Dan Orlovsky Warns Bears Fans About Caleb Williams Amid Visible Struggle at Training Camp Under Ben Johnson

Dan Orlovsky believes that it will take time for Caleb Williams to get a good grasp of Ben Johnson playbook and until then he will not see much success.

Dan Orlovsky Warns Bears Fans About Caleb Williams Amid Visible Struggle at Training Camp Under Ben Johnson

Dan Orlovsky and Caleb Williams (Image via IMAGO)

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Dan Orlovsky wants the Chicago Bears fans to lower their expectations about the Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson duo ahead of the 2025 NFL season. Fans might witness an improved Bears team, but to expect silverware following a regime change is a step too far.

Williams struggled big time in his rookie season. However, it’s unfair to blame a first-year starter for his team’s bad performances. The Bears’ offensive line looked helpless and slow at times. Williams digested 68 sacks, which is 12 more than the next most, the Texans’ CJ Stroud.

According to Pro Football Sports Network, the offensive line allowed a 10.7% sack rate (last in the NFL) because their 35.4% pressure rate was 18th.

Offensive coordinator Shane Waldron rarely played to Williams’ strength. Anyone who followed Williams in college knows he possesses a cannon arm and is also a good scrambler with the ball. However, throughout the 2024 season, the USC graduate mostly relied on hero balls to make a difference in garbage time, making it easier for opposing teams to counter.

The Bears brass took a drastic midseason decision to fire both Waldron and head coach Matt Eberflus. Williams ended the season on a high by defeating divisional rivals, the Green Bay Packers, but it was only the Bears’ 5th victory all year.

General manager Ryan Poles poached Detroit Lions offensive coordinator Ben Johnson and appointed him as the new head coach.

Caleb Williams needs time to develop his skills as an elite ball player

The OTAs and the minicamp went without much trouble. The same cannot be said about the first couple of days of training camp.

Dan Orlovsky Warns Bears Fans About Caleb Williams Amid Visible Struggle at Training Camp Under Ben Johnson
Caleb Williams (Image via IMAGO)

Footage from the camp showed Williams’ struggles. He threw an interception on the first play of day one. Johnson scolded the 23-year-old for failing to line up properly during 7-on-7 drills and threw another pick on day 2.

In the recent episode of ESPN’s Get Up, Dan Orlovsky advised Bears fans to exercise patience. Johnson is a good coach, but it took him nearly four years to get Jared Goff playing like an elite NFL quarterback. Williams is still in his second season and will make mistakes while learning the new playbook.

He has to erase a decade’s worth of playing a certain style of football and rebuild the habits. It is going to take, candidly, years. Ben Johnson rocket-shipped with Jared Goff. [Jared] Goff took four or five years in the NFL in building that footwork part of his game up. And so, it’s not like it’s going to be impossible in October, November, December. It’s just gonna take time.

Dan Orlovsky said

Johnson is already helping Williams polish his skills, and day 3 of the camp is a testament to his hard work.

Easily Caleb Williams’ best day of camp. Other than a bad delay of game, he was perfect in the 2-min drill and ended it with a nice TD connection to Rome Odunze.

Bears insider Adam Hoge tweeted

Williams has a lot to learn about the craft of being a top NFL quarterback. Johnson may be the right guy to guide him through the treacherous waters, but fans will have to be patient with the USC graduate.

The Bears also sorted out the offensive line issues with quality and experienced recruitments. Jonah Jackson, Joe Thuney, and Drew Dalman are some of the highest-graded O-linemen in the past few years. If they allow Williams to play his natural game, then the NFC North will be enjoyable to watch once again.

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