Caleb Williams’ command stands out from other QBs

INDIANAPOLIS — It’s 6:54 on the first morning of March, and the sun has yet to reach the modest skyline of downtown. But a media swarm began to gather in Grand Hall J of the Indianapolis Convention Center.

The first potential meeting at the NFL scouting combine is more than an hour away. But it’s never too early to gain ground and claim territory, especially on a morning like this, and especially for those who follow the Chicago Bears, who own the No. 1 and No. 9 picks in next month’s draft.

Unsurprisingly, of the two dozen or so people in the room, the first six to arrive at the foot of Podium 4 were Bears reporters who had had candles burned at both ends from a long week but wanted to learn more about a few people at the highest level. Profile candidates general manager Ryan Poles considers to be cornerstones in championship development.

Players with offensive skills are on the roster Friday for the media portion of the grueling five-day combine itinerary. And over a three-hour period, 82 candidates are scheduled to speak, including six or seven who will be selected in the first 90 minutes of the draft.

The group includes the top four quarterbacks in the class, Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, Jayden Daniels and JJ McCarthy, as well as three elite wide receivers in Marvin Harrison Jr., Malik Nabers and Rome Odunze.

Williams is the headliner of the morningis widely considered to be this year’s biggest prospect and is unanimously build within league circles He said he would be an easy pick for the Bears at No. 1. But before the USC star has time to share a piece of himself with the assembled media, Podium 4 openers Daniels (at 8 a.m.) arrive, followed by Harrison. and then Maye.

This is a mostly casual environment but carries some pressure on potential clients, providing opportunities to demonstrate stage presence and poise. Questions will range from pointed to profound to illogical.

NFL teams will watch all of this back-and-forth live or later on video and take a close look at how players handle the moment and the opportunity.

‘As good as it gets’

It was 8 a.m. when Daniels took the stage, offering a small picture of who he is as a performer and what he has become as a person. He charts his path from Cajon High School in California to the Heisman Trophy at LSU last season, with three character-testing seasons at Arizona State in between.

“It was a long journey,” says Daniel. “But (I’m proud) of my progress.”

He will likely be a starter in the NFL next month.

“I just want to go to the best situation,” he says, “whether that’s the first pick or the 32nd pick. I’m generally happy to be here. “I will be happy wherever I hear my name.”

It was 8:19 a.m. when an NFL spokesman announced that Harrison’s morning Q&A session had been canceled. “Marvin won’t talk here,” he says. “I have no further updates.”

Shortly thereafter, Hall of Fame receiver Cris Carter reported on the X that Harrison was currently undergoing a body scan with medical personnel. Relaxation.” But speculation on social media is already loose.

It was 8:38 when Maye took an athletic shortcut to the podium by jumping onto the raised stage rather than turning to the other side, where a small staircase awaited.

North Carolina’s quarterback is probably the most energetic player of the morning; he exudes a kind of caffeinated charisma and a dash of optimistic Southern charm. Maye will soon join an NFL team as the new quarterback. No matter what city he is in, he will come with an understanding of how to be self-reliant and self-critical.

The player, who relied on Eli Manning as a resource during his development, says he felt like he made a big leap with his preparation habits last season.

Maye is also taking the opportunity to connect with the Bears during the pre-draft process, breaking the ice with them earlier this week.

“Shoot,” Maye says. “It’s a great sports city. Chicago is as good as it gets.”

And Maye’s eyes light up when one of Ryan Poles’ quarterback evaluation categorization systems (artist or surgeon) is mentioned.

“I try to be both,” he says. “At the end of the 2-minute drill and game, you try to become a surgeon. There’s a little bit of this; hitting check-downs and winning mentally. But it’s also about being an artist, playing games outside of the pocket, and doing my own thing when something isn’t open. “I can do both.”

Headliner

It was 9:01 a.m. when Williams got the chance to speak, wearing her formal attire. Black training shorts and black hooded sweatshirt with player ID stamp on the front, provided by NoBull: QB-14.

Williams leans into the microphone to greet the assembled reporters; this group is probably 75 deep but has been hit from behind with one of the most extraordinary icebreakers in combine interview history; Here’s an aggressive interrogation about the decision not to participate in medical evaluations and field tests.

It’s literally this: Are you afraid to compete? How do you react to people who tell you that you’re worried about being compared to your peers in medicine, measurements, and training? Are you afraid of being measured against these guys one on one? Is that why you don’t do something?

Williams smiles.

“No,” he says, “it was me, my team and my family’s decision not to do these things. It all depends on that.”

The next 12 minutes, 28 questions offer a glimpse into Williams’ attitude and mindset; Two things that all teams near the top of the draft continue to dive deeper into. The goal is to fully evaluate whether the quarterback has the maturity, composure and perspective to complement his elite skillset.

He comes across as a calm and introverted person. His self-confidence remains open to interpretation.

Williams acknowledges that the 2023 season at USC is, as he has previously stated, one of his most important years in football and a part of his journey that has frustrated and challenged him.

“I had people in my corner to help me and understand the energy and emotions I was feeling,” Williams says.

He’s confident it’s a learning experience he can apply at the next level as he deals with defeat and struggle, and he reflects on a late October meeting with coach Lincoln Riley. “He sat me down and told me that you either grow from something like this, or you continue to feel that feeling and stay where you are.”

Williams says he chose the growth option.

Just asking

Don’t distort this. In the morning he is not so serious and thoughtful. Wild questions are inevitable in a forum like this. And the answers given in these extraordinary moments are often at least entertaining.

Daniels is asked if there can be any animal for 24 hours, what will happen?

He demands an explanation. “Dead or alive?”

The reporter tells him he’s alive.

“I would be a lion,” Daniels says.

Many potential clients are offered the opportunity to suggest a non-football activity to add to the scouting group. Maye also wants a 3-point contest added. Williams is pushing for swimming. Odunze requests a round of video games.

“Test your cognitive ability, how quick your reaction skills are,” the Washington receiver says with a smile. “You must enter the war zone. And if you don’t make it into the top five, you’re automatically eliminated.”

Odunze has obvious charm and a natural ease in front of the media, and when presented with the possibility of linking up with Williams on the Bears two months from now, he cheerfully bites the hook.

“I know he is a student of the game and someone who brings a lot of passion and desire to the game,” Odunze says. “So of course being paired with him would be something special.”

From a personality standpoint, it’s easy to see why evaluators around the league continue to be drawn to Odunze’s composure, positive energy and sense of humor.

Odunze is asked if he can come up with a successful plan in an emergency.

“No way!” said Odunze. “We’re going down. All the souls are gone!”

Scouting report update: Knows limitations. It doesn’t try to be something it isn’t.

Next steps

For obvious reasons, Williams remains the focus of the morning, especially for early-rising reporters from Chicago trying to get a feel for a potential matchup between the quarterback and the Bears.

It’s 9:02 when Williams is asked the first of nine questions about the Bears; He is being asked to deliver a message to the fans in Chicago so that the Poles will better understand what they have to offer in him as a player and as a person. to pick him at No. 1.

“The player and the person they get will be someone who cares about their teammates,” Williams says. “I try to take care of all my guys, whether they’re fourth on the depth chart or the star player. The other part is, as you may have seen after some games, I’m a fierce competitor.”

In this respect…

Naturally, the high-profile episode in November when Williams reacted to a 52-42 loss to Washington by climbing into the stands and crying in her mother’s arms comes to the fore. He was neither ashamed of the moment nor unaffected by the tsunami of criticism that came his way afterwards.

“There aren’t many people in the world who experience what I experience every game day, every training day,” Williams says. “So it kind of comes back to that for me. This is something only I can experience. This is something I really care about; Not just winning the game, but doing it with my teammates. “I feel like I let my teammates down every time we lose.”

Williams is happy to explain this competitive passion to the teams. Just as he’s eager to sell them his leadership skills, he’s savvy enough to know he’ll soon have to change his approach in an NFL facility full of pros.

“Going into the NFL locker room, there are little things you might have to fix or adapt,” Williams says.

Williams makes it clear that he fully expects to be the No. 1 overall pick owned by the Bears. As he gets to know the Poles, coach Matt Eberflus and others on the team better, he wants to learn about the organization.

“Just ‘Do you want to win?’ ” says Williams. “This much.”

What I will say is this.

As the Bears continue to work to learn more about their standout quarterback, Williams is doing similar research on them.

It was 9:16 a.m. when Williams left the stage and continued with a series of other TV and radio interviews. She looks completely comfortable in the spotlight and ready for the next moment.