Patience is a hard thing to come by in today’s NFL. Football is a hard game to master. Yet the culture of instant gratification doesn’t allow players and coaches time to figure things out. If you’re not good your first year? Then you’ll never be good and it’s time to find somebody different. That is the reaction of many Chicago Bears fans when it comes to quarterback Justin Fields. Not exactly fair.
Yet when looking at the stats, most people paint the picture. Six touchdown passes to 10 interceptions. A 58% completion rate. Four lost fumbles. No 300-yard passing games. For a guy who is the 11th overall pick in the NFL draft, that can’t be a good sign? As always context is key in situations like this. Does Fields have enough help? Is he in a good offensive system? Has he shown any progress? Offensive coordinator Bill Lazor was asked about the state of Fields, specifically his decision-making. The coach made it clear that the rookie still has work to do, but is seeing the game exactly the way a top quarterback in the NFL should.
That is something incredibly difficult to teach.
There is evidence to back this up too. Through his first five games, Justin Fields had a problem with too many turnover-worthy plays in the passing game. This is what led to some unfortunate interceptions. Right around Week 8 though, his efficiency became a lot better. All while still being able to produce big plays. What makes it all the more impressive is that he’s been able to do it despite a less-than-ideal situation around him. A makeshift offensive line. Inadequate pass catchers and a head coach that just can’t mold a workable scheme around him.
Right and down is good.
Mahomes and Herbert huge AFC West Thursday Night Football matchup this week. Neither QB has had 3+ Big Time Throws in a game since Week 8, but protecting the football. pic.twitter.com/cGl6xUlTvO
— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@PFF_Brad) December 14, 2021
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Think of it this way. Fields is well-positioned to hold every rookie record for a quarterback in Bears history by the end of this season. He needs six touchdown passes to break the mark set by Charlie O’Rourke in 1942 and 608 yards to pass Mitch Trubisy in 2017. Yes, those are low bars to clear but the fact he can still do it despite being sacked 33 times already this season with a receiving corps that has dropped 17 passes? It is okay to feel optimistic about where this can go moving forward.
