Week 2 - Bears @ Packers, SNF

[mias_tisg]

Packers passing game is ass but I expect them to run all over the Bears. Might be a 200 rushing yard night.

[UMFan83]

Expecting a heartbreaker, hoping for a win

 

I have bad vibes but its most likely a mix of conditioned to expect blowouts against the Packers on prime time and crippling fear that Fields struggles on prime time again. But I'm a pessimist that loves to be proven wrong.

 

Fields was good in his last primetime game against the Steelers.

 

Very true. Just sick of reading about how much Fields sucks by National guys. Would love for him to crush it for 4 quarters and change the conversation

[Wilson A2000]

Is Fields struggling to go through his progressions or not?

[BigbadB]

Packers passing game is ass but I expect them to run all over the Bears. Might be a 200 rushing yard night.

 

That's my worry. San Fran ran strong against us. Although theirs was a different type of running game with options and end arounds and such. Not sure who will be able to easily tackle Dillon. Maybe the missing OLinemen will help the defense collapse the running game. I'd like to see Fields really cut loose on the DB's for GB. Cousins made mince meat of whoever was assigned to Justin Jefferson last week. We don't have a Justin Jefferson on the roster, but I feel like we can get some guys open.

 

Anyone have numbers on how many times Kmet ran routes. I feel like they kept him on the line quite a bit more to fend off the 9er's great pass rush. I'd like to see Kmet have a big game Sunday night.

[Derwood]

Is Fields struggling to go through his progressions or not?

 

In the first half, he was dumping off to his running back if his primary receiver was covered

[Tim]

The touchdown to ESB was his second read on the play, iirc.

[Bobson Dugnutt]

I believe on one of the CHGO pods Corey Wootton said the first TD to Pettis was on his 4th read.

[raw]

To my non-expert, non-all-22 having naked eye, it appears as if he is struggling to get thru reads fast enough or moving on from them too quickly at times.

 

It's hard for me to call ESB his 2nd read on that play. IMO, it was clearly set up for a blown coverage. The design of the play meant either a crosser or the overtop guy would come open (and actually, backside crosser was wide open as well). Maybe he was the 2nd read, but IMO it was pretty similar to a levels concept where it's a half or 1/3 field read and you take the underneath and you read both depending on where the LBs and safeties leverage is leaning. Finding the backside crosser, I would consider reading the defense. Of course, he made the right throw, so this isn't a knock. Just my 2 cents.

 

Also the Pettis TD, I wouldn't call a "read" necessarily. It was a scramble drill play. Fields escaped the pocket and threw to the opposite of the field. Sure, he had 3 guys in his direct line of vision before flipping his hips to Pettis, but I've never questioned his ability to read defenses outside of the pocket on improvisation.

[UMFan83]

To my non-expert, non-all-22 having naked eye, it appears as if he is struggling to get thru reads fast enough or moving on from them too quickly at times.

 

There are so many factors that go into this....new offense, still young learning QB adjusting to NFL speed. But a long time to throw has been consistently mentioned as a weakness and while there is still plenty of time for him to grow, it concerns me a bit. Whenever I watch those QB breakdown videos, seems like most of the time when a bad throw is shown for Fields, its pointed out that it's a tick too late or he missed his window to hit a different receiver. Even the interception last week, while a bad decision, could have been completed if he had thrown slightly sooner. But it is likely not a throw that Aaron Rodgers would make. When you throw 3-4 interceptions a year, rarely do you make a dangerous throw like that.

 

That said, there's enough pure talent from Fields to make me believe that he should progress to at least an adequate QB. He is definitely improving in a number of areas. He just might be more of a 27 TD, 13 INT guy with significant added value due to his running ability instead of a 33 TD 5 INT guy.

[minnesotacubsfan]

To my non-expert, non-all-22 having naked eye, it appears as if he is struggling to get thru reads fast enough or moving on from them too quickly at times.

 

It's hard for me to call ESB his 2nd read on that play. IMO, it was clearly set up for a blown coverage. The design of the play meant either a crosser or the overtop guy would come open (and actually, backside crosser was wide open as well). Maybe he was the 2nd read, but IMO it was pretty similar to a levels concept where it's a half or 1/3 field read and you take the underneath and you read both depending on where the LBs and safeties leverage is leaning. Finding the backside crosser, I would consider reading the defense. Of course, he made the right throw, so this isn't a knock. Just my 2 cents.

 

Also the Pettis TD, I wouldn't call a "read" necessarily. It was a scramble drill play. Fields escaped the pocket and threw to the opposite of the field. Sure, he had 3 guys in his direct line of vision before flipping his hips to Pettis, but I've never questioned his ability to read defenses outside of the pocket on improvisation.

 

what made the Pettis TD special is 1) Pettis just sat down in the zone when the play blew up while the other WR's kept moving and 2) Fields athletic ability to avoid getting tackled, pivot and play catch with Pettis. They both really deserve a lot of credit for how they handled the break down. Fields lobbed that throw....all Pettis had to do was get under it, but credit Fields for finding him.

 

i do think Fields locks on to receivers and holds the ball more then I'd like, but I also feel that is something he can grow out of with more playing time and learning defenses as well as his own offense. He doesn't seem to linger as long as he did last year, at least that's my impression from last Sunday and the last preseason game

[David]

 

I have bad vibes but its most likely a mix of conditioned to expect blowouts against the Packers on prime time and crippling fear that Fields struggles on prime time again. But I'm a pessimist that loves to be proven wrong.

 

Fields was good in his last primetime game against the Steelers.

 

Very true. Just sick of reading about how much Fields sucks by National guys. Would love for him to crush it for 4 quarters and change the conversation

 

I haven't seen anyone doing actual analysis saying this. Dilfer, O'Sullivan, Baldinger all had positive things to say (along with criticism) and got into specific breakdowns/film. I'd also avoid reading too much into a game against that defense in those conditions with 17 or whatever pass attempts. Anyway, who cares what dumb ass talking head national media guys like Mike Martz and Mike Lombardi who likely didn't even watch film say?

 

I wonder what Mike Lombardi had to say about Mac Jones when BB had him throw 3 times against the Bills.

[David]

Honestly, that last Martz clip that went out about Lance and Fields had me thinking the dude is suffering from dementia.

[David]

To my non-expert, non-all-22 having naked eye, it appears as if he is struggling to get thru reads fast enough or moving on from them too quickly at times.

 

It's hard for me to call ESB his 2nd read on that play. IMO, it was clearly set up for a blown coverage. The design of the play meant either a crosser or the overtop guy would come open (and actually, backside crosser was wide open as well). Maybe he was the 2nd read, but IMO it was pretty similar to a levels concept where it's a half or 1/3 field read and you take the underneath and you read both depending on where the LBs and safeties leverage is leaning. Finding the backside crosser, I would consider reading the defense. Of course, he made the right throw, so this isn't a knock. Just my 2 cents.

 

Also the Pettis TD, I wouldn't call a "read" necessarily. It was a scramble drill play. Fields escaped the pocket and threw to the opposite of the field. Sure, he had 3 guys in his direct line of vision before flipping his hips to Pettis, but I've never questioned his ability to read defenses outside of the pocket on improvisation.

 

Yeah, I had the same thought. I don't know how you call the Pettis TD a read in any way. His scramble drew the defenders his way and left Pettis wide open and he floated it over there to make sure it got there.

[UMFan83]

To my non-expert, non-all-22 having naked eye, it appears as if he is struggling to get thru reads fast enough or moving on from them too quickly at times.

 

It's hard for me to call ESB his 2nd read on that play. IMO, it was clearly set up for a blown coverage. The design of the play meant either a crosser or the overtop guy would come open (and actually, backside crosser was wide open as well). Maybe he was the 2nd read, but IMO it was pretty similar to a levels concept where it's a half or 1/3 field read and you take the underneath and you read both depending on where the LBs and safeties leverage is leaning. Finding the backside crosser, I would consider reading the defense. Of course, he made the right throw, so this isn't a knock. Just my 2 cents.

 

Also the Pettis TD, I wouldn't call a "read" necessarily. It was a scramble drill play. Fields escaped the pocket and threw to the opposite of the field. Sure, he had 3 guys in his direct line of vision before flipping his hips to Pettis, but I've never questioned his ability to read defenses outside of the pocket on improvisation.

 

what made the Pettis TD special is 1) Pettis just sat down in the zone when the play blew up while the other WR's kept moving and 2) Fields athletic ability to avoid getting tackled, pivot and play catch with Pettis. They both really deserve a lot of credit for how they handled the break down. Fields lobbed that throw....all Pettis had to do was get under it, but credit Fields for finding him.

 

i do think Fields locks on to receivers and holds the ball more then I'd like, but I also feel that is something he can grow out of with more playing time and learning defenses as well as his own offense. He doesn't seem to linger as long as he did last year, at least that's my impression from last Sunday and the last preseason game

 

Nitpicky but Pettis didn't exactly sit down in the end zone... he found a wide open window when the DBs near him started cheating towards Fields anticipating a scramble. It was a defensive breakdown but he did a good job recognizing that and finding an open spot. Also he caught it at the 30 and made a pretty nice run with minimal blocking to get into the end zone so he had to do more than just get under the ball and catch it.

[Soul]

To my non-expert, non-all-22 having naked eye, it appears as if he is struggling to get thru reads fast enough or moving on from them too quickly at times.

 

It's hard for me to call ESB his 2nd read on that play. IMO, it was clearly set up for a blown coverage. The design of the play meant either a crosser or the overtop guy would come open (and actually, backside crosser was wide open as well). Maybe he was the 2nd read, but IMO it was pretty similar to a levels concept where it's a half or 1/3 field read and you take the underneath and you read both depending on where the LBs and safeties leverage is leaning. Finding the backside crosser, I would consider reading the defense. Of course, he made the right throw, so this isn't a knock. Just my 2 cents.

 

Also the Pettis TD, I wouldn't call a "read" necessarily. It was a scramble drill play. Fields escaped the pocket and threw to the opposite of the field. Sure, he had 3 guys in his direct line of vision before flipping his hips to Pettis, but I've never questioned his ability to read defenses outside of the pocket on improvisation.

 

Yeah, I had the same thought. I don't know how you call the Pettis TD a read in any way. His scramble drew the defenders his way and left Pettis wide open and he floated it over there to make sure it got there.

 

It feels to me like he can do this kind of thing regularly, which would make it a consistent positive trait. I don't think all QBs can use their speed to escape the pocket like that. It was a pretty darn fantastic display of Fields' ability in that regard.

[David]

To my non-expert, non-all-22 having naked eye, it appears as if he is struggling to get thru reads fast enough or moving on from them too quickly at times.

 

It's hard for me to call ESB his 2nd read on that play. IMO, it was clearly set up for a blown coverage. The design of the play meant either a crosser or the overtop guy would come open (and actually, backside crosser was wide open as well). Maybe he was the 2nd read, but IMO it was pretty similar to a levels concept where it's a half or 1/3 field read and you take the underneath and you read both depending on where the LBs and safeties leverage is leaning. Finding the backside crosser, I would consider reading the defense. Of course, he made the right throw, so this isn't a knock. Just my 2 cents.

 

Also the Pettis TD, I wouldn't call a "read" necessarily. It was a scramble drill play. Fields escaped the pocket and threw to the opposite of the field. Sure, he had 3 guys in his direct line of vision before flipping his hips to Pettis, but I've never questioned his ability to read defenses outside of the pocket on improvisation.

 

what made the Pettis TD special is 1) Pettis just sat down in the zone when the play blew up while the other WR's kept moving and 2) Fields athletic ability to avoid getting tackled, pivot and play catch with Pettis. They both really deserve a lot of credit for how they handled the break down. Fields lobbed that throw....all Pettis had to do was get under it, but credit Fields for finding him.

 

i do think Fields locks on to receivers and holds the ball more then I'd like, but I also feel that is something he can grow out of with more playing time and learning defenses as well as his own offense. He doesn't seem to linger as long as he did last year, at least that's my impression from last Sunday and the last preseason game

 

Nitpicky but Pettis didn't exactly sit down in the end zone... he found a wide open window when the DBs near him started cheating towards Fields anticipating a scramble. It was a defensive breakdown but he did a good job recognizing that and finding an open spot. Also he caught it at the 30 and made a pretty nice run with minimal blocking to get into the end zone so he had to do more than just get under the ball and catch it.

FWIW he didn't say he sat down in the end zone...

[minnesotacubsfan]

To my non-expert, non-all-22 having naked eye, it appears as if he is struggling to get thru reads fast enough or moving on from them too quickly at times.

 

It's hard for me to call ESB his 2nd read on that play. IMO, it was clearly set up for a blown coverage. The design of the play meant either a crosser or the overtop guy would come open (and actually, backside crosser was wide open as well). Maybe he was the 2nd read, but IMO it was pretty similar to a levels concept where it's a half or 1/3 field read and you take the underneath and you read both depending on where the LBs and safeties leverage is leaning. Finding the backside crosser, I would consider reading the defense. Of course, he made the right throw, so this isn't a knock. Just my 2 cents.

 

Also the Pettis TD, I wouldn't call a "read" necessarily. It was a scramble drill play. Fields escaped the pocket and threw to the opposite of the field. Sure, he had 3 guys in his direct line of vision before flipping his hips to Pettis, but I've never questioned his ability to read defenses outside of the pocket on improvisation.

 

what made the Pettis TD special is 1) Pettis just sat down in the zone when the play blew up while the other WR's kept moving and 2) Fields athletic ability to avoid getting tackled, pivot and play catch with Pettis. They both really deserve a lot of credit for how they handled the break down. Fields lobbed that throw....all Pettis had to do was get under it, but credit Fields for finding him.

 

i do think Fields locks on to receivers and holds the ball more then I'd like, but I also feel that is something he can grow out of with more playing time and learning defenses as well as his own offense. He doesn't seem to linger as long as he did last year, at least that's my impression from last Sunday and the last preseason game

 

Nitpicky but Pettis didn't exactly sit down in the end zone... he found a wide open window when the DBs near him started cheating towards Fields anticipating a scramble. It was a defensive breakdown but he did a good job recognizing that and finding an open spot. Also he caught it at the 30 and made a pretty nice run with minimal blocking to get into the end zone so he had to do more than just get under the ball and catch it.

 

Pettis did exactly what he should have done, when the play broke down he sat in a part of the field that left him wide open. is that better?

 

but I think they were playing a zone defense......nitpicky or not

[WrigleyField 22]

I'm still excited about Fields, but he definitely still has a lot to clean up and in 22/23, we should probably think of him as a system QB. That's fine. Lamar Jackson went from system QB to MVP in like 2 seasons. Brady was arguably a system QB for his first 5 years.

 

Just gotta see him do well in the system and grow. He still has high end potential, but he's not gonna be Mahomes who just basically never went through a serious learning curve.

 

They're gonna protect him a lot this year. That's been obvious all offseason. Lots of runs in the future.

[UMFan83]

 

what made the Pettis TD special is 1) Pettis just sat down in the zone when the play blew up while the other WR's kept moving and 2) Fields athletic ability to avoid getting tackled, pivot and play catch with Pettis. They both really deserve a lot of credit for how they handled the break down. Fields lobbed that throw....all Pettis had to do was get under it, but credit Fields for finding him.

 

i do think Fields locks on to receivers and holds the ball more then I'd like, but I also feel that is something he can grow out of with more playing time and learning defenses as well as his own offense. He doesn't seem to linger as long as he did last year, at least that's my impression from last Sunday and the last preseason game

 

Nitpicky but Pettis didn't exactly sit down in the end zone... he found a wide open window when the DBs near him started cheating towards Fields anticipating a scramble. It was a defensive breakdown but he did a good job recognizing that and finding an open spot. Also he caught it at the 30 and made a pretty nice run with minimal blocking to get into the end zone so he had to do more than just get under the ball and catch it.

 

Pettis did exactly what he should have done, when the play broke down he sat in a part of the field that left him wide open. is that better?

 

but I think they were playing a zone defense......nitpicky or not

 

my bad, reading comprehension is an issue for me at times. I read end zone.

[David]

I'm still excited about Fields, but he definitely still has a lot to clean up and in 22/23, we should probably think of him as a system QB. That's fine. Lamar Jackson went from system QB to MVP in like 2 seasons. Brady was arguably a system QB for his first 5 years.

 

Just gotta see him do well in the system and grow. He still has high end potential, but he's not gonna be Mahomes who just basically never went through a serious learning curve.

 

They're gonna protect him a lot this year. That's been obvious all offseason. Lots of runs in the future.

 

I think that's been the plan with this staff/FO. Russell Wilson same thing his first few years. Protect him by not asking him to do more than he's capable of and make it easier on him, let him progressively work on and get better at different things on a year by year basis, etc. Run the ball, play action, boots, whatever. I'm gaining confidence that Getsy is going to handle that well.

[WrigleyField 22]

I'm still excited about Fields, but he definitely still has a lot to clean up and in 22/23, we should probably think of him as a system QB. That's fine. Lamar Jackson went from system QB to MVP in like 2 seasons. Brady was arguably a system QB for his first 5 years.

 

Just gotta see him do well in the system and grow. He still has high end potential, but he's not gonna be Mahomes who just basically never went through a serious learning curve.

 

They're gonna protect him a lot this year. That's been obvious all offseason. Lots of runs in the future.

 

I think that's been the plan with this staff/FO. Russell Wilson same thing his first few years. Protect him by not asking him to do more than he's capable of and make it easier on him, let him progressively work on and get better at different things on a year by year basis, etc. Run the ball, play action, boots, whatever. I'm gaining confidence that Getsy is going to handle that well.

Yea, just have to hope Getsy gets a solid 3 years with him. But all it takes is one breakout year from Fields and hell skyrocket to the top of hot HC names.

[David]

I'm still excited about Fields, but he definitely still has a lot to clean up and in 22/23, we should probably think of him as a system QB. That's fine. Lamar Jackson went from system QB to MVP in like 2 seasons. Brady was arguably a system QB for his first 5 years.

 

Just gotta see him do well in the system and grow. He still has high end potential, but he's not gonna be Mahomes who just basically never went through a serious learning curve.

 

They're gonna protect him a lot this year. That's been obvious all offseason. Lots of runs in the future.

 

I think that's been the plan with this staff/FO. Russell Wilson same thing his first few years. Protect him by not asking him to do more than he's capable of and make it easier on him, let him progressively work on and get better at different things on a year by year basis, etc. Run the ball, play action, boots, whatever. I'm gaining confidence that Getsy is going to handle that well.

Yea, just have to hope Getsy gets a solid 3 years with him. But all it takes is one breakout year from Fields and hell skyrocket to the top of hot HC names.

 

A concern of mine, but definitely a good problem.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

Russell Wilson threw for 6500 yards and 52 TDs his first two years.

[David]

Russell Wilson threw for 6500 yards and 52 TDs his first two years.

 

They leaned heavily on Lynch and that insane defense, though. Lots of those 150-250 yard games. It was a while before they actually let Russ cook.

 

But yes, he was shockingly good quickly. Maybe a lazy comp there. The point was that managing him that way (and having that around him) allowed him to play well early, though.

[WrigleyField 22]

Russell Wilson threw for 6500 yards and 52 TDs his first two years.

TDs are kinda heavy there, but if he was averaging 3,250 yards per year that's easily a bottom quintile offense. Even when Russ did that nearly 10 years ago that's a bottom third passing yard offense (just converted a lot of passing TDs)

 

I'd say he definitely qualifies as that young QB who was intentionally protected and excelled as a system guy