Training camp is over. The preseason is over. Chicago Bears fans finally get to see how much progress their team has made since last season. Unsurprisingly, everything centers around quarterback Justin Fields. GM Ryan Poles geared most of his big off-season moves around helping the third-year player take the next step in his development. He traded for Chase Claypool midway through last season. Then he added D.J. Moore via another trade with Carolina. Chicago then secured big right tackle Darnell Wright with the 10th overall pick in the draft.
This offensive roster feels stronger than a season ago. Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus both said the goal is to help Fields take the next step as a passer. They want to see him operate better from the pocket, showing more poise and getting the ball out with timing and anticipation. That leads one to expect they will call plays with this in mind. Less running and more passing. Well, that might not be the case. Not based on what ESPN insider Dan Graziano is hearing.
The Bears' endgame isn't for Fields to run less. It's to get hit less.
"Don't be surprised if ... quarterback Justin Fields keeps running.
I asked a Bears official if the team wanted Fields to run less this season to avoid putting himself in harm's way. The response was, "Well, we want him to get hit less," which indicates it might not be as simple as running him less. In watching the 55 sacks that Fields took in 2022, it seemed like a lot of them were the result of indecisiveness in the pocket, which is understandable for a young QB and should be something that gets better this year.
The acquisition of DJ Moore has been a major improvement for the receiver room, and that upgrade plus another offseason of work should help this passing game evolve. But Fields isn't just a good runner -- he's a historically special runner at the QB position, picking up 1,143 yards on the ground last year. Look for the Bears and Fields to keep finding creative ways to use his running ability as an asset that keeps drives alive and occasionally leads to a really big scoring play."
The Bears seem intent on sticking to Justin Fields' strengths.
Yes, they'd love for him to become a better pocket passer. Fields himself would. However, it's the coaching staff's job to do whatever it takes to make an offense successful. The fact is the Bears were a far more productive team when they utilized Fields' legs as a constant weapon. In the five games where he had 13 or more carries/scrambles, the Bears offense averaged 27.8 points per game. He was also more efficient as a passer, throwing nine touchdowns to only three interceptions. It's hard to argue with this idea if Graziano is correct.
Most of the hardest hits Justin Fields took last season were when he tried staying in the pocket. Sometimes, it was because the offensive blocking had a breakdown. Other times, it was because Fields held the ball too long. That is the hurdle they need to overcome. It would explain why the Bears heavily emphasized screens and the quick passing game in training camp. They want him to get the ball out faster. If they can achieve at least that, and he remains a dynamic running threat, the offense should be harder to stop this season.
