Post by mpbears68 on Oct 10, 2022 9:35:10 GMT -6
Justin Fields notes after 5 games (post-Minnesota Loss)
I saw a Dr. Jekyll (bad Fields) & Mr. Hyde (good Fields) scenario watching yesterdays game.
Roughly first half of the game the O was terrible and Fields looked bad. He was 3/7 with two of his completions being a screen pass and a miracle catch by Mooney. Yes, there was a drop in there which is evened out by Mooney's ridiculous catch. Let's be honest, he looked bad and "lost" and like he has much of this early season so far.
At about this point, Ric made a comment in the Shoutbox which caught my attention. He said something like: "Fields loves to throw it deep, that's what he does". Think it was right after the great catch deep ball to Mooney which was about the only bright spot up to that point. It struck me cuz I had just texted my brother about how Fields seems to struggling to adapt to this offense as he was definitely a vertical/deep ball thrower a lot in college.
Then....something flipped. Late 1st half and all of the 2nd, Fields played like the QB we had all been hoping to see this year. He looked more in command in the pocket, had better awareness, used his check-downs efficiently, and was finally completing passes with regularity. There was one zone read run he should have pulled from Monty (he could have walked for 10 yards and a 1st down as the entire right side of the defense crashed inside), but otherwise he made the proper reads and decision. Best I can put it was that he looked decisive and "quicker".
Put aside for a minute that the Bears lack horsepower/talent on offense this year--we all know that.
Getsy runs a Shanahan-influenced WCO variant. It's not a vertical/deep threat passing attack (Bears lack both the OL and receivers to run that). It's a passing game that relies upon short-to-medium routes and good timing to get YAC. Through the first 4.5 games this year, I have felt like Fields really didn't "get it" and was having trouble adapting to it. He was obviously holding the ball too long and was often late with his throws when he did get them off.
It looked to me yesterday in the 2nd half that that "light bulb" we often talk about inside the QBs head finally turned on. At least it flickered a little where before it had been dark. He actually played within the offense and started looking comfortable. You know, its ok to hit your checkdown to the TE for 7 yards on 1st down. He was much more decisive and simply fast. I thought he looked really good and played his best sustained ball of the year.
So, I am encouraged that maybe the light is starting to come on for him. That maybe he's seeing and understanding how the timing works and is getting a little quicker.
More "Mr. Hyde" please. More "Good Fields".
PS: I thought Kyler Gordon bounced back well in the 2nd half yesterday. He and Brisker had a PD and some good open field tackles. Poles took a lot of shit for drafting 2 DBs in the 2nd last year rather than a receiver. People quickly forget that the secondary was an absolute dumpster fire last season and going BPA in the draft made long-term sense even if it means some short-term pain.
I saw a Dr. Jekyll (bad Fields) & Mr. Hyde (good Fields) scenario watching yesterdays game.
Roughly first half of the game the O was terrible and Fields looked bad. He was 3/7 with two of his completions being a screen pass and a miracle catch by Mooney. Yes, there was a drop in there which is evened out by Mooney's ridiculous catch. Let's be honest, he looked bad and "lost" and like he has much of this early season so far.
At about this point, Ric made a comment in the Shoutbox which caught my attention. He said something like: "Fields loves to throw it deep, that's what he does". Think it was right after the great catch deep ball to Mooney which was about the only bright spot up to that point. It struck me cuz I had just texted my brother about how Fields seems to struggling to adapt to this offense as he was definitely a vertical/deep ball thrower a lot in college.
Then....something flipped. Late 1st half and all of the 2nd, Fields played like the QB we had all been hoping to see this year. He looked more in command in the pocket, had better awareness, used his check-downs efficiently, and was finally completing passes with regularity. There was one zone read run he should have pulled from Monty (he could have walked for 10 yards and a 1st down as the entire right side of the defense crashed inside), but otherwise he made the proper reads and decision. Best I can put it was that he looked decisive and "quicker".
Put aside for a minute that the Bears lack horsepower/talent on offense this year--we all know that.
Getsy runs a Shanahan-influenced WCO variant. It's not a vertical/deep threat passing attack (Bears lack both the OL and receivers to run that). It's a passing game that relies upon short-to-medium routes and good timing to get YAC. Through the first 4.5 games this year, I have felt like Fields really didn't "get it" and was having trouble adapting to it. He was obviously holding the ball too long and was often late with his throws when he did get them off.
It looked to me yesterday in the 2nd half that that "light bulb" we often talk about inside the QBs head finally turned on. At least it flickered a little where before it had been dark. He actually played within the offense and started looking comfortable. You know, its ok to hit your checkdown to the TE for 7 yards on 1st down. He was much more decisive and simply fast. I thought he looked really good and played his best sustained ball of the year.
So, I am encouraged that maybe the light is starting to come on for him. That maybe he's seeing and understanding how the timing works and is getting a little quicker.
More "Mr. Hyde" please. More "Good Fields".
PS: I thought Kyler Gordon bounced back well in the 2nd half yesterday. He and Brisker had a PD and some good open field tackles. Poles took a lot of shit for drafting 2 DBs in the 2nd last year rather than a receiver. People quickly forget that the secondary was an absolute dumpster fire last season and going BPA in the draft made long-term sense even if it means some short-term pain.