- Hoge has been one of the top talent evaluators in the industry for years
- Williams won the 2022 Heisman Trophy but struggled at times last season
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Former ESPN analyst and former Pittsburgh Steelers running back Merril Hoge gave a brutal assessment on projected No. 1 overall pick Caleb Williams.
During his career as an analyst, Hoge was an excellent talent evaluator and some of his most famous assessments included naming former South Carolina Gamecock and current Baltimore Ravens edge rusher Jadeveon Clowny an ‘average footballer’ as well as predicting the former Texas A&M QB Johnny Manziel is said to be ‘a bust’.
Hoge added another brutal touch to his repertoire when he spoke to NBC Sports Chicago during Super Bowl week.
He said Williams wasn’t as special as many have made him out to be, but admitted he’s only halfway through his evaluation of the 2022 Heisman Trophy winner.
“The only thing that’s clear is he’s not special,” Hoge said. “He’s not as unique as Patrick Mahomes.
Merril Hoge gave a brutal evaluation of Caleb Williams, the projected No. 1 overall pick
Williams is touted by some as a generational candidate, but struggled at times last year
He has also been compared to Chiefs QB Patrick Mahomes, but Hoge said the two are not close
“And I hope the Bears don’t think, ‘Let’s try to make up for our mistake when we passed on Patrick Mahomes and went to get Patrick Mahomes.’ The child is not Patrick Mahomes. He’s not even close to that.’
Some have touted Williams for his ability to make unplanned plays on the run and mouth-watering throws off the platform, like Mahomes.
Others, however, have pointed to his poor season at USC this season after several talented players left the team last season and losses in high-pressure situations, such as those against Notre Dame, Utah and Washington, as cracks in Williams’ once impenetrable armor.
Many have debated for weeks as to whether or not the Chicago Bears should trade Justin Fields and select Williams with the No. 1 overall pick, or trade the pick to another team for a huge haul to get around Fields keep building.
These debates will not only continue, but will certainly increase as the draft approaches.
“First of all, his ability to throw while running is very concerning,” Hoge said. ‘It’s very inaccurate and it’s everywhere. There’s a lot of RPO, which no one goes to a Super Bowl in our league…
Hoge made astonishingly accurate assessments of Clowney and Manziel as prospects
Hoge believes the Bears should keep quarterback Justin Fields and continue to build around him
‘You have to push the ball across the field. There are times when he does that. He doesn’t play with much expectation because of all the clean pockets there are for him.
“What bothers me right now is his inability to be consistent in his movements as a pitcher. And he is willing to do that much more than is necessary. In our competition you don’t have that choice. …I don’t see anything magical about his arm.
“There’s not enough right now to say we’re going to get rid of Justin Fields and bring in this guy who’s never played in the National Football League and has to overcome all these hurdles just to give us a chance. to win.’
“I think you have enough with Justin Fields to have hope and continue to build with him,” Hoge added.