Caleb's accuracy and decision making still worries me.
Bears
- Thread starter PowerI66
- Start date
Right. Lots of positives. They finally got the head coach hire correct. This a team Bears’ fans can be proud of. They are mentally and physically tough. Luther and Loveland continue to emerge. Caleb, for all his struggles, is a playmaker when the game is on the line. They need to make defense a priority in the offseason.
Or just keeping the defense healthy. It's not that they don't have the playmaker they've just been hurt. They need another EDGE but other than that the defense is in good shape
But if you get one more then the offense can't just key on Sweat. That's the issue, he's the only one on the DL that anyone needs to worry about.
Saw this and thought it was good for a Monday.
They just faced their most difficult two-game stretch on the road.
They blew out one and had the ball and chance to beat the other as clock wound down.
The Bears are a good football team.
They just faced their most difficult two-game stretch on the road.
They blew out one and had the ball and chance to beat the other as clock wound down.
The Bears are a good football team.
I think the first option was Swift and when he saw Kmet the throw became much more difficult as the D recovered on the blown coverage. A throw he can make and a throw you want your young QB to make in that situation, he didn't in that moment. It happens.
Actually several people say Williams wouldn't have gotten that first down. LB was closing and had an angle.
All he had to do was throw it to DJ Moore who was wide open. One: you get the first down. Two: he had lots of room, so he could've scored possibly.
I watched the whole play, there was no lane to hit DJ. A screenshot doesn't show the whole picture, I only say that cause of the screenshot of him "open" circulating social media.
Caleb is an extremely soft runner. If he runs and puts his shoulder down, he gets the first down there. But that's not who he is. How he finishes runs is extremely frustrating to watch. He constantly slides and runs out of bounds just short of the first down. Did it 2x yesterday.
You don't think he is told to do that? Come on, now we are calling him soft because he is a QB avoiding contact and sliding or runs out of bounds? He's dove for 1st downs and TD this year.
BTW, I respectfully disagree that he gets the first down no matter if you think he is a soft runner or not.
I hear ya. But, I can't really fault him for that. Being a soft runner as a QB is the way to go in the NFL. See Jackson Dart and Jayden Daniels. If Daniels does not change the way he plays, he will not last any future NFL seasons, given his slim build.
FWIW, on the last play, the first read is the RB in the flat (Swift), 2nd read is TE in the corner of the EZ (Kmet) and 3rd read is the backside crosser (DJ).
First read wasn't open and the #2 read was wide open - the ball was just thrown late and not to the back corner of the EZ. DJ's route was never even an option nor should it have been since the TE was wide open.
It was the same play they ran last week and Kmet scored a TD on. If Caleb throws the same ball he did last week = TD.
Kmet TD vs Eagles
Lastly, ball was on the right hash so the play had to be run to the left. Caleb throws extremely well on the run in both directions. Going to the left was a non-issue.
They ran the ball on 3rd and 1 the previous play and didn't get the first down. They had their chance to run it and get it and did not. The play call was fantastic. Just a bad job by the QB.
First read wasn't open and the #2 read was wide open - the ball was just thrown late and not to the back corner of the EZ. DJ's route was never even an option nor should it have been since the TE was wide open.
It was the same play they ran last week and Kmet scored a TD on. If Caleb throws the same ball he did last week = TD.
Kmet TD vs Eagles
Lastly, ball was on the right hash so the play had to be run to the left. Caleb throws extremely well on the run in both directions. Going to the left was a non-issue.
They ran the ball on 3rd and 1 the previous play and didn't get the first down. They had their chance to run it and get it and did not. The play call was fantastic. Just a bad job by the QB.
I agree, he missed the throw, it’s not easy but he can make that throw. Thank you for proving DJ was never an option, seen that screen shot as well. He wasn’t an option until he crossed Caleb’s face. I am surprised they didn’t run it.
There's a rule for QB's when running the ball. Protect yourself and don't take any hits unless a first down is on the line or the game is on the line.
All 22 vs Packers
6:50 - throws it away when we could have ran for a 1st down
7:45 - slides too early and leaves them with 3rd and 1
I'm not asking him to never slide or give hits but he needs to be better than what he's doing.
How Patrick Mahomes runs is exactly how Caleb should run. PM constantly goes and gets first downs and touchdowns by not sliding.
Ya, I know the "rule".
He has done what you say he doesn't do plenty of times this year. I'm not gonna agree he is a soft runner.
He did slide early on the play that gave them a 3 and 1. I did notice it in real time.
Anyone that has watched this year has seen he has gotten better at taking the yards running when available. He did it multiple times in Eagles game.
Caleb has done the same thing multiple times this year that you said PM does. I would say his awareness of marker can improve to make sure he's getting those at times for sure.
I'll agree with most of this post - good stuff.
Except, nothing comes to mind of Caleb running anything like Mahomes. He just doesn't like contact and isn't the type to go get a yard if needed.
I don't think it is fair to say he is soft running the ball, seen him many times take contact. Ridiculous Mahome type run against Giants...I was actually waiting for a Safety to clock him out of bounds on that run.
Beat the Browns..
Luther Burdeen Comparison to Other NFL Wide Receivers (2025 Season)
A passer rating when targeted above 100 is generally considered very good, and above 110 is elite. Burden's 114.1 rating puts him at the high end of this scale.
Comparison of Advanced WR Metrics (2025 Season)
Luther Burden III demonstrates elite efficiency for a rookie, particularly in his catch rate and average yards after catch, comparing favorably to the top veterans.
Passer Rating When Targeted values for top WRs are approximate or estimated from related data, as this specific metric is not always a primary public stat.
A passer rating when targeted above 100 is generally considered very good, and above 110 is elite. Burden's 114.1 rating puts him at the high end of this scale.
- Overall Standing: His rating ranks around 16th among all NFL wide receivers with a minimum number of targets, a top-tier standing for a rookie.
Comparison of Advanced WR Metrics (2025 Season)
Luther Burden III demonstrates elite efficiency for a rookie, particularly in his catch rate and average yards after catch, comparing favorably to the top veterans.
| Player | Team | Passer Rating When Targeted | Catch Rate | Avg Yds After Catch (YAC/R) | Avg Depth of Target (ADoT) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Luther Burden III | Bears | 114.1 | 73.5% | 7.0 yds | 7.0 yds |
| Jaxon Smith-Njigba | Seahawks | ~111.7 | 73.55% | 4.3 yds | 12.06 yds |
| Puka Nacua | Rams | ~110.7 | 78.81% | 4.6 yds | 9.19 yds |
| George Pickens | Cowboys | ~110.2 | 68.42% | 5.1 yds | 11.76 yds |
| Ja'Marr Chase | Bengals | ~105.7 (approx) | 65.47% | 5.0 yds | 8.60 yds |
| Amon-Ra St. Brown | Lions | ~104.9 (approx) | 69.23% | 4.7 yds | 8.45 yds |
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I’m really excited about LB3. His ceiling is to the clouds.
he’ll be WR #1 next year.
he’ll be WR #1 next year.
Pretty much sums things up. And the D would improve SO much with another edge rusher. I'm still excited about the Bears.
Agree, They had the ball in red zone with a chance to tie/win on road against a really good team. Didn't make the play but played a hell of a second half. They totally walked out of that game knowing they can beat them and I think they will on the lake.
Yup, on a separate note the AFC playoff picture is wild. As of right now no Ravens, Chiefs, Cin for various reasons.
Big games this week in NFC GB/DEN, DET/LAR and SEA/IND(not as much now with no QB for IND).
Would be amazing if the NFC went through Chicago in Janurary rather than LA/SF or a dome. Huge advantage for Da Bears.
The way the NFC looks the Bears would likely need to win out to get the 1 seed. Even the division looks like a long shot now.
The path to the NFC North will be clearer after this week. It is extremely plausible Bears win and GB/DET both lose, both are road games for north teams.