Film room: the NFL throw by Caleb Williams which shows why he will be the No. 1 overall pick

A USC football analyst explains how Caleb Williams’ arm — which will only be stronger in 2023 and beyond — was a game-changer for USC in 2022.

Caleb Williams is almost certain to be the No. 1 overall pick in the 2024 NFL draft. He stuffed the highlight reel with amazing plays in his Heisman Trophy-winning 2022 season. He scrambled, he improvised, he danced, he sprinted … and oh yes, he threw a high-level ball, too.

The speed, the agility, the pocket presence — they’re all important, to be sure. However, one should never forget that the throwing arm is the crown jewel of any elite quarterback. Patrick Mahomes has it. Joe Burrow has it. It all starts with the elite arm, and Caleb Williams has displayed it in unmistakable ways.

USC football analyst Josh Webb went to the film room to look at one particularly defining NFL-level throw from Caleb last season, the game-winner at Oregon State in late September:

“As soon as the ball is snapped, the safety helping on the side of the field with Addison and Williams bails long to protect the deep zone. As soon as this happened, Lincoln Riley probably began celebrating, because from here on out it was a matter of USC’s best players executing and a single Oregon State defensive back needing to prevent both of those players from reaching the end zone. The cornerback is immediately put in a predicament because he now has to make a choice between Williams and Addison. At this point, only the deep safety has any chance to make a play that will save the Beavers,” Webb explained.

“The corner looks like he’s going to make the smart decision and stick with Addison, but he inexplicably decides to crash down on Williams. At that point, Addison is left free to make a double move on that same corner. Caleb Williams uses that arm strength to put the ball right on Addison as that safety comes flying by trying to make a play on the ball. You need an arm to make this throw. This is the type of stuff that makes scouts at the next level salivate. Williams’ arm was able to beat two different players because each one had to respect it.”

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