Justin Fields isn’t operating as a normal rookie quarterback. At least none in Chicago Bears history. Sure that isn’t a high bar to clear but it’s still something to discuss. Most rookies would be taking their lumps in training camp right now, throwing a lot of interceptions, and trying to adjust to the NFL speed. By most accounts, that isn’t the case with Fields. He does make mistakes, but they’re fewer and far between.
Every time the Bears coaching staff has looked to test him, he answers with some impressive moments. The first true eye-opener came on Friday, August 6th. After Roquan Smith picked his pocket on a shovel pass to start a goal line drill, Fields fired right back with a series of strong TD plays. A nice reminder of the quarterback’s ability to move past mistakes and onto the next play.
He only took 24 hours to top himself.
Ask any quarterback out there. One of the most challenging situations to handle in football is being backed up deep in your own territory. To the point where you’re taking snaps just 10 yards from the goalposts. One miscalculation and you’re being dropped for a safety. Most teams never trust their quarterback to throw in those situations. Not without trying to get some breathing space with a run or two first. The Bears put Fields in that exact situation in practice. He didn’t even flinch according to Adam Jahns of The Athletic.
“To me, the best throw from Fields came during the Bears’ “backed up” drill on the 1-yard line, which was live against the first-team defense (albeit a unit missing linebackers Roquan Smith and Danny Trevathan, defensive linemen Akiem Hicks and Eddie Goldman and outside linebackers Khalil Mack and Robert Quinn). Standing in the middle of his end zone and with the pocket collapsing around him, Fields threw a strike over the middle to tight end Jesse James for a first down.”
Keep in mind that while Jahns pointed out how depleted the Bears’ #1 defense was, it’s not like Fields had much help either. His offensive line was made up mostly of guys who would be on the 3rd-string unit or not on the team at all. That is how banged up the group is. Did that matter? Nope. Fields waited until the last possible second and delivered a strike for a first down. Just imagine how demoralizing that would’ve been for a defense in a real game.
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Justin Fields with a dot pic.twitter.com/eFrVPosBEd
— Aman (@Amann2501) August 7, 2021
Javon Wims just dropped a absolute beauty from Fields pic.twitter.com/exOf3CjZKy
— Aman (@Amann2501) August 7, 2021
Justin Fields keeps checking boxes with each passing day
The buzz from fans is already at a fever pitch. They’re desperate to see him in game action for the first time. Many are already launching campaigns to make him the starter Week 1 in Los Angeles. This makes it easy to overlook that the excitement is also palpable inside Halas Hall too. Bears coaches and team brass have been blown away by his progress thus far. They see somebody that not only is talented but has the internal drive to make himself great.
That play may not have been the flashiest he’s produced in camp, but it was one that offered the clearest indication that he can play in the NFL. The mark of good quarterbacks is being able to keep your head in less-than-ideal situations. Delivering a first down from his own 1-yard line is as good as it gets. This is what should make people the most excited.
He is unflappable.
Moving forward, the hope for the Bears is to start getting guys back healthy. Especially on the offensive line. Matt Nagy won’t want to throw Justin Fields into his first preseason game with highly questionable blocking. This is what has people most nervous. Not whether Fields can be good. Whether the team can keep him upright. What a weird feeling.
