There are plenty of subplots to chew on as the Chicago Bears approach the 2021 season. Yet none are going to even approach the quarterback situation in the coming months. Hardly a surprise. Not just because the team is still searching for that elusive franchise guy. Mostly because they just traded up to snag Justin Fields with the 11th overall pick. All most people want to know is one thing. When will he start?
It’s a fair question. Fields is the future. That much is obvious. Fans are anxious to see him in action. Yet head coach Matt Nagy seems intent on making them wait. He has a plan in place. One he feels is best for the team and for Fields himself. It is a formula he saw work in Kansas City and knows has worked elsewhere. Sit the rookie behind a serviceable veteran, in this case Andy Dalton, and give him a chance to learn from the safety of the sidelines.
Then when the time is right, hand Fields the keys.
Still, there are more than a few people who aren’t buying into this idea. They don’t believe for a second that Nagy will adhere to this plan for too long. Not with his job on the line and not with Fields being the far superior talent. So even if Dalton gets the nod to start the season, most don’t think he’ll hold that job for long. Bill Barnwell of ESPN has a fairly good idea of when Bears fans can expect to see their prized rookie.
“First start: Week 4 vs. Detroit
In reality, the Bears are likely to show about as much patience with Dalton as they did with Glennon a few years ago. Fields is the future, and if Nagy and Pace want to be part of that future, it’s in their interest to show off that valuable player they just acquired in the draft…
…The natural landing point for Fields, then, should be early in the season. The Bears start the season with games against the Rams, Bengals and Browns. If that run starts 0-3 or 1-2, Nagy would be staring down his best opportunity to get Fields in the lineup. They would have a two-game run against the Lions and Raiders, who project to be two of the worst defenses in football.”
This seems like the most popular prediction among people evaluating the Bears schedule. In essence, the feeling is Dalton will endure the Mike Glennon experience. Back in 2017, Glennon started ahead of Mitch Trubisky as was promised. However, a rather ugly 1-3 start to this season capped by a brutal performance in Green Bay led to Trubisky replacing him by Week 5. A difficult start to 2021 could see the same happen to Dalton.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=oAbF5ELyewI
Justin Fields aims to be ready whenever his time does come
To be fair, Dalton is a far superior and more experienced quarterback than Glennon was four years ago. While not a star, he is a decent quarterback. If the offensive line doesn’t crumble in front of him, it isn’t crazy to think he can be efficient running this system. His previous ties to offensive coordinator Bill Lazor should help streamline the process. He has a much better chance to stay on the field than Glennon did.
The problem is Justin Fields is a more talented quarterback than Trubisky was as well. He’s also much more prepared to play. He has two seasons of starting experience for one of the best football programs in the country under his belt. He played and won several big games in that span. All the while learning several pro concepts that prepared him for the NFL jump. He might not be entirely ready yet, but he’s much closer than Trubisky.
It will come down to performance.
Dalton has the early nod. Even so, that doesn’t mean he can coast on promises. He must perform. He must show people he deserves this opportunity. Not because of what he did in the past but what he can do now. That means executing in practice and carrying it into the games. The Bears brought him in to help them win. If he can’t do that, then Fields will see action sooner than later as Barnwell said.