Josh Metellus explained how Minnesota is trying to simulate the unique challenge Caleb Williams presents.
The Minnesota Vikings are doing everything they can to prepare for one of the more difficult challenges a defense can face in today's NFL. Trying to stop Chicago Bears quarterback Caleb Williams.
With the Vikings preparing to face Williams on Sunday, safety Josh Metellus explained that Minnesota has gotten creative during practice, using nearly every available quarterback and even having defensive players take on the role themselves.
“We kind of got everybody, you know, trying their best,” Metellus said. “We’ve got some good mobile guys. We’ve had all the quarterbacks pretty much trying to run out there.”
The situation has become even more complicated for Minnesota because of Kyler Murray's concussion protocol. Murray, who has been dealing with a concussion since the Vikings' season opener, has been limited throughout the week as he works his way through the process and will miss Week 2 against Chicago.
Metellus said the Vikings have still attempted to use Murray when possible while also making sure he gets the necessary rest.
“Obviously with Kyler going through concussion protocol, you know, trying to get him to rest throughout the week, we had him run out there a couple times,” Metellus said.
Murray's mobility provides some value as the Vikings prepare for Williams, but Minnesota knows there is only so much a practice quarterback can replicate.
The Vikings have even turned to their linebackers for help. According to Metellus, some of the team's linebackers have gone against each other while pretending to be Williams, giving the defense different looks and body types to prepare for.
“I’ve seen the linebackers, they go out there with each other and they pretend to be Caleb against each other, trying to get a different kind of body,” Metellus said.
It speaks to the difficulty of preparing for Williams, who can create problems for a defense even when the initial play breaks down. His ability to extend plays and make decisions on the move forces defenders to maintain discipline long after the snap.
The Vikings can replicate certain elements of that style in practice, but Metellus admitted there is one major component they simply cannot recreate.
“You try to do whatever you can, but nothing can really simulate that feeling of being one-on-one with 18 and just not knowing where he’s going to go,” Metellus said.
That uncertainty is what makes Williams such a difficult quarterback to defend. Even when a defense executes its initial assignment, one player losing contain or abandoning his responsibility can create an opportunity for him to make a play.
Minnesota's preparation will therefore extend beyond simply accounting for Williams as a passer.
As Metellus put it, the Vikings are doing everything they can to simulate the challenge.
“But nothing can really simulate that feeling,” he said.
For Minnesota, their preparation for that unpredictability could be one of the biggest keys to slowing down Williams on Sunday.
