That's not true. The right QB has to be in place. Fixing the o-line doesn't automatically fix the QB. Thanks for this breakdown.
Perhaps not, but it will give us a much clearer indication of what Justin Fields is, as opposed to the nonsensical talk going on now suggesting the Bears should ditch Fields for one of Young or Stroud. Can he be effective when given a 3-4 second pocket or have we seen the ceiling--where he's just going to use his athletic prowess to beat teams? There is nothing to suggest he can't be. I wont twist anything, nor am I suggesting that Fields has zero to work on this offseason. He's steadily improved all year, and that's with turnstiles at LT, C, and wherever Alex Leatherwood and Larry Borom are playing. Improved OL have made lives easier and QBs far more effective. Even if we've seen the highest Fields' ceiling is, he can still be very effective like Ryan Tannehill and even Lamar Jackson--two recent examples of guys who look like polar opposites behind a bum OL and a great OL. Tannehill had the 31st OL in 2018, his last year in Miami where everybody declared him a bust. 2019 Tennessee had the 8th ranked OL in the league and Tannehill looked the opposite of bust people thought he was in Miami for the 5 years prior. Lamar Jackson in 2018 had the 10th ranked OL (not a bum OL) and in 19 he had the 2nd ranked OL and his passing stats especially showed the improvement. Now, I don't expect the bears to jump from dead last to 2nd overall in best OL units in the league in the matter of a year--but Fields with an OL in the top 10-15? If I'm missing something, please show me--but why can't Fields' game be elevated when he has protection while he still is working on getting better/seeing and hitting the short passes and knowing better when to keep eyes downfield vs when to checkdown given defensive coverages and pressure pre/post snap? Has anything from his game these past two years given you (or anyone) confirmation we've seen the ceiling as a passer? Call me a homer-optimist if you must, but I don't believe we've seen the ceiling and I have no reason to believe IF (big fucking if--its the Chicago bears, offensive line doesn't matter--defense does) the bears improve the OL drastically, Fields can't be better and will still be passing for 150 yards a game.
Don't get me wrong, I am saying nothing resembling that we should give up on Fields. What I am saying it's that it's unfortunate we'll be in a position to grab the best QB and don't have that need right now, and if it turns out Fields doesn't pan out, with other improvements we shouldn't be in this position again. The timing just isn't right. Believe me, I agree completely that if we shore up the lines this team looks completely different. But you don't need the #1 overall to do that. I know you don't usually like trading down but in this case it makes nothing but sense if they end up with the #1.
Not for one second do i think Bryce Young would stay alive behind this poop butt O-Line. So that just leaves Stroud and tbh, im just thankful the fuckheads have already been weeded out so we wont have 3months of threads talking about should we draft CJ and trade Fields. Cos you know thats what we would've had if this was 2016.
Of course he should be better with an average o-line. Any QB would. The question is will he fix all of the issues he does have that aren't related to the o-line: accuracy on shorter throws, indecisiveness, seeing the field, processing things. A good o-line could just expose those issues even more. Additionally, I don't think we've talked enough about Getsy and his role in Fields' passing struggles. How much of that is on Getsy for 1) over using him as a runner 2) calling many slow developing passes down field, further exposing the weakness of the o-line and subjecting Fields to an inhumane amount of punishment? Outside of the Patriots game, there were very few times where it seemed like the objective was to get Fields into a good passing rhythm + gain passing confidence. Not enough short, quick hitting passes for my liking.
I would take Young over Stroud all day. I wish there were more fuckheads around here frankly. Folks who would prefer to draft one of those QBs and move on from Fields. Get some good debate going. It would be a more exciting offseason if folks thought it was a possibility. I realize I'm absolutely on an island for wanting to have the debate. Not that I would move on from Fields, I don't know what the right thing to do is. But it's obvious the fan base is averse to the conversation altogether. Let's hope they're right on this one.
Fields needs an alpha dog WR. A difference maker at the WR position will do more for this offense than any other player at any other position. The O line is bad but closer to competent than most think. The Defense is a mess. I know we can trade down for a bevy of picks but man would it be nice to see Will Anderson hug Roger and hold up the Bears jersey this spring. Maybe we trade down with Indy. Stay in the top 5 and add picks and draft Murphy or Wilson?
I’ve made up my mind. Trade back is the way to go. Get a 2024 first rounder if possible. Draft o-line, d-line, and WR only. If Fields sucks next year, use a 2024 first rounder on a QB, and by then hopefully the o-line is halfway decent.
