Justin Fields is learning some lessons really fast. The NFL is hard. It is way faster and more complex than what he experienced in college. He’s also learning that playing the quarterback position requires a lot more than being the most talented guy on the field. He has to understand so many different things. What is the defense showing pre-snap? Where should he set the protections? Which routes will his receivers run? The magnitude of information is staggering.
In the midst of trying to absorb it all, Fields has taken a nasty beating. Through the first seven games of the season, he has been sacked 22 times. He’s also thrown six interceptions and just two touchdowns. For the first time in years, he experienced losing two games in a row to the Packers and Buccaneers. People are starting to wonder if the kid can handle the highs and lows presented with being on a non-contending team. Is this experience shaking his confidence?
Some think so.
Based on his comments in his latest press conference? It doesn’t seem the rookie is overly discouraged. Sure he’s disappointed from the losses, but that should be standard for anybody who plays this game. Winning is the priority. Always and forever. The offense isn’t doing its job. Himself included. He admitted as much. However, he remains undeterred. In fact, he made it clear he thinks the unit is close to a legitimate breakout game.
The solution to him is pretty simple. Keep working hard and execute better. There really isn’t any magical fix. It is on the players to correct the mistakes and step up their game. There is no room for excuses. His confidence that things are trending in the right direction seemed interesting. When asked to elaborate on why? Fields calmly stated in no uncertain terms.
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He can feel it.
Justin Fields is true to his word, putting in more work than ever
Something he has begun to employ moving forward is frequent Zoom meetings with his wide receivers. One of the core issues that has plagued the Bears in recent weeks is miscommunications between the quarterback and his targets. Sometimes it’s dropped passes and other times it’s the wrong routes being run. So Fields is connecting with them as often as possible in order to continue building their chemistry. A sensible solution.
Things aren’t going to get much easier for him in the next couple of weeks. Chicago plays the San Francisco 49ers this Sunday. While they’re in the midst of a four-game losing streak, the team still boasts a top 10 defense against the pass. So does the opponent after that, the Pittsburgh Steelers. Now with Khalil Mack out with a foot issue on defense? The pressure is even higher on Justin Fields.
Talk about a trial by fire.
The keyword in all of this is patience. Everybody wants the kid to play well. He isn’t lately. While unfortunate, it doesn’t mean he is an outright failure as a quarterback. People tend to forget rookies usually play like this when the situation around them is bad. The best thing for him to do is keep working. Learn how to better protect himself and understand the demands of his position. Don’t be surprised if he starts showcasing much more progress towards the end of the year.