Quarterback Justin Fields will get another alternative beneath the lights within the preseason so as to add polish to the Chicago Bears offense. Coach Matt Ebeflus introduced Tuesday that Bears starters will play the primary half Saturday in opposition to the Browns in Cleveland. That means Fields and the wholesome members of the first-unit offense ought to see their most in depth sport motion of the month at FirstEnergy Stadium.
So how invaluable will these reps be for Fields and the offense? What are the dangers concerned of permitting starters and key regulars to play greater than two dozen snaps in an exhibition sport? And simply what must be manufactured from Fields’ efficiency and productiveness over the past 4 weeks of coaching camp?
Tribune Bears writers Dan Wiederer and Colleen Kane break issues down on this version of “Real Talk.”
Dan Wiederer: I could also be within the minority right here, however I’m 100% behind Flus’ resolution to play his starters for a full half Saturday.
For one factor, the quirks of this yr’s preseason schedule left the Bears with that unlucky quick week between their first and second exhibitions, which in flip restricted how a lot the teaching workers was keen to play its prime gamers in Seattle. That left Fields and the first-unit offense with solely 9 snaps in opposition to the Seahawks. Add these onto the 18 Fields performed Aug. 13 in opposition to the Kansas City Chiefs and that’s not almost sufficient August enjoying time for a largely inexperienced group studying a brand new offense with a nonetheless unstable offensive line and a largely unproven pack of receivers.
This group must construct far more momentum and confidence earlier than Week 1. Fields must proceed growing his timing and pocket presence. The offensive line wants extra work to proceed jelling. The greatest approach to get these issues is with sport motion in opposition to an unfamiliar protection — even with the plain damage dangers concerned.
So flip them unfastened Saturday evening. This is generally a developmental season to start with. So why press the pause button on the event?
Colleen Kane: It’s a good suggestion in concept. But if any key participant is injured within the first half, there’s going to be an entire lot of second guessing of Eberflus’ resolution.
The Bears already are quick on offensive expertise due to accidents to vast receivers Byron Pringle and N’Keal Harry, amongst others. Shouldn’t the trainers hold Darnell Mooney and Cole Kmet in bubble wrap on the sideline? Do Bears coaches must rewatch movie of Myles Garrett and firm pummeling Fields for 9 sacks final season as a reminder for warning?
Honestly, I’m simply enjoying the contrarian. I’m additionally of the opinion that the offense stands to achieve fairly a bit from enjoying a full half collectively — particularly an offensive line that might have three pretty inexperienced starters. (And it’s in all probability well worth the threat in a season that’s all about Fields’ progress.)
But the truth that it’s a preseason sport is prone to make it much more anxiety-inducing for followers each time Fields takes a success.
Wiederer: Listen, I perceive the fear. I additionally perceive the urgency at Halas Hall for the offense to discover a rhythm that offers the teaching workers a little bit extra rest and possibly permits them to get a couple of additional winks of shut-eye earlier than that Sept. 11 season opener in opposition to the San Francisco 49ers.
You’ve seen what I’ve seen over the primary 20 practices of the preseason: a Bears offense that’s clunky and inconsistent with a second-year quarterback who must generate noticeable momentum as quickly as attainable.
This isn’t Mitch Trubisky in August 2019, thoughts you. I don’t get the sense Fields is shedding confidence or turning into mentally taxed by the offense’s present struggles. So any nervousness to that finish must be quelled.
But I additionally haven’t seen almost sufficient “Wow!” moments from Fields throughout coaching camp or proof {that a} main breakthrough is imminent. And I’m additionally being practical with the place Fields is at this stage of his growth, particularly together with his pocket presence.
Coordinator Luke Getsy and quarterbacks coach Andrew Janocko push Fields to wash up his footwork and acquire an elevated understanding of the timing of every play. They have inspired him to know his presents as a runner and Getsy continues using ideas that can assist get Fields on the transfer.
But in addition they need their younger quarterback to know the right way to play high-level successful soccer from inside the pocket, which requires persistence and a really feel for the right way to climb the pocket and discover clear areas to throw from. That additionally requires expertise, which is what Saturday will assist present.
Kane: Absolutely, the extra expertise the higher for Fields, and that ought to embody some motion in opposition to the Browns’ first-team protection. Browns coach Kevin Stefanski introduced Thursday starters would play, although he declined to say what number of performs he anticipated to maintain them in.
Along with all of the work Fields can get in, vast receiver Equanimeous St. Brown mentioned Wednesday the prolonged outing may give the offense an opportunity to function when feeling fatigued and in addition to get in some 2-minute work in opposition to one other workforce. That’s a chance for Fields to proceed to develop chemistry with a number of the new receivers, together with St. Brown.
It additionally may give Fields an opportunity to construct confidence as he heads towards the season opener. I agree Fields doesn’t appear to be rattled by the offense’s ups and downs over the primary few month of coaching camp. He has an even-keeled character to start with, and coaches have talked about how they attempt to set the suitable tone between acknowledging the event that’s happening and demanding a excessive commonplace.
But it actually wouldn’t harm to steer a landing drive after the first-team offense punted on their three drives in opposition to the Chiefs and ended with a discipline objective on their solely collection in opposition to the Seahawks.
Wiederer: Terrific level. I wasn’t a math main however a 0.75 factors per possession common — which is what the Fields-led offense has produced with restricted preseason work — isn’t going to chop it for a beginning quarterback at any stage. And as we each know, manufacturing is the match that lights the wick for confidence. So let’s see this offense be no less than modestly productive Saturday with hopes for a confidence carryover into the common season.
If the final 20 practices are any indication, although, Bears followers also needs to prepared themselves for the “tuck and run” expertise with Fields, which at instances will flip discombobulated performs into optimistic yards and first downs, inducing sofa high-fives. But at different instances, Fields’ scrambling selections shall be indicators that his pocket poise and belief in these round him isn’t but the place it must be. That’s a tightrope the 23-year-old quarterback should stroll skillfully.
Earlier this month, there was one follow by which Fields had a number of sequences by which he made on-the-run shovel passes or option-like tosses to security valve receivers as he scrambled. At instances, these performs will wow the followers and transfer the chains. At different instances, they may put the soccer at risk and develop into examples of questionable resolution making. I requested Eberflus how he’ll oversee that a part of Fields’ growth, permitting for pure creativity whereas additionally teaching warning.
“We are certainly in conversation about that,” Eberflus acknowledged.
Bears coaches in the end need Fields to play with really feel and to make use of his instincts to increase performs when he must. In Eberflus’ phrases, generally that can imply Fields will “ride the pocket and deliver the pass.” Sometimes he’ll must dart ahead by way of the B hole and escape stress. Sometimes he’ll scramble with the choice to both proceed working or discover a goal downfield. It ought to all be instinctual. Eventually. That’s value maintaining a tally of.
Kane: Much of that, after all, additionally shall be affected this season by the mess around Fields from an unproven offensive line and a patchwork solid of receivers.
So this sport Saturday evening additionally shall be about getting extra work for left sort out Braxton Jones, the fifth-round choose making the large bounce from FCS Southern Utah to the NFL, and Teven Jenkins, whose tenure at proper guard is 1½ weeks previous. The Bears have positioned their bets on a number of younger gamers to guard Fields, so even when it’s not best that some are nonetheless getting their ft moist Saturday, it’s the choice the workforce has made.
Jones was requested Wednesday whether or not Fields talked about something about his final outing in Cleveland, his first profession begin by which a special Bears offensive line didn’t do Fields many favors because the Browns totaled 15 quarterback hits and people aforementioned 9 sacks.
“He hasn’t said anything about that, which I’m glad,” Jones mentioned. “I mean, that was last year. We’ve got a different group of guys and obviously we’re looking for a better outcome.”
Wiederer: “We’re looking for a better outcome.” At least Braxton, who has solely been with the Bears since April, has rapidly realized the twenty first century motto at Halas Hall, proper? Now the Bears have to show that trying into discovering.
As everybody agrees, a lot of the success of the 2022 season shall be judged by how a lot progress Fields makes. And to that finish, the Bears should proceed making day by day efforts to make sure Fields is comfy and assured and in the end productive when it issues.
We all know he wants extra assist round him — on the road and within the receiving corps particularly. But he additionally must proceed gaining expertise and studying how he may be most profitable and what his weaknesses are. That course of continues to be within the very early levels. But it’s progressing. And the development will proceed this weekend.
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Source: www.bostonherald.com