Draft guru: Caleb Williams developed bad habits because he ‘got bored’ at USC
Considered by some to be a generational prospect, USC quarterback Caleb Williams is expected to be the No. 1 pick in the April’s draft.
While there’s a lot to like about the 22-year-old signal caller, NFL Network’s Daniel Jeremiah, who spent seven seasons as a scout for the Baltimore Ravens, Cleveland Browns and Philadelphia Eagles, stated he’s noticed some bad habits Williams picked up during his junior season with the Trojans.
“I thought there were times when he kind of got bored with completions, which you can’t do,” Jeremiah said on “The Jim Rome Show.” “You know, he’s big-play hunting. He’s just got to take what’s there. I think those are all correctable though, so I’m bullish on him.”
Jeremiah may have a point.
Williams has been known to extend plays with his legs, though sometimes unnecessarily. He’s scrambled 57 times on designed pass plays over the last two seasons, per Pro Football Focus.
His affinity for the big-play has scouts divided on whether he's an elite improviser or he simply tires to do too much too often.
“When you’re playing quarterback, and they’re rushing three and dropping eight, and you’re getting immediate pressure because your guard got whooped right off the snap, you get into some bad habits because there’s nowhere to go with the ball,” Jeremiah added. “You’re trying to create and make something happen that’s not there.”
Williams' cavalier style of play may have led to his 12 fewer touchdown passes, one more interception and nearly 1,000 fewer passing yards from the season before. He had 10 more turnover-worthy plays, took three more sacks and had nine more throw aways this season compared to 2022, per PFF.
The 6-foot-1 junior's completion percentage was also drastically lower over the last two seasons on pass plays of 20 or more yards (45.3%), but it was 70.7% on passes of 19 yards or fewer.
More must-reads: