Two thousand miles was a protracted solution to journey for one collection of soccer that lasted 10 performs and fewer than six minutes. But Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields a minimum of had just a few positives to evaluate in the course of the journey again from Seattle on Thursday evening.
Bears coach Matt Eberflus restricted a lot of his offensive starters to simply the primary drive of the Bears’ 27-11 preseason victory over the Seahawks at Lumen Field. He didn’t need to put an excessive amount of on them given they performed their preseason opener towards the Kansas City Chiefs simply six days earlier.
But that warning meant a restricted pattern measurement for Fields, whose each step is being scrutinized for indicators of progress in his second season.
So right here’s what Fields can take away from his drive — a greater begin, factors on the board, a reference to tight finish Cole Kmet and extra work beneath new offensive coordinator Luke Getsy.
Fields accomplished 5 of seven passes for 39 yards, serving to arrange a 35-yard Cairo Santos discipline objective, the primary preseason factors by the first-team offense after three scoreless collection within the opener.
“The operation was good. His preparation was great,” Eberflus mentioned of Fields. “He handled the offense the way we wanted him to, had a nice drive and scored the field goal. It’s progress. And guys see more progress in practice sometimes, where his footwork is getting better, his delivery when he feels pressure, how he slides in the pocket and delivers the ball. So he’s improving every single day.”
The spotlight got here when Fields faked a handoff to Khalil Herbert, rolled to his left and located his second learn, Kmet, broad open. Fields delivered a strike, and Kmet powered ahead 8 further yards for a 19-yard acquire. Kmet equally rumbled to a 12-yard acquire on a brief move on the Bears’ first play from scrimmage.
“Cole’s a great tight end. He can do pretty much all,” Fields mentioned. “He can block. He’s a great route runner. He has great hands, so he definitely brings another weapon to our offense.”
Fields nonetheless hasn’t performed along with his full array of playmakers. Running again David Montgomery and broad receivers Byron Pringle, N’Keal Harry and Tajae Sharpe have been among the many gamers to take a seat out with accidents Thursday.
Kmet didn’t play within the preseason opener due to an damage, so the connection in Seattle was notable, with Kmet leaping up and thumping his helmet in celebration after the 19-yard catch.
“It builds your confidence,” Kmet mentioned. “All the work you put in through the offseason, the experience I’ve been having these past two years, it continues to grow each game we play. It feels good.”
It wasn’t all good. Fields was beneath strain a number of occasions in the course of the drive, and the Bears didn’t convert on two third downs.
On a chaotic third-and-3 play with Seahawks gamers throughout him, Fields tried to scramble ahead to the first-down marker, however his diving attain was effectively quick. He mentioned afterward he thought he was nearer. But Seahawks exterior linebacker Darrell Taylor dedicated a neutral-zone infraction on fourth-and-2, and the Bears bought a primary down.
On third-and-4 from the Seahawks 15, Fields dumped a brief move to Herbert, who was clobbered for a 2-yard loss, and the Bears went to Santos.
“It was zone — I should have worked through to the middle of the field,” Fields mentioned. “So that was my fault for sure.”
Most of the remainder of the evening was in regards to the backups and the rookies, together with third-round broad receiver Velus Jones Jr., who made much less of an impression on offense than he did with a 28-yard kickoff return and 48-yard punt return. Right guard Teven Jenkins and proper sort out Larry Borom additionally bought work past the primary drive.
The Bears have 5 practices and three off days earlier than their third and remaining preseason recreation towards the Cleveland Browns on Aug. 27. Eberflus mentioned the teaching employees nonetheless is figuring out whether or not Fields will play in that recreation and the professionals and cons of such an look.
For his half, Fields thinks he may gain advantage.
“I feel like every time I touch the field I can get something out of it,” Fields mentioned. “Every time I get on the field it’s an opportunity for me to get better.”
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Source: www.bostonherald.com