LAKE FOREST — Caleb Williams has no issue with speaking up when he doesn’t have an answer to something.

The rookie’s curiosity is how Williams measures that he is progressing in a positive way.

“First, I ask questions,” Williams said. “I ask questions to coach, I ask about my progression, I asked where he wants me to be, where I should be, and then, obviously, I have my own my own goals set for myself, and that’s to be perfect. Obviously, you strive for something like that, and you don’t ever reach it, but you keep striving for it, whether it’s a day that I like, a day that I don’t, there’s always good and bad in it.

Finding my balance and reaching and striving for my goal, and a big part of it is just sticking to the routine, enjoying the process, enjoying my teammates, being a good teammate, going out there and working my tail off.”

Since Williams was selected with the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL Draft, he has been working his tail off. Working to learn the playbook, working to bond with his teammates, working on how to be an NFL quarterback.

One of the first obstacles he has been challenged with starts his voice — specifically his cadence.

“Just finding the green line is right in the middle of where we need it so everybody can be on the same page,” Williams said. “That’s the biggest thing, so that the center can hear me, the right tackle, left tackle, right guard, the back, left guard, wide receiver, everybody can hear me. It’s just finding the balance between it all, not being too loud on certain plays and things like that, not being voiced too low.

Just working. Practice-wise, just working through it. Obviously, in college, a lot of teams are clapping cadence. You know, it’s been four years since I’ve been verbal, so just getting back to the verbal cadence is really what it is.”

On the first day of minicamp on Tuesday, the offense had several presnap penalties — with the root of the issue involving the cadence.

Now after three consecutive practices, Williams feels he has improved with his cadence as well as going through his progressions and throwing with anticipation.

And if Williams consistently improves in those areas of his game, all he will have to do is distribute the football to the plethora of playmakers that general manager Ryan Poles has provided for the rookie quarterback.

Williams understands that this offense has legitimate potential.

“Yeah, definitely, it’s pretty awesome,” Williams said. “I feel that there’s a light at the end of that tunnel. Right now, we’re working with our head down and we’re building, so just having that moment with myself. I do it every day, I sit there and say, ‘We’re going to be pretty good.’ Just have to keep working, keep going. We’re all excited. It’s really important to have that mindset, but also have the mindset of like, ‘Let’s keep going, let’s keep working, let’s get after it.'”

7-on-7s

• Caleb Williams began the 7-on-7 period by completing a pass to Keenan Allen on a short route on the left side. Jaylon Johnson was in coverage on the rep.
• Williams connected with Allen again on the second play. The rookie quarterback did have to roll out to his left after he didn’t find anyone initially open.
• Williams then completed a pass to Rome Odunze in the middle of the field. T.J. Edwards was in coverage on the play.
• His fourth pass was an absolute dart to DJ Moore in the middle of the end zone. Moore ran a post route and Tyrique Stevenson was in coverage. Williams’ pass had some serious velocity and Moore was able to haul in the pass for a touchdown.

• Williams’ next pass was his second-best throw of the day. Odunze ran a route towards the left sideline and there were several defenders around him. Williams lofted the intermediate throw to his fellow rookie for the completion.

• The second 7-on-7 series started with an incomplete pass to one of the tight ends. Jack Sanborn punched the ball out.
• On the next rep, Williams connected with Odunze for a touchdown. The play took roughly five seconds to develop. Williams stayed in the pocket the entire time and threw the pass before Jaquan Brisker could make a play.
• Williams then his Travis Homer for a short gain in the middle of the field.
• Williams then had an incomplete pass to Allen on an out route.
• The 7-on-7 period finished with a touchdown to Stephen Carlson. This was another play that took a long time to develop. Williams rolled to his right and then Carlson found an open spot in the end zone.

11-on-11s

Since this was a condensed practice, the Bears had shortened periods in 7-on-7s and 11-on-11s.

The team period did start off with a trick play. Williams threw a pass to Allen on the left side of the formation and it was behind the line of scrimmage. Allen then tried to hit D’Andre Swift, who ran a wheel route against Tyrique Stevenson on the right side of the formation. The pass was slightly behind Swift, so he had to wait for the ball while it was in the air. Stevenson was able to recover and force an incomplete pass.

Williams then hit Gerald Everett for a short gain on the left side of the field. As soon as Everett caught the pass, a Bears defender was right there and would’ve delivered a big hit on the tight end.

This team period session ended with three straight incomplete passes. Williams and Allen couldn’t connect on pass near the left sideline. Then Carlson had a ball go right off of his hands on a seam route. Perfect throw from Williams. The last pass was a throw to Allen in the back of the end zone. Tremaine Edmunds punched through Allen’s hands and may have made contact with Allen’s helmet. It looked like Edmunds made contact early, but there was no flag thrown.