Justin Fields is not outwardly emotional. His personality comes across as even-keel. However, don’t be fooled. The young quarterback is prone to moods just like everybody else. He usually keeps it in check, but there are moments when he lets it slip a little bit. It’s usually reserved for teammates who mess up their assignments on the field. Sometimes though, the press catches glimpses of it during his press conferences.
The Chicago Bears offense has been hounded by criticism since practices began in May. National media and large sections of the fanbase believe this might be the least capable group the team has assembled in years. Every little mistake they’ve made from minicamps through the first week of training camp is magnified by people declaring it is a portent of things to come. Fields, for one, is tired of it.
While he understands people are free to have their opinions, he quickly points out that none of them understands what is happening during practices. Many times when people are looking for big plays is when the offense is playing situational football. It is what makes judging the offense right now unfair.
Justin Fields provided a perfect example too.
During the first padded practice on Monday, the Bears ran a play where wide receiver N’Keal Harry ran a route that saw him wide open in the right corner of the end zone. Fields overthrew him. Immediate critics said that was a bad mistake by the quarterback. The next day when asked about it, Fields revealed that was the first time the offense had ever run that particular play in camp. His assignment was to start off looking left at the snap. He wasn’t expecting Harry to get that open and was late on the throw.
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One of the worst plays of the day was Fields overthrowing Harry in 7 on 7. You gotta be 100% on these Defensive busts. #BearsCamp #Bears pic.twitter.com/Ri8HmPMtMw
— Clay Harbor (@clayharbs82) August 2, 2022
That goes back to a quarterback without experience in a new offensive system. He is still in the learning phase of what he’s supposed to do. There were always going to be instances where he was late on certain reads, leading to miscommunications like that. Justin Fields had a second chance to run the same play shortly later and executed it perfectly.
He wants the offense to function at a high level more than anybody. Yet Fields understands this was always going to be a process. Expecting instant results was naive. The best thing for Bears fans to do is look for incremental progress. Small victories. Those should grow more numerous as the regular season draws closer. If these same fatal flaws exist by November or January, people are free to say what they wish.
Please everyone, pulling for Justin Fields as much as anyone. Nobody needs to sit down and shut up as we all have the right to speak our minds. Given the futility of this team in the last 15 years we all should be skeptical. Just look at their draft picks before this year. Quite dismal to say the least. But I believe we are on the right track this time with GM Poles. Regardless I too think Justin should make that throw 100% to someone that wide open. Do you think Aaron Rodgers or Tom Brady would have missed him.… Read more »
Yeah I’ll let them play football and stop criticizing what they do they’re going to do their job and they’re going to be winners so the press needs to sit their butt down and shut up now if they want to get there and play 7 on 7 against that team they need to get out there and do it to see how good these teams going to be that young man going to take them to the top and all you other ones can just shut up
It’s called practice right? Okay then wait to make comments when the season starts. Only the ones making comments are writers who never played this game. We know a writer has to come up with something? Possibly could loose their job if they don’t?
Fields was a leader in that interview! He stood up in defense of his Offensive unit! That is what will make his team willing to put a little more for him!
This is why they have camp. It’s the same reason a cast has rehearsals. You get to make mistakes and get better. When the lights come on you should be ready.