One of the chief complaints Justin Fields had about last season was the leadership situation. He never quite understood what his role was supposed to be. He knew he was the Chicago Bears’ 1st round pick and their QB of the future. At the same time, head coach Matt Nagy swore up and down that Andy Dalton was the starter. It was never clarified who was expected to lead the team, which created loads of confusion. Confusion made even worse when Dalton suffered a knee injury two games into the season.
Fields got thrust into the starting job woefully underprepared, and it showed. Not until November did it seem like the rookie had started to acclimate to his responsibilities. Sadly injuries ended his season before he could finish. That is why he expressed relief when the new regime led by Matt Eberflus made it clear he was the starting quarterback. Now he knows his position and what is expected of him, both on and off the field.
Teammates have noticed the difference.
Velus Jones is one of them. The rookie receiver was already acquainted with Fields even before they became teammates. He knew the quarterback was talented but didn’t know how maniacal the man’s work ethic was. Everything Fields has done this offseason is no less than 100%. While other players arrive and leave Halas Hall at standard times, the QB is there before them and still there after they’re gone. Jones admitted on The Sick Podcast it is motivating to see that kind of intensity from the team leader.
Justin Fields is setting the tone.
People keep saying the Bears won’t be any good this year. They lost too much talent in the off-season, and it will take time to replace it. Whether that is true remains to be seen. It doesn’t mean Fields has any plans to accept such a reality. He’s already stated his belief the Bears have more talent than they’re getting credit for. His job is to ensure everybody is putting in the time and effort to prove it. That starts with him.
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The mark of a good leader is showing everybody that he is willing to make any sacrifice necessary to win. That means filling up almost all his free time with exercise, film study, and constant fine-tuning of his game. No corners are being cut. If that leads to other teammates doing that little bit extra to get better, then the sacrifice is worth it. That is what separates guys like Tom Brady from almost everybody else.
Others are more talented. They aren’t harder workers or bigger competitors.
Justin Fields wants to be great. Saying that is one thing. His actions thus far reinforce those statements. It might take some time before he starts to truly blossom as a quarterback, but players with his skills and relentless drive almost always find success in the NFL. It is a matter of being patient and the Bears doing everything possible to help him. If he shows progress this year, there’s no telling how much better he’ll be by next year.
Like all great QBs, he will make those around him BETTER because that is what they do. His drive and goals will be infectious to others and they will rise together this year as a team….watch.
Last season, Fields was in a unique situation. Never certain in his role as QB1 in practice or games. The quandary he faced was; Am I self-centered (“I demand my shot in practice and games’): or am I a team player (“whatever you ask I’ll do”)? Clearly, he chose the latter. How do you develop “chemistry” with the #1s in that scenario? So,to expect results then like we should see this year (in terms of leadership quality) would be foolishly over-expectant. It’s like taking a kid off the JV team and expecting him to lead the Varsity. This year…. the… Read more »
There was a guy named Jim Harbaugh that was a high draft pick who would lock onto his first read early in his career. The guy worked super hard on his deficiencies and became a very solid NFL QB. He didn’t have half the talent Fields has. This could be exceptional.
Fields will be great because his mental makeup is exceptional. Combine that with his physical ability and he has no ceiling. I noticed he wasn’t processing fast enough when going thru his progressions. And in many cases he locked in on his first option when others were open…but this is typical of a rookie QB in the NFL. In order for him to be truly great he has to significantly improve in this area, and I believe he will with experience and continued commitment to film study and learning.