Justin Fields' Progress Inspires Optimism, Yet Unresolved Queries Persist
The stats don't lie: Last year's Chicago Bears passing game was a real struggle. They ranked rock-bottom in passing, with interceptions flying and sacks galore. Even with the prowess of Justin Fields on his feet, the Bears' aerial game just didn't measure up. Fields' passing stats were fairly middling, resulting in a dismal spectacle for the 17 games of the season.
However, the Bears have put the emphasis on boosting their passing game during the off-season. Ryan Poles, the GM, ramped up the offensive line with the acquisition of Nate Davis and Darnell Wright. New weaponry has also been added to the arsenal, with the likes of top-flight receiver DJ Moore, Tyler Scott with his raw speed, the experienced Robert Tonyan as a tight end, and running backs D'Onta Foreman and Roschon Johnson.
All these additions, however, hinge on Fields making the necessary improvements in his passing game. The third-year quarterback has spent the off-season honing his footwork and mechanics, with the hope that better footwork will lead to a more synchronized and effective passing game.
Fields stated after the recent mandatory minicamp that he felt more at ease with his footwork, which he sees as integral to the success of the Bears' offensive strategy. OTAs and the mandatory minicamp provided the first glimpse of the new-look Bears passing attack. The results were mixed, with Fields showing some hesitancy alongside some excellent deep strikes.
The Bears' leadership is cautiously optimistic about Fields' development, although they acknowledge there's a long road ahead before the first game of the season. Head Coach Matt Eberflus expressed his belief that the team is on track and praised Fields for his progress.
A promising area is the Bears' focus on deep passing, an element missing from their game in 2022. Last year, they managed only 38 passes of 20 or more yards, among the lowest in the league. The additions of Moore, Scott, and Tonyan are hoped to help Fields, a skilled deep-thrower, crack open the downfield passing game.
Fields and Moore quickly found a rapport during the off-season, which is an encouraging sign for the Bears. Their budding partnership holds promise for the upcoming season, with Moore potentially serving as a catalyst for Fields' growth, just as A.J. Brown did for Jalen Hurts.
While Moore's addition is expected to contribute to Fields' progression, the primary responsibility still lies with Fields to make faster, better decisions and to be more accurate with his throws.
Andrew Janocko, the quarterbacks' coach, observed that Fields has been making a concerted effort to smooth out his game, letting his footwork guide him. This has been the focus for Fields and the hope is that this will translate into more completed passes and ultimately, a more successful season.
| POLL | ||
17 JUIN | 54 ANSWERS Justin Fields' Progress Inspires Optimism, Yet Unresolved Queries Persist Will Justin Fields finish the season as a top 5 QB in QBR? | ||
| Yes | 34 | 63 % |
| No | 20 | 37 % |
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