I don't understand the Bears fanbase. We make preseason heros out of guys like Andy Fantuz but can't embrace a guy that has actual talent and clearly has a drive to win games for them.
You have no idea that is true. That's 100% speculation. And he's the first player in NFL history to be tired midseason. Truly astonishing, honestly. Which is really odd because he has thrown a TD pass in 7 straight games....11 total in that stretch.
You do realize that most of the fanbase is ready to put Fields in the HOF right? It's not speculation, it's based on the trend of running QBs eventually slowing down after a few years and either becoming a pocket passer or departing for the CFL. Much of the yardage damage has been done on the ground. Fields red zone passing the last month has been excellent. Nice to see him finishing drives with TD passes. Doesn't refute the point that it's unclear how productive he would be once the threat of the run is diminished.
That's not even close to true. Josh Allen runs a lot. Josh Allen gets hit a lot. I have never seen anyone suggest Josh Allen is gonna have a short career. Yards are yards. Watch the pass to Monty down the sideline from Sunday and tell me the kid can't throw. Does he need to be more consistent? Absolutely. But he can throw and throw really well. The most inconsistent thing on the Bears offense is the play of the other 10 guys around Fields.
It's a problem for Josh Allen. He's a little bigger than Fields but it worries me too. We don't talk Bills here but if we did I'd be expressing this concern. Edit: also the Bills don't run josh Allen 15 times a game. He absolutely can throw. That's not the point I'm making. He hasn't done it consistently as a passer and much of the production the last month has come on the ground. But go on believing that Fields is gonna rush for 1000 yards every year of his career just because he can now.
Allen has rushed 493 times in 70 games for an average of 7 per game. I'm sure there are enough kneel downs to bring that average down 1. But he's rushed for 35 career touchdowns. Running is a part of his game. Go on making shit up I didn't say. Let's see how far that gets you.
Who is the best player on the offense? Fields. Is there anyone else that would be considered an "elite threat" on offense? No. Fields runs a lot right now because he's Superman, and this whole offense is full of Lois Lane's, minus a few good supportive performances from a couple guys. Give him someone to throw to, someone to block for him, and an offensive coordinator that encourages that (which Getsy tried to at the start of the season), and who's to say that he doesn't choose to primarily be a passer? He's running right now because that's what works. I don't blame the guy. We said it at the start of the year - with this roster, we're not getting a definitive answer to this question, if we're looking for proof that he is the guy in the right situation. We're not in the right situation, and we knew that when the season started. But based on what we've seen, I feel like the missing piece is elsewhere on the roster, not at QB.
Fields is under contract for another 3years inc 5th year option, what are you even talking about here? Can you tell us even 1 thing you know about Bryce Young the NFL player? Thought not. He couldn't turn into a total bust tho, that never happens with 1st round QB's.
In the last 5 games (starting with the NE game) Fields is averaging 13.8 rushing attempts per game. Can we at least agree that this is not sustainable and will not be part of his game in 3-4 years?
I'm answering your own damn question!!! You asked if Fields was out of contract this year what would you do.
That number includes times he was flushed, thats not designed runs. I havent checked myself but read they called 14designed runs on sunday. So your sample size is umm 1?
It shouldn't need to be. I think that's the point. He is dealing with an offense that is, if not least in the league, among the worst in supportive talent. I don't think this conversation is that complicated, honestly.
How many are designed and how many are because he said oh shit time to run? And yes there are times he bails and he shouldn't....he will get better at that. He should, anyway. It's not a good long term plan. But I don't think anyone in Halas Hall believes it's going to be in the long term plan either.
Which was prefaced by me referencing varder's question. The point i was making was comparing decisions about Fields inc pay 3years from now with drafting another QB immediately is pretty pointless. Here's the simple breakdown for you blang. You have Fields, who is a relatively known quantity at this time and under contract for 3years on rookie pay. You have Bryce Young who is a completely unknown quantity at this level. He is also further back in the development curve than Fields, will cost more money and will struggle mightily playing with these teammates. You want Young, got it. I also get that in this hypothetical you will be shitting all over Young by week5 and talking about drafting the next QB with their top3 pick in the 2024 draft.
I never said these were only designed runs. You have a reading comprehension problem this morning. But the poor guy is running nearly 14 times a game. And that's where a ton of his production is coming from. Yes, the hope obviously is that he won't have to do it in the future, even if he could (which I doubt he could). I've been very complimentary of Fields the last month and don't take any of it back but yeah need to see more consistency as a passer
I said I'd take Young over paying Fields $40 million a year now in your hypothetical scenario. As things stand, I think we should trade down if the opportunity arises but also Fields has to be the guy next year (no more excuses no more waiting).
With Fields under center and the offseason resources the Bears have versus the state of the division and NFC right now the Bears should be in the playoffs next season and a threat to make a run to the NFC title game and SB the following season. Or you can reset it back a couple seasons by drafting Young. I'd go for the first option.
So for me this is where I diverge from blang, because you raise an excellent point, he's shown enough that yeah, I'd want to keep him for some dollar value that doesn't capsize the franchise if we had to make the decision now. Hell, we might get a decent deal given how much ambiguity there is, there is enough promise here that we should keep seeing him. Thankfully we don't have to do that and have him under contract. My point in framing it that way, is I've read enough people anointing him as the franchise guy for the next decade - the DeShaun Watson contract kind of guy. And there's no doubt he's really improved the last few games, it's been incredible. But I'm not sold he is the savior yet. I'm coming around to the idea he grow into it for sure which is almost my only source of joy for this season. When I see, "he's the guy" I am thinking you mean he's the guy for the next decade. I'm not convinced he's that guy. Is he the guy for the next two years? Yes, for sure. And yes, we should build around him. If some QB hungry team wants to trade up, with where we are sitting, there is every chance we can make a HAUL in this draft, because we can lean on Fields for at least 2 more years. He's shown enough there that I don't think it's time yet to roll the dice on another. I was definitely one earlier in the season that he wasn't making up for the lack of talent, because he wasn't. The past several weeks have shown me enough to he's got some elite skills. But he also needs to show more in the passing game. I don't know how much time you spend on places like reddit, but our fanbase is over the moon on Fields. Probably the same people that were pissing on him as terrible earlier in the year. I feel like I'm somewhere between Blang and the entirety of our fanbase. And with him getting hurt, this early in his career, how can you not be worried about him getting ruined with this talent / him running as much as he is? How much more is he going to learn in this offensive setup? Rest him up for next year, have higher draft picks to build around him, and next year do we have an outside shot at the wildcard? Maybe but the cupboard is still pretty bare. Oh and I didn't quote it, but I agree the Claypool trade is really looking bad now. Poles has me slightly concerned at this point, and the coaches too. It is clear Jenkins is a beast, yet he was rotating and all that crap. Schofield looked like absolute ass Sunday. It shouldn't be hard to make a decision like keeping Jenkins as a starter from much earlier in the season. The worst part about Claypool though, is if Fields is out this year, then there's no chemistry even being built, but maybe he could learn the playbook. And even though this is the Justin Fields thread, his chemistry with Kmet has been good, and Kmet is really turning it around, and that resurgence aligns with Fields growth. That's another positive out of this season.
Won't speak for bww, but when i say it im not talking about the next 10years, im talking shorter term than that. Im not trying to put a hard timescale on it tbh, im more talking about building around him. He's the guy as in you don't hold anything back out of doubt, you commit to getting him all the help you can. He's already earned the right to that imo, he's earned what Zach Wilson was just given. I said this weeks ago there is no downside to fully committing to your QB NOW. I believe just getting Fields more help will lead to better production without even getting into how much he further develops his game. I dont think he will regress but if he does then you move on and the new guy will be in a great situation with a much higher chance of panning out than Fields had when they drafted him. There is no downside to building a wall and getting playmakers on the outside.
You have to be impressed with this. I do not find Fields a hard guy to root for at all. Contrast that with Zach Wilson.
