Every single point made here I've said for two seasons. It's not that I don't like the kid. It's that I think he needs to mature and more time in college helps that. Transferring slows down the maturation process. Not redshirting does too. Looky here. Skmeone timed his release. Who said he took forever to get rid of the ball? Who said he messed up the O w playground ball? It's funny. These guys think they're helping themselves protecting from
Injury by sitting out a bowl. Caleb hurt himself tremendously sitting out the bowl. It's not what a leader does. And USC showed it was better off without him. Ow. People wrote off the petty behavioral issues. Guess what? NFL guys notice.
In 2 years he kept talking about being a leader and a better teammate. If you have to keep mentioning it and talking about it? Youre not it. Same with Riley continually trying to preach this weird ephemeral "culture" crap. Culture doesn't win games. Big violent guys running fast do.
People said he was great when he played crappy teams. Big deal. We all are. People would point to his stats against Colorado. Ignoring his disappearance in the 4Q. I knew there was an issue. People Ifnored asu. Arizona. I knew what I was seeing. Again.
So without further ado. Here is the detailed analysis of Williams.
🔥I’ve (Daniel Kelly) now evaluated USC quarterback (QB) Caleb Williams in every snap he took in 2022 and 2023 and I’ve written approximately 11,850 words reflecting on him in articles.
The takeaway: Williams is too undisciplined, moody, and immature to ever realize his potential.
Yes, he is loaded with God-given raw arm strength, and elite ability to create and extend (which is the draw to him), but he’s underdeveloped in the finer points of the position. His skillset doesn’t translate well to the next level ⎯the NFL game is about quick time to throw, precise downfield ball placement, and ball security.
The only box he checks is ball security improving from 35 pass breakups (2.5 avg.) in 2022 to 15 in 2023 (1.25 avg.).
2023 went sideways
Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy, but it amounted to a second-round grade watching him through my ‘NFL-colored glasses.’ He tended to hold the ball too long and to lock in with receivers.
The first three games of 2023 (San Jose State, Nevada, and Stanford) gave me optimism he had improved, but then ASU happened. He was excellent against Colorado but mediocre against the University of Arizona.
And then things went off the rails.
The true litmus test would be against ranked competition.
What happened?
USC faced Notre Dame, Utah, CAL, Washington, Oregon, and UCLA and dropped five out of six and Williams’ became unglued.
Concerns
1. Downward trajectory ⎯Williams regressed in 2023.
2. NFL Expectations ⎯will be crazy high. The expectations alone will cause him to be a bust.
3. Time to throw ⎯Pro Football Focus recorded Williams at 3.44 seconds in 2022 and 3.21 seconds in 2023. Williams was sacked 63 times (2022-2023). Only seven NFL QBs are over 3 seconds (NEXT GEN STATS). Bears’ QB Justin Fields was the slowest (3.23 seconds). Fields was sacked 99 times (2022-2023).
4. Glorifed system QB ⎯I did an independent study this season, Williams’ best completion percentages came throwing 44-62% short passes. His three worst games (55.9%-57.5%) were fewer short passes.
5. Not a big game QB ⎯Williams was 2-9 against ranked teams the past two seasons.
6. Fumbles ⎯ 32 fumbles in 36 games.
7. Post-game conduct ⎯refused to shake hands with Utah and refused to talk to reporters after the UCLA loss.
8. Nature ⎯Wants to get out of structure as a passer and get reckless as a runner (increased injury risk). He reverts to locking in with receivers. Additionally, he talked down about a fan calling him a “sheep,” and he does unpredictable and uncensored things ranging from painting obscenities on his fingernails to jumping into the stands and crying in his mother’s arms.
9. Inexperienced dealing with adversity ⎯According to Sports Illustrated (Nov. 28, 2023) Williams said, “I’ve never been in this situation, where I’m 7–5 and there are no playoff hopes at the end of the season. I’m dealing with it emotionally, dealing with it spiritually and physically. ”
10. Holiday Bowl ⎯USC bounced right back (same offensive line and defense) against No. 15 Louisville with QB Miller Moss who was making his first career start and he matched Williams’ USC high of six touchdown passes in a game.
We haven't even had the draft yet, let alone seen him lay.
I know that one commentater said some pretty daming things and a few have had said there are questions.
I don't see that as validation of your points. Not until he either does well or flames out. Give the guy a couple of seasons first and let's see what happens. Hell Baker M had a rough start for sure and now he might be coming around. Let's give Caleb at least a half in preseason play before we claim our concerns were right lol.
I get it, some dude agreed with you before the draft. Cool. Props for the third longest post in recent green board history. Can we still call it the green board?
Perfect call on Caleb. The painted fingernails were a giveaway to me. Johnny Manziel waiting to happen.
Picking great quarterbacks are so hard. It's part science and part guessing. Brady, 6th rounds pick, Montana, 3rd round pick and the next greaf quarterback, Brock Purdy, last pick in the draft. I think Williams will be a good pro quarterback but he could also be a bust. That review by Daniel Kelly read more like a hit piece by a classic Trojan hater more than anything else. I bet if CW played for Notre Dame, he would already have him in
The nfl HOF . JMHO
Caleb was ruined by Riley because Riley is incapable of developing fundamentals and coaching an offense that requires discipline. Every Riley QB regresses in the real world. Every Riley team fails. These are FACTS! Just the facts, ma'am.
Caleb did some things on the field that were just, "wow" moments. Like Sam but better. The problem with being a rah rah (me) is that we often dismiss the criticism as nit picking because I want to see USC win so badly. Personality flaw I guess. The NFL drafts on upside, potential and Caleb will still go first. Maturity comes at different times for people. The nfl is a copycat league and they're looking for the next Mahomes. Caleb flashes that kind of potential.
A few points.
Caleb's weaknesses in his game were pretty obvious and pointed out by several posters this season.
Caleb's character issues were also on full display.
What the article got wrong is that he even told the press he was going to try to be a passer this season and didn't take off and take what was in front of him. Remember when Darnold was "coached" to stay in the pocket by Hugs? Didn't do him any favors either.
What I disagree with in this article is the "EVER realize his potential" criticism. I asked many times this season if Caleb was uncoachable? What I think Caleb needed and still needs wasn't to be coddled as CLR also put on full display , but a firm dose of toxic masculinity. More the Pete Carroll , Saben, Bellechick, TaterTot type. All kids are different and the spineless milquetoast approach didn't do Willliams any favors.
Kid needs to go to a team where he can sit , watch, learn, and grow the f up. But that probably won't happen. And maybe he isn't coachable. The SchNoz , another tennis brat, proved he wasn't coachable.
You have a history of predicting SC trojans fail and then following their career trying to prove why you weren't wrong. Still have no idea why you do this.
I wouldn't draft Caleb high for all the reasons I posted this season. Dude just holds onto the ball too long and won't be able to out-athlete the NFL . The fumbles stat suprised me. Didn't remember that many.
Like all Trojans, I will be pulling for him. sc
A slightly different take...
Daniel Jeremiah Refutes Merril Hoge's Caleb Williams "He Is Not Special" Take | The Rich Eisen Show (youtube.com)
CW may be an immature little child, but I still think he goes #1.