The Chicago Bears are less than 36 hours away from beginning their 2022 season against the San Francisco 49ers at home. Although fans and the media believe the Bears will be one of the worst teams in the NFL as the team is beginning a rebuild, momentum is building in favor of Chicago performing better than expected. The reason for this momentum has been the composure and preseason performance of second-year quarterback Justin Fields, who appears ready to take the next step in his development this season.
Fields Has Remained A Leader Through A Trying Rookie Season
In 2021, former Bears’ general manager Ryan Pace traded up in the first round of the NFL Draft to select Fields with the 11th overall pick. The selection led to an eruption of joy from Bears fans and the local media as it appeared that Chicago finally had their long-awaited franchise quarterback. Unfortunately, the excitement from fans and the media became too much as unrealistic expectations and pressure spoiled Fields’ rookie season as he struggled due to being placed in a no-win situation.
I'll leave it at this.
Treating Justin Fields as an immediate savior for this team was always a mistake.
It created unfair expectations.
This offense was a mess long before he arrived. A rookie QB, no matter how talented, wasn't going to fix it.
This will take time. #Bears
— Erik Lambert (@ErikLambert1) October 26, 2021
Many fans and NFL analysts believed Fields should have been named the starting quarterback instantly and that he gave the Bears a legitimate chance to contend for the playoffs. In addition to extreme expectations, Chicago’s rookie quarterback was taught by a questionable head coach in Matt Nagy, who failed to develop a previous first-round quarterback in Mitchell Trubisky. The expectations and poor coaching significantly put Fields in a disastrous situation during his rookie campaign.
Subscribe to the BFR Youtube channel and ride shotgun with Dave and Ficky as they break down Bears football like nobody else.
Fields’ first start at quarterback was a historically bad game, as during the Week 3 game against the Cleveland Browns, the rookie was sacked nine times and only recorded one net yard passing. Although the Bears’ quarterback would win his next two starts, his struggles with Nagy’s offensive scheme became apparent each week. Fields had issues processing the passing plays as too many of Chicago’s passing plays took too long to develop, resulting in sacks and questionable throws.
Justin Fields’ first career start results in the Bears’ offensive line allowing nine sacks.
It’s the most by one team in an NFL game since 2015.
— Matt Norlander (@MattNorlander) September 26, 2021
After an impressive performance in Week 9 against the Pittsburgh Steelers that featured a near-game-winning drive and 297 passing yards, Fields appeared ready to take the next step in his development. Unfortunately, multiple injuries would force the rookie quarterback to miss five of the Bears’ final seven games of 2021. During the offseason, Pace and Nagy were dismissed due to Chicago’s poor performance, with ownership determined to build around Fields.
General manager Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus were hired in January this year and have made it a goal to build around Fields. During the offseason and preseason, Chicago players and the front office have raved about the leadership and moxie demonstrated by the second-year quarterback. Fields has also developed a strong relationship with offensive coordinator Luke Getsy, who has built his offensive scheme to highlight the strengths of his starting quarterback.
Matt Eberflus said of Justin Fields' development: "His leadership, his grasp of the offense was outstanding. The way that he learned and the way that he grew that way. … He's doing a great job right now. We're excited for him to grow every single day."
— Chris Emma (@CEmma670) July 26, 2022
Fields and Getsy’s performances in Chicago’s three preseason games is why there is anticipation and excitement for the Bears’ 2022 season. During the preseason, Chicago’s new offensive coordinator featured a wide variety of passing plays to get the ball out of the quarterback’s hands quicker and to get pass-catchers open in space. Fields, in limited playing time, had one completion of 20 yards or more in each game and was sacked only once during the entire preseason.
#Bears QB Justin Fields finds WR Darnell Mooney on a wheel route for a pickup of 26 yards. #Chiefs CB L'Jarius Sneed the one covering him pic.twitter.com/WUwirnnhvu
— Devon Clements (@DevclemNFL) August 13, 2022
Fields Can Be A Difference Maker On Offense Because of Getsy’s Scheme
With the offensive scheme built to highlight the strengths of Fields, Bears fans could see immense production from their quarterback as the 2022 season progresses. Getsy’s offense will utilize bootleg and play-action passing plays that will give the quarterback an option to run the ball if no receiver is open, while the fake handoff will freeze the defense to help receivers beat coverage.
Loving the #Bears stretching the field horizontally and getting Justin Fields out on the play-action bootleg.
That’s exactly what I wanna see out of this new offense.
— Jacob Infante (@jacobinfante24) August 19, 2022
Before seeing Fields throw consistently, Chicago’s offense will need to establish their running game with running backs Khalil Herbert and David Montgomery to help set up the play-action pass. The Bears’ final preseason game against the Browns demonstrated this as Cleveland’s defenders began losing Chicago’s pass-catchers on passing plays featuring rollouts and play-action fakes. Two of Fields’ three touchdown passes against the Browns came on play-action passes, with receivers getting open downfield.
If Chicago’s offensive line can protect their quarterback, Fields will not just be successful in 2022 as a passing quarterback but as a scrambling quarterback also. Getsy and Eberflus have worked with their starting quarterback to ensure he is going through all of his passing reads before leaving the pocket and scrambling. Fields is a dual-threat quarterback and has already shown an ability to use his threat of scrambling to help free up receivers downfield to throw to.
Although no significant top-level wide receivers were added this offseason to Chicago’s, Fields is demonstrating that he can make his receivers better. Receivers Dante Pettis, Tajae Sharpe, and Equanimeous St. Brown all stood out in the preseason, catching passing from the Bears’ starting quarterback. Fields will also be aided by wide receiver Darnell Mooney and tight end Cole Kmet, who are expected to have highly productive seasons.
Terceiro touchdown do Justin Fields no jogo! 🔥🔥#DaBears #Browns pic.twitter.com/GnqdRl7tS9
— Endzone Brasil (@Endzone_Brasil) August 28, 2022
Chicago’s offense may not be a top-10 offense this season, but they will manage to be much better than expected. Fields will have a chance to take the next step in his development in becoming an elite-level quarterback, and everything is pointing in the direction that he will. The Bears may not win many games in 2022, but they will have an answer at quarterback for the foreseeable future.
So many players are in the same position. It looks like Poles was able to get a lot of undeveloped talent/under achievers and their success depend on each other. What is really different from what we have seen previously is the scheme is built around these players skill set. Also, the coaching staff seems like they are really working on conditioning and developing the talent. I am eager to see what this team does. With that said I am hoping they lose every game within a field goal. If that happens and we get the top pick, we can trade… Read more »
2nd verse, same as the first. 3rd verse, same as the first, 4th verse, same as the first……..