Training Camp News - Around the League version

[Billl]

11 hours ago, DCOrange said:

I think it goes without saying that Caleb had a disappointing rookie season

3500 yards, 20 TDs, and 6 INTs plus 500 yards rushing is statistically a top 5 rookie season all time.  It was the second best season by a QB in the history of the franchise.

[Richard Noggin]

1 hour ago, Billl said:

3500 yards, 20 TDs, and 6 INTs plus 500 yards rushing is statistically a top 5 rookie season all time.  It was the second best season by a QB in the history of the franchise.

 

Can't have the convo without recognizing those numbers, of course. Then again, rookie QBs have been doing some things, statistically, lately. For those successful rookie signal callers, year two is where we might be on the lookout for regressions to the mean, or at least for DCs to catch up enough to better attack/illuminate underdeveloped elements of each QB/offense overall. 

 

Caleb Williams really should take a substantial step forward in 2025, given the serious, aggressive organizational overhaul around him (landing hottest offensive HC candidate and a legit, aggressive DC, while bringing in a new, improved vet interior o-line and other vital pieces up front and at skill positions--top 4 WRs are legit plus top 2 TEs are very dangerous, plus talented RB room, etc.). Williams is well-positioned for a major progression, one would easily assume if his jersey didn't say Chicago. 

 

**but then we look at Daniels' and Stroud's WR pipelines, wherein Daniels has older-but-dynamic starters and prospects going 3 deep for each WR spot, and average RB and TE rooms, while Stroud has WR DUDES and prospects but maybe cooked RBs and meh TEs (Lachay could eventually be something). And what about Bo Nix in Denver? McCarthy in Minny? Sanders in Cle? Ward in Tenn? Maybe Drake Maye in NE is gonna explode, if his offensive line lets him. PLUS there's Pennix Jr in Atlanta who has a little squad around him. Any room for Bryce Young in Carolina to continue to improve? 

 

The potential 2025 league impact of QBs on rookie contracts is more broadly intriguing than ever imho. How will those intriguing teams fare against the franchise QB tier of competition (KC, BAL, DET, BUF, PHI, CIN, GB, DAL, maybe LAR and/or LAC)? And which middling orgs (AZ, LV, CLE, SF, MN, NYG, NYJ, MIA, NO, SEA, TB, JAX) step up or stumble back? 

[Figster]

Not sure what's been posted yet, but this kids as comfortable playing QB as his pops was at CB. 

 

 

 

Edited Wednesday at 06:24 AM by Figster

[dave mcbride]

8 hours ago, Billl said:

3500 yards, 20 TDs, and 6 INTs plus 500 yards rushing is statistically a top 5 rookie season all time.  It was the second best season by a QB in the history of the franchise.

Chicago’s passing yardage was 31st in yards and 31st in net yards per attempt, and they were 25th in passing TDs. The offense was dead last in total yards and 28th in points scored. He didn’t throw many picks, true, but he was sacked an ungodly 68 times (11 percent sack rate, which is just unacceptable for a qb) and fumbled a lot. Unless he starts to to read the field more quickly and get the ball out, he has a pretty grim future in front of him: repeated poundings that increase the risk of injury. Not saying he can’t do it, of course. From the Athletic’s qb tiers analysis:

 

‘Williams entered the 2024 draft as the consensus No. 1 quarterback. He enters his second season facing questions about his ability to process and play quickly after taking 68 sacks, third-most in NFL history.

"I think that will come in time," a GM said. "Maybe it is a little bit like Josh (Allen) early in his career, where he has so much good other stuff that you will live with some negative plays, and as he gets more snaps under his belt, that part will come."

Most evaluations reflected some skepticism.

"He's got the talent to go up, but in terms of processing ability and getting the ball out of his hands, it was the worst we played against," a defensive coordinator said. "He just holds the ball forever. I'm thinking, 'The ball should go right there! Throw it! Throw it!' And he did not throw it."

Voter after voter raised the same concerns.

"He is definitely a 1 talent," a head coach said. "I just think it's going to take him longer than Jayden Daniels. He is not playing fast right now. There is something there. His processing to me was alarming watching the tape."

Some thought new coach Ben Johnson would have to adjust expectations accordingly.

"You saw signs and ability, and I also think you saw signs and ability that scare you," another coach said. "Nervousness in the pocket, inability to see and play on time. But I do not know yet if that was him or coaching. Parts of me wondered if you could get it done with this guy, but it's good enough to make you think you have a chance."

Voters aren't necessarily betting against Williams, but they aren't betting on him, either.

"He's very talented," another defensive coordinator said. "Ben is more under center. Caleb is more of a gun quarterback. That dynamic is going to be interesting to me. I would not be shocked if the kid plays well. Ben is good. He can adjust. I'm sure they will find a happy medium somewhere."’

[TheWei44]

12 hours ago, Billl said:

3500 yards, 20 TDs, and 6 INTs plus 500 yards rushing is statistically a top 5 rookie season all time.  It was the second best season by a QB in the history of the franchise.

Have you looked at the per game numbers?  Totals might obscure the truth given that more games are played now in the regular season than in the recent past.

[Logic]

Caleb Williams was playing in an abhorrent offense.

He now has, presumably, an improved offensive line, improved weaponry, and will be playing in a competent offensive system.

We'll get a much truer read of his abilities this year.

All of that said...I think I'd rather have Drake Maye, and I of course would DEFINITELY rather have Jayden Daniels. It's possible the Bears, with their pick of the litter at QB in that draft, picked the third best guy.

Time will tell.

Edited Wednesday at 03:25 PM by Logic

[947]

45 minutes ago, Logic said:

It's possible the Bears, with their pick of the litter at QB in that draft, picked the third best guy.

Time will tell.

 

Well the Bears certainly have experience in this regard, they did the same with Trubisky.

[RiotAct]

Chop Robinson carted off the practice field for Miami.  Potentially a very big loss for them.

 

 

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/dolphins/2025/08/13/miami-dolphins-chop-robinson-injured-detroit-lions/85641775007/

[billsfan89]

15 hours ago, Billl said:

3500 yards, 20 TDs, and 6 INTs plus 500 yards rushing is statistically a top 5 rookie season all time.  It was the second best season by a QB in the history of the franchise.

 

In front of a bad IOL and an OK but not as great as they were on paper set of skill position players he still showed a lot of talent in his rookie year. With the IOL immensely beefed up (traded for an All Pro vet guard, signed the best center on the free agency market, and traded for another long time IOL starter from the Rams) and a pair of pass catchers drafted up high they have the collection of talent for Williams to be successful. It is just more so can the coaching put in place a system for Williams that caters to his abilities or not? 

[4merper4mer]

3 hours ago, Logic said:

Caleb Williams was playing in an abhorrent offense.

He now has, presumably, an improved offensive line, improved weaponry, and will be playing in a competent offensive system.

We'll get a much truer read of his abilities this year.

All of that said...I think I'd rather have Drake Maye, and I of course would DEFINITELY rather have Jayden Daniels. It's possible the Bears, with their pick of the litter at QB in that draft, picked the third best guy.

Time will tell.

Maybe they should have figured that out when he was crying to his mommy.

[Ethan in Cleveland]

More joint practice fights with the Falcons starting QB thrown to the ground.

 

[Logic]

1 hour ago, 4merper4mer said:

Maybe they should have figured that out when he was crying to his mommy.

Meh. 

Miss me with any "he's a crybaby" or "he paints his nails" talk.

[dave mcbride]

3 hours ago, RiotAct said:

Chop Robinson carted off the practice field for Miami.  Potentially a very big loss for them.

 

 

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/dolphins/2025/08/13/miami-dolphins-chop-robinson-injured-detroit-lions/85641775007/

The story has been updated. Robinson is fine.

 

[4merper4mer]

16 minutes ago, Logic said:

Meh. 

Miss me with any "he's a crybaby" or "he paints his nails" talk.

To each his own.  The next QB that succeeds after going to his mommy and crying in the stands after a loss will be the first.  I’m excluding 8-12 year olds of course.  Williams was in a D1 university.

[TBBills Fan]

6 hours ago, RiotAct said:

Chop Robinson carted off the practice field for Miami.  Potentially a very big loss for them.

 

 

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/dolphins/2025/08/13/miami-dolphins-chop-robinson-injured-detroit-lions/85641775007/

That would be a huge loss for them

[H2o]

6 hours ago, RiotAct said:

Chop Robinson carted off the practice field for Miami.  Potentially a very big loss for them.

 

 

https://www.palmbeachpost.com/story/sports/nfl/dolphins/2025/08/13/miami-dolphins-chop-robinson-injured-detroit-lions/85641775007/

The update on the article is already saying he's alright. The Dolphins defense is still toast, even with him, Chubb, and Phillips. They have absolutely no Secondary. 

[Big Blitz]

Yea this kid is a moron

 

 

 

[Brand J]

19 minutes ago, Big Blitz said:

Yea this kid is a moron

 

 

 

Looked like he came in out of control, didn’t seem intentional. But yeah, you gotta keep your feet when around your own QB.

[Chandler#81]

17 hours ago, Logic said:

Caleb Williams was playing in an abhorrent offense.

He now has, presumably, an improved offensive line, improved weaponry, and will be playing in a competent offensive system.

We'll get a much truer read of his abilities this year.

All of that said...I think I'd rather have Drake Maye, and I of course would DEFINITELY rather have Jayden Daniels. It's possible the Bears, with their pick of the litter at QB in that draft, picked the third best guy.

Time will tell.

It wouldn’t be the 1st time. No team has a worse record of starting QBs. Case in point -with due respect to McMann, their only great QB was and still is Sid Luckman

[Sojourner]

17 hours ago, Logic said:

Caleb Williams was playing in an abhorrent offense.

He now has, presumably, an improved offensive line, improved weaponry, and will be playing in a competent offensive system.

We'll get a much truer read of his abilities this year.

All of that said...I think I'd rather have Drake Maye, and I of course would DEFINITELY rather have Jayden Daniels. It's possible the Bears, with their pick of the litter at QB in that draft, picked the third best guy.

Time will tell.

Agree. 
 

Not a huge fan of talking heads but a lot of the talk is “QBs with the most to prove”. Caleb is brought up a lot. Rightly so. 
 

He has to show improvement on his decision making. Now whilst the line play wasn’t that great, a lot of his decisions were at fault. Can’t hang on to the football for 4 seconds to throw in this league. Couple that with what they added last year for him, this year the moves they’ve made and a moderately decent defense to boot, he has to showcase the abilities they drafted him #1 overall. 
 

Time will tell indeed but the clock is ticking.