(670 The Score) Quarterback Deshaun Watson came out the other day and pissed off the entire Browns fan base, which, to be fair, is pretty normal at this time of year. The dude has been hurt more than a crash test dummy — and played about as well too.
What’s got Cleveland up in arms this time?
When he was asked if what the Browns offense needed was more designed quarterback runs, he essentially replied nah dog, I’m good.
“I’m not a running back” was Watson’s exact quote, which caused a rage spiral online.
Considering Watson was so athletic and hard to tackle in college, it wasn’t the answer that fans were looking for — especially with Cleveland ranking 23rd in the NFL in rushing and Watson being one of the worst-rated quarterback in the game.
But is he wrong?
Turns out, not at all. And what the data tells us can help explain why Bears rookie quarterback Caleb Williams and a lot of other quarterback this year are struggling through the first three weeks of the NFL season.
Watson’s entire quote is quite telling.
"I'm not a running back,” Watson told reporters. “It's not my specialty. They signed me to throw the ball, make decisions and be a quarterback, not a runner.”
In other words? The Browns front office wants Watson to be a pocket passer.
And the data shows that they’re dead on in their desire to see Watson run less and stay in the pocket more. The reason why is fascinating and hasn’t gotten nearly enough coverage by NFL media. It all has to do with opposing defenses.
NFL offenses are struggling against the blitz this year, according to Warren Sharp of sharpfootballanalysis.com – like historically bad. The numbers are kind of shocking.
The league-wide PFF passing grade against the blitz in 2020 was 81.3. It was still 72.6 in 2023.
But this year? It’s 59.5, which is a 27% drop in effective quarterbacking in just four years.
Why is this happening? Why are so many quarterbacks playing like dog meat all of a sudden? It’s hard to wrap your head around it, especially when you realize that quarterbacks are being pressured just 37.5% of the time this year — the third-lowest blitz rate in 15 years.
So if defenses are blitzing less but quarterbacks are performing much worse, what gives? Blame it on two developments.
One, we have so many mobile quarterbacks now in the NFL. I’m not talking about running quarterbacks but rather those who are mobile in being able to escape the pocket.
The problem is, few quarterbacks are effective throwing on the run. We’ve seen this a lot early on with Williams, who’s often scrambling for his life behind the Bears’ struggling offensive line. Cornerbacks in the NFL are so fast, and star pass rushers like T.J. Watt and Micah Parsons come at you like a freight train. The extra second that quarterbacks had in college to find the open man just isn’t there any longer.
But that’s just the first part of the issue. The second factor? Simulated and disguised blitzes.
Defensive coordinators have become geniuses at not just simulating blitzes but disguising them when they do bring the heat. Simulated blitzes often cause young quarterbacks to panic (Bryce Young, for example) and hurry plays. And with the vast array of shifting pressure formations like the long stick, fire-zone and house blitzes that the Steelers run? Hoo boy, it’s rough out there for a young quarterback who hasn’t seen a lot of pressures at NFL game speed. Many quarterbacks just don’t know where – or even if – a blitz is coming and get caught with their pants down.
Add that to the fact that offensive line play is worse and teams are pressuring the quarterback without having to bring an extra man, and it’s hot in the streets for quarterbacks this year.
And let me remind Chicago fans – this is a league-wide problem, not just a Bears problem. Williams is struggling in a lot of the same ways that Anthony Richardson, Will Levis, Trevor Lawrence and even Jalen Hurts and Patrick Mahomes are. That doesn’t give you much solace, I’m afraid, but the reality is what it is. The statistics don’t lie. He’s basically been Forrest Gump out there.
What’s the solution if you’re Williams and the Bears going forward?
Obviously, improved line play is critical so that Williams gets that extra second of time. There’s a reason he has only thrown two deep balls all year. Those 14 sacks didn’t happen by accident, and to Williams’ credit, that number would be much higher if he wasn’t so mobile. His average time in the pocket this season is 2.2 seconds — only the benched Young has a lower number (2.1 seconds). So when you see that Williams’ yards-in-the-air-per-pass mark is dead last in the league? It’s because he’s throwing so many quick slants and dump-offs as he has mostly been running for his life.
And that’s not what the Bears are paying him to do.
So when Watson said he was paid to be a quarterback and not a runner? The same applies to Caleb Williams.
And just like in Cleveland, the less Williams has to run, the better the Bears offense will play.
Trysta Krick will be hosting on 670 The Score on Tuesday, Oct. 1 from 7-9 p.m. Follow her on Twitter, Instagram, Threads and TikTok at @Trysta_Krick.