Most people have heard the statements over and over by now. Justin Fields can't reach the top of the NFL until he becomes more polished as a passer. He's already one of the most dangerous runners in the league. However, everybody knows you don't go far in this league unless you can win from the pocket. Fields didn't do that enough last year. All of it wasn't his fault. The protection wasn't great, and his array of weapons was lacking at almost every position. However, the Chicago Bears quarterback shouldered some of the blame too.
He had a bad habit of holding the ball rather than taking chances throwing into tight windows. He'd be too quick to run when he still could've gone through progression. It was the classic tell-tale signs of a young player in a brand-new offense. However, former QB David Carr doesn't think he is a lost cause. Quite the opposite. From what he saw, there was legitimate progress from Fields between the first half of the season and the second. Carr is convinced that people are going to see a different player this coming season and explained why on NFL Total Access.
Justin Fields attacked his weaknesses this off-season.
That was evident almost the moment he stepped onto the practice field for OTAs. Teammates and coaches noted his willingness to throw the ball into tighter spaces with great frequency. He showed a better grasp of timing and rhythm throws. Most importantly, he was starting to take great command of the offense. His adjustments at the line and audible calls led to productive plans. He'd often catch defensive backs trying to peek with his eyes. These are all things he flashed last season but lacked consistency.
This will mark the second season in the same offense for Justin Fields. That can't be understated. When a quarterback spends a long period of time in the same system, they gain mastery. A full grasp of a scheme leads to better execution. Jay Cutler was getting MVP talk during his second year in Mike Martz's offense. Erik Kramer set single-season Bears records in his second year under Ron Turner. There is no reason to think Fields can't do the same under Luke Getsy this season.
