In 2019, the Chicago Bears offense got exposed in the season opener against the Green Bay Packers. Mitch Trubisky barely completed 57% of his passes for 228 yards and an interception. The offense scored just three points. After the game, Packers cornerback Tramon Williams described the game plan that proved so wildly successful. It was simple. Their goal was to keep Trubisky in the pocket as much as possible. They wanted to “make him play quarterback.” That was a clear indication they had no respect for his ability to make quick reads and throw accurate passes. They were proven correct. One can imagine how Bears fans might feel if somebody said the same thing about Justin Fields.
Then best stop reading right now because your day is about to be ruined. Brad Biggs of the Chicago Tribune caught a quote from New York Giants defensive end Azeez Ojulari after his team won 20-12 on Sunday. Their defense sacked Fields six times and held him to 11-of-22 passing for 174 yards and zero touchdowns. Their secret?
“Oh, man, he’s an athlete,” said Giants defensive end Azeez Ojulari, whose strip-sack of Fields in the second quarter led to a New York touchdown. “You keep him in the pocket and make him play quarterback, try to make him throw the ball, you can get pressure on him.”
That is almost a carbon copy of what Williams said three years ago about Trubisky. It represents the apparent lack of respect opponents have for Fields’ ability to process and deliver from the pocket. Considering the past four games, it is impossible to argue that point. He is easily the worst starting quarterback in the NFL right now when it comes to throwing the football.
Justin Fields can’t keep playing like this.
People continue to preach patience. They insist the situation around him is so bad that it’s impossible to evaluate him. Yes, that part is true. The offensive line isn’t good, and the wide receivers aren’t any better. That said, Fields is responsible for a lot of the issues himself. Too often this year, he’s held the ball too long, opting to take off running rather than taking an easy check-down. He doesn’t always identify the open receivers, reinforcing the concerns about his field vision.
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The Bears aren’t pulling the plug yet. There are 13 games left to play. They’re willing to give Justin Fields time to figure this out. Still, there is a breaking point for everything. If he still looks like this in November and December, the team brass will have a decision to make. Either they ride it out with him one more year in 2023, using their considerable resources to improve the offense around him, or they seek alternatives at quarterback.
Remember that GM Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus didn’t draft him. They’re under no obligation to keep Fields beyond this season. There comes the point when constant talk about potential has to stop. It must be about results. They haven’t been there yet.
So much nonsense here about Fields. Bears should have hired top not experience for the HC, OC, and DC positions. Instead they went compltely with inexperience, and people new to their positions. Those positions along with the QB are most important. All the top teams have these 4 spots in synch.
Sam is getting killed at c
It seems to me that their intent as quoted was as much an indictment of our O-line as it was on JF1. They knew that in the pocket they could get to him because of the bad pass blocking. If he left the pocket, he had a much better chance of a positive outcome.
Your article reeks of desperation. If Poles really cared about the offense being competent this year, he would’ve drafted a lineman and a wide receiver with his first two picks. I like Brisker, but we could have drafted him at 39 and Pickens at 48. Gordon’s lack of speed has already been exposed at the NFL level. He didn’t get burnt by the Giants because they have no receivers. He’ll continue to get burnt going forward. Name me a QB who has less to work with than Fields. NOBODY. Mooney got over his drops, but now Pettis is dropping balls.… Read more »
How could changing QBs possibly solve anything? It doesn’t fix the broken offensive line, it doesn’t fix the lack of talent in the receiving corps. If anything, the Bears need to build the o-line up, that combined with Montgomery, could give Fields a running game and some hope while they fix the receiving corps.
But teams who are serious about developing a QB went out this offseason and got a receiver, a big-time receiver, to aid their young QB.