there and do our job um execute our plays um execute our techniques um is the challenge for us um because that’s what those guys are going to do. Um and they’re going to play uh hard nose football. They’re going to come out and they’re trying to you know try and uh you know make a make a bang on on on plays and you know come downhill and hit on run plays and you know when the ball’s in the air they’re going to try and go and attack it. So, uh, it’s our job to be able to, uh, for me to be able to throw good passes, give our receivers the best chance. Um, and it’s it’s our guys, uh, job to be able to, you know, have the right technique and, you know, go grab the ball or run and protect the football and, um, lower pad level and and and all the different things that, you know, it takes to win games. It’s only been four games, but your sack rate is way down from where it was last year. What’s your interpretation of of why that progress has has been as defined as it has been? Yeah. Um, it’s it’s uh, it starts with those guys up front. uh those guys up front have been awesome since I’ve been here um or since you know this year. Um and so uh you know I think I think being able to get in rhythm with those guys um not having many guys down in a sense um being able to get multiple reps and you know for me to be able I think I’ve said it multiple times you know from last year to now is being able to figure out you know maybe where their weakness is because every every player has you know some weaknesses or anything like that. So being able to figure out where their weakness is and you know maybe play off of that in the pocket and and and be able to feel that and kind of know where um I need to set up or roll out or get out the pocket at certain times and things like that. So uh it’s being able to have those guys but you know have those guys back when you know things don’t go you know right but you know I mean these guys are I mean those guys are beasts up front. So uh it’s been it’s been fun being with them and uh working with them and you know having these past four games with them. What do you think about being last year knowing that you know you guys had to come back? Um, does it still sting? Obviously, you don’t want to lose. Um, especially in that fashion of a of a Hail Mary. Um, so is it does it does it bother me? I’m not going to speak for everybody else. Does it bother me? Yeah. Um, in the sense of, you know, I want to go out there and I want to win every single game that I got. Um, and I know that’s not going to happen. So, um, you know, being able to, you know, orchestrate, you know, the this game, orchestrate this week, you know, have the guys focus on what we need to focus on. Um, I think I think is where I’m at. Um, and not not necessarily going down the rabbit hole. um of of you know the revenge title or or anything like that. You know, I think it’s I think it’s being able to focus on us. This team’s different uh than last year. The coaching obviously is different. Every you know, a bunch of things are different. So, uh being able to focus on us and be able to uh lead these guys the way that, you know, they need to be led um and and be able to go out there and focus on what we need to focus on to be able to go win the game at the end of the day. Because of how that game ended last year and how the subsequent ones went after that, what did you learn about, I guess, that 24-hour rule? I know you mentioned it at the time with Arizona, like just being able to flush something that was so bad and being able to move on as a leader. What did you learn about that? Yeah, I got to do a better job in those situations. I think, you know, we had those those first two games this year. Um, and I think I did a better job of, you know, being able to come into the facility and be able to move on and, you know, there I mean, we got our our tails whooped the second game. We, you know, we had a comeback game, uh, that that we allowed the team to come back on us. So, you know, those are those are tough games, especially to start the season, you know, versus divisional opponents. So, uh, being able to come in here and and and be the same guy, but also understand, um, you know, my energy, my attitude, my, you know, um, you know, how I come in here each and every day, you know, whether it’s a win or a loss, you know, affects everybody, affects the building. So, um, you know, I think it it starts with, uh, myself and being able to um, and look at myself in the mirror um, in those ways when when things aren’t going right. Um, and then being able to come in here when things are going right and be the exact same guy. Did the homecoming aspect to that game add to the sting for you? Uh yeah, that was probably that was probably a little bit of it. Uh just because you know when you go back home, uh I think any player, any coach, any you know, whatever the case, any competitor, uh when you go back home and you know, you you’re going to be in front of whether your people are actually there or you know, uh they’re going to be watching uh cuz it’s home. And so uh being able to um you know, come out with a win always feels a little bit better when you can do it at home. um and you know not being able to go back home as much as you know you may may like or anything like that because of what the job requires. Um and so when you do get to go back home and and and play in front of a crowd and play in front of you know a crowd that you know many many fans were you know whether it was high school or you know little leagues or anything like that that you know have watched me growing up you know you want to you want to be able to win those games. What about the your trajectory this season where Washington is going to be one of the better defenses and one of the better teams you have played. So getting those four games and then kind of getting a chance to reset now you come out with a a pretty good test. Yep. How do you feel um about your readiness for that as opposed to maybe a month ago? Yeah, I think I I think um it’s a week- toeek basis kind of thing. Um it’s a week- toeek league. Um there’s teams that um you know may have lost to a team that another team beat the week before and things like that that you know you feel thought that they shouldn’t have beat. So it’s a week toeek thing. Um, and so my comfort uh starts with my preparation throughout the week. And so being able to prepare the way, you know, the same way that I’ve been preparing, um, and finding better ways to, you know, be more efficient and things like that with my preparation and be able to, you know, gain more knowledge and, you know, became, uh, be able to become more comfortable, you know, each and every week and find ways to become more and more comfortable each and every week uh, with what’s put in front of me. Um, I think is, uh, I think is the most important thing. And I think that that builds the confidence for, you know, each week. And then obviously when you get out there on Sundays and and you know this week on Monday um you know I think I think that’s where the confidence and the belief comes from. Um like I said each week is is is it own? So gi given the given the ugly nature of the win in Vegas you guys found a way in the end. What do you think the psychological value for the team is of of that whole experience? Yeah I think I think being able to have those type of wins um is important. Um, I think overall for us as a team, a culture, um, and things like that that, you know, even when we’re down, even when we’re behind, even when, you know, one side of the ball may not be doing, you know, as good as they, you know, we feel we should, um, you know, I think, I think being able to find ways, uh, to get things going, having each other’s back, all these different things that, you know, when you come up in these big games, like, you know, this week that we have, um, you know, a a team that went to NFC last year and, you know, they they’ve played big games, they’ve, um, you know, They’re they’re a great team, great coaching staff and all of that. All that comes together and I think it I think it helps us um in the end. One for confidence, one for belief in each other, coaches and all of that. And then obviously we have to do it each and every week to be able to um you know become that consistent team that we want to be um and winning these games. Talk about your your individual confidence in those game on the line moments. How do you find it yourself during games that that maybe not going the way Washington last year perfect example where you didn’t play well and then the ball’s in your hands in the fourth quarter and you figure out how to click it in? How how does that happen for you? Um I think it gets to a point where it’s just a a switch in my mind and in in our minds of you know um it’s our time. Um it’s it’s time to go in the game. Um and there’s there’s nothing else that matters. Um nothing is more important than you know that play, that drive um in that moment. and uh you know, you take a deep breath um and you you you give yourself some positive information, positive affirmation and things like that and you go out there um and you be as calm as you can be for your guys in my position. Um and I think that helps the guys in those moments. Um you you speak to those guys, you look at those guys in the huddle and you give them the information we need to be able to go out there um and and be confident, make the plays we need to be able to go down and you know, win the game. Okay. Why did you make use of the vibe? Was it mental recharge, a chance to study some things? And did it differ uh this year from your Yeah, I think uh I think it was an overall uh you know be able to get you know more treatment a week of treatment without really having too much um you know ground and pound on the grass and things like that. It’s it’s a it’s a week of mental rest. Um and then obviously, you know, being able to, you know, find ways to uh uh get away in a way. Um just cuz it’s going to be a long stretch of games, 13, you know, 13 13 plus games. And so, uh being able to understand that, uh being able to like last year I wasn’t as good with that. Being able to get away, uh for a couple days and and understand that, um you know, this is a long season. Um and and and and so I think I did a good job of that this year, but getting back into it um you know, a day or two before we actually get back in here, getting back in the facility, staying for a few hours. Um just getting back into that mode of being able to be here for hours and not um you know, wishing, you know, cuz you know, you you you take that time off and you know, it feels good obviously. Um but but not not taking advantage of it um is is the most important thing. What did your self scout reveal to like what you looked at for the first four games? Where do you need to get better? What do you need to improve upon? Yeah, I think there’s not necessarily one area that I can say that I’m mastered at. Uh there’s not one area that I can say that I’m necessarily uh uh uh bad at or anything like that. I think it’s just being able to look at it and and figure out um and and it goes back to always the basics. Um for us as a group and offense and you know, defense and all of that, but also, you know, myself, it goes back to the basics of being able to um look at what I need to look at. Um it always starts uh ground up. Uh, so looking at, you know, my my base and looking at my, you know, my footwork and, um, you know, the confidence of being able to get the calls out and, you know, uh, long calls, short calls, whatever, being able to get the guys up to the line, um, and and and, you know, make the checks and things like that. So, um, it it always starts with those base things and then from there you grow and, um, you know, you figure out, you know, um, you know, you need to be set here to get back to here and all, you know, all of those different things. So, it always starts with the basics and then you can, you know, take steps from there. Caleb, a lot of those guys in your draft class are playing for offensive coordinators or head coaches who were known for their development of quarterbacks. You’ve got one in Ben now. In terms of just being in a good landing spot, does that strike you as a reason why this class might be in your words? What was it? Damn good or damn good or um like saying the Yes. Yes. Yes. Yes. I think I mean situation always helps. And then and then and then um you know that you got to have I mean those guys are hard workers. Um all those guys you wouldn’t you wouldn’t be in this position um cuz talent does run out at some point. So you got to you got to work hard and um and and figure out ways to to get better and and not be okay with you know just being where you know you were at coming out of college. And I think I think those guys have done a good job. Um you know I think they’re all going to keep growing you know myself included. Uh but having you know the the right situation I think always does help. Um, if you look at all the all the older guys now, you can call them. U, you know, I think I think some of these guys that have rebirthed or come back around that everybody loves to talk about, I think they’re just the same players. They’ve just gotten into, you know, some really good situations where they’ve connected with the coaches, connected with the players and and and the, you know, the the the the area around. Um, and I think, you know, they found their home and, you know, certain guys like like U guy Baker, he’s he’s out there balling, playing playing hell of football right now. So, um I think it’s, you know, right right situation always helps. Um and it it it does help build, you know, confidence in yourself. Darnold to the Yeah, Darnold SC, all these different guys. So, uh it’s always good. But, um it does help. But yeah, that’s it. Awesome. The Bears. Thank you, Kayla.

Quarterback Caleb Williams addresses the media Wednesday at Halas Hall.

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