Trent Dilfer makes prediction on Caleb Williams in first season with Ben Johnson

The Chicago Bears are doing what they can to make sure that former first overall pick Caleb Williams is in a position to succeed. This past offseason, that meant hiring one of the best offensive minds in the game today, Ben Johnson, to be his next head coach.

There’s a lot of interest around the pairing of Williams and Johnson. Even UAB head coach and former NFL quarterback Trent Dilfer is keeping his eye on that situation. Recently, he appeared on See Ball Get Ball. There, he explained that there could be a brief step back for Williams next season before he can take that leap forward.

“I think there might be a little bit of a regression early on,” Trent Dilfer said. “I would say Ben and I are very similar in how our expectation for the position is played and how much volume of stuff we expect them to master. Caleb’s history in football has been, keep it pretty benign, and let his athleticism really flourish and be a playmaker. I had Caleb with Elite 11. He was our MVP. I really respect Caleb. I think he’s a unique kid, tough guy. But he was at his best when he had that playmaking mentality.”

It was an inconsistent first season in the NFL for Caleb Williams. He’d finish the year completing 62.5 percent of his passes for 3,541 yards and 20 touchdowns with six interceptions. There is clear talent that he has, but the hope is that Ben Johnson can fine-tune his skills.

“I think Ben sees it more like I do. This person’s not a butcher. He’s a surgeon. A butcher and surgeon both have sharp tools. One has a big, heavy knife, one has a scalpel. One gets you a pastrami sandwich, one saves your life. I think a pastrami sandwich done right by a butcher is pretty amazing,” Dilfer said. “But I think I’d rather have a scalpel with open heart surgery to save my life. I think the quarterback position — Ben does as well — needs to be played like a scalpel. It needs to be played with the highest level of detail, and everything matters the same. Then, plays come off of playing like that. You’re not a robot, but you do all the little things perfect, and then it actually enhances your playmaking. Caleb’s going to learn some hard lessons that way.”

While Trent Dilfer does expect Caleb Williams to take a slight step back to start next season, he also has faith in the young quarterback. Assuming he and Ben Johnson start to click, then the sky is the proverbial limit.

“Now, give him training camp, three, four, five weeks into the season of some hard lessons learned and they may win during those lessons,” Dilfer said. “But he’s not gonna play to the standard that Ben wants. Once he understands what that standard is, watch out. I think you’re going to see — listen, I think Patrick Mahomes might be one of one, but if you remember Patrick’s ascension. He went from super talent playmaker to just has a combination of all the great quarterbacks, I could see the same things happening for Caleb where he goes from playmaker, making something out of nothing, hair on fire, splash plays, but really low floor plays too, to where his floor is raised and he plays at a very high level, even when it’s not great. Then, the playmaking is even enhanced on top of that.”

Caleb Williams and Ben Johnson have their first of three preseason games on Sunday, August 10th, against the Miami Dolphins. The regular season then starts on September 8th with a divisional matchup against the Minnesota Vikings.