Ex-NFL quarterbacks engage in heated debate over Caleb William's movie preferences
Diving headfirst into the world of professional football film study has never looked so intriguing, all thanks to Chicago Bears' QB, Caleb Williams. The ESPN hit a nerve when they revealed that Williams exclusively gazed upon game footage solo during his rookie season, as his former head coach Matt Eberflus apparently never cracked open a single film alongside him.
From Pro Bowl QBs to Social Media Square-Off
This unconventional practice sparked a passionate disagreement on social media, with past NFL MVPs Robert Griffin III and Kurt Warner taking to the stage. Griffin fired the first shot, addressing the apparent blunder in Williams' film habits.
"Caleb Williams not receiving film study guidance from the Chicago coaches last season was coaching malpractice. The NFL league isn't a place for development to just stop because you're a pro — if you want your QB to see the game through your eyes, teach them how to dissect tape like you do," Griffin posted on social media.
Kurt Warner weighs in
Warner, a Hall of Famer, stepped up to the plate, countering Griffin’s argument. He shared his experience of self-taught film study and pointed out that no one ever explicitly taught him the ropes.
"Nobody ever sat me down to teach me how to watch film!!! I picked up some knowledge from my coaches, but no one walked me through it. I watched, asked questions, and developed my own methods based on what I needed!", Warner stated.
Warner did acknowledge, however, that coaches should play a role in helping QBs like Williams learn how to decipher film effectively.
"In my experience, formal film study classes aren't a standard NFL practice. I agree that coaches should assist in mentoring Williams," Warner added.
Griffin shot back, reminding Warner of his astounding career despite subpar coaching, "As a Hall of Famer, you overcame questionable coaching, and you weren't chosen first overall. Caleb Williams had the weight of the entire Chicago Bears organization on his shoulders, which necessitated proper development."
Griffin highlighted Chicago's inability to "evaluate or develop QBs" and their pattern of frequently changing starting quarterbacks.
As for Williams, he's now working under new management. Head Coach Ben Johnson is ready to work with him, focusing on enhancing his skills going forward.
In the ongoing debate about NFL film study, both Robert Griffin III and Kurt Warner have become central figures, with Griffin criticizing Caleb Williams' isolated film study during his rookie season. Warner, however, defended Williams' self-taught approach, admitting that he also learned film study on his own, while acknowledging the role coaches should play in mentoring QBs like Williams. Despite their differing viewpoints, Griffin pointed out Chicago's history of struggling to develop quarterbacks, a challenge that Williams now faces as he works with new head coach Ben Johnson.
