Bears week 3: Lovie returns noon on CBS

[UMFan83]

Who would you all have liked Poles to sign in the offseason? Allen Robinson was gone, wanted nothing to do with Chicago. Cincy picked up some o-line help, but Burrows is leading the league in sacks. Now that the dust has settled a bit, i'm not sure what Poles could have done other then draft a WR in the second. Its the most glaring move I'd say was a mistake so far

 

We never planned on making the playoffs but somehow still hoped for 25/32 350 3td games form Fields? Idk, that seems ...odd. I'm more than willing to let Fields figure it out in real time over the next 13 games.

 

With regards to the WRs, they've sucked but we also have to remember that Velus Jones and N'Keal Harry have yet to play. Velus was most likely their 3rd (maybe 2nd) WR. I'm not sure what Harry would have brought to the table but he was a volume option with possible upside.

 

Here were the possible WR acquisitions if the Bears decided to spend more of their focus on the position:

 

* = Still a Free Agent right now

Bold = Signed a 1 year deal

 

Odell Beckham*

Will Fuller*

TY Hilton*

Jarvis Landry

Russell Gage

JuJu Smith-Schuster

Christian Kirk

Julio Jones

DJ Chark

Marquez Valdez-Scantling

Jamison Crowder

 

Quite a few players that we could have fit into the 2022 team that would be upgrades over Pringle or whoever the WR2 technically is and wouldn't have hurt our cap beyond this season. That said, every single one of those 1 year deal guys besides DJ Chark signed with a contender so maybe they would have never been available to the Bears without overpaying, but just saying there were reasonable options out there.

 

 

why is Odell Beckham still out there?

 

Have to assume there's concern he'll miss the entire season. Teams are probably watching his rehab closely. OBJ is also likely waiting for a contender to have a need and sign him. He won't get a long term deal this year so he's probably hoping to come back later in the year, show he's healthy and then parlay into a long term deal. Could be wrong though.

[minnesotacubsfan]

thats right, I forgot OBJ was hurt in the SB, so he was really never an option to help the Bears this year

[gflore34]

Who would you all have liked Poles to sign in the offseason? Allen Robinson was gone, wanted nothing to do with Chicago. Cincy picked up some o-line help, but Burrows is leading the league in sacks. Now that the dust has settled a bit, i'm not sure what Poles could have done other then draft a WR in the second. Its the most glaring move I'd say was a mistake so far

 

We never planned on making the playoffs but somehow still hoped for 25/32 350 3td games form Fields? Idk, that seems ...odd. I'm more than willing to let Fields figure it out in real time over the next 13 games.

 

With regards to the WRs, they've sucked but we also have to remember that Velus Jones and N'Keal Harry have yet to play. Velus was most likely their 3rd (maybe 2nd) WR. I'm not sure what Harry would have brought to the table but he was a volume option with possible upside.

 

Here were the possible WR acquisitions if the Bears decided to spend more of their focus on the position:

 

* = Still a Free Agent right now

Bold = Signed a 1 year deal

 

Odell Beckham*

Will Fuller*

TY Hilton*

Jarvis Landry

Russell Gage

JuJu Smith-Schuster

Christian Kirk

Julio Jones

DJ Chark

Marquez Valdez-Scantling

Jamison Crowder

 

Quite a few players that we could have fit into the 2022 team that would be upgrades over Pringle or whoever the WR2 technically is and wouldn't have hurt our cap beyond this season. That said, every single one of those 1 year deal guys besides DJ Chark signed with a contender so maybe they would have never been available to the Bears without overpaying, but just saying there were reasonable options out there.

 

Not a single one of them could do any more or any less than what the Bears are getting out of their present receiving corps. People are getting open, are open, Fields isn't executing, it's all on him right now.

[UMFan83]

Who would you all have liked Poles to sign in the offseason? Allen Robinson was gone, wanted nothing to do with Chicago. Cincy picked up some o-line help, but Burrows is leading the league in sacks. Now that the dust has settled a bit, i'm not sure what Poles could have done other then draft a WR in the second. Its the most glaring move I'd say was a mistake so far

 

We never planned on making the playoffs but somehow still hoped for 25/32 350 3td games form Fields? Idk, that seems ...odd. I'm more than willing to let Fields figure it out in real time over the next 13 games.

 

With regards to the WRs, they've sucked but we also have to remember that Velus Jones and N'Keal Harry have yet to play. Velus was most likely their 3rd (maybe 2nd) WR. I'm not sure what Harry would have brought to the table but he was a volume option with possible upside.

 

Here were the possible WR acquisitions if the Bears decided to spend more of their focus on the position:

 

* = Still a Free Agent right now

Bold = Signed a 1 year deal

 

Odell Beckham*

Will Fuller*

TY Hilton*

Jarvis Landry

Russell Gage

JuJu Smith-Schuster

Christian Kirk

Julio Jones

DJ Chark

Marquez Valdez-Scantling

Jamison Crowder

 

Quite a few players that we could have fit into the 2022 team that would be upgrades over Pringle or whoever the WR2 technically is and wouldn't have hurt our cap beyond this season. That said, every single one of those 1 year deal guys besides DJ Chark signed with a contender so maybe they would have never been available to the Bears without overpaying, but just saying there were reasonable options out there.

 

Not a single one of them could do any more or any less than what the Bears are getting out of their present receiving corps. People are getting open, are open, Fields isn't executing, it's all on him right now.

 

Someone like Jarvis Landry is an elite route runner and solid possession receiver. If Fields' issues are processing speed and hesitation to throw, would Fields feel more confident in pulling the trigger on a pass to someone with over 700 NFL receptions? Does he feel confident that Dante Pettis is going to be able to adjust on the fly to an inaccurate pass and make a reception instead of a possible INT? Are these concerns things that cost Fields the extra milliseconds of processing time before getting off a pass? Would Fields feel more comfortable throwing to Julio Jones in a 1-on-1 situation knowing that he's made hundreds of millions of dollars catching those exact passes?

 

Obviously there is no way to know if what I'm saying matters at all. But Fields needs more confidence and I think having at least 1 more established WR on the roster would have helped with that.

[Wilson A2000]

[Have a seat, Neifi]

Our quest to reach 150 passing yards in a single game is looking up!

[squally1313]

Our quest to reach 150 passing yards in a single game is looking up!

A couple of those games might not have 150 passing yards in total.

[UMFan83]

 

Probably just meaningless “inside info” from Halas Hall. Even that Bears insider blogger @DaBearsBlog has turned on Fields though it’s hard to know what are his own thoughts and what he is echoing from what he’s heard.

[Tryptamine]

Fields rankings

 

YPG 99 (32nd)

 

QBR 23 (31st)

 

Rating 50.0 (32nd)

[Have a seat, Neifi]

 

Probably just meaningless “inside info” from Halas Hall. Even that Bears insider blogger @DaBearsBlog has turned on Fields though it’s hard to know what are his own thoughts and what he is echoing from what he’s heard.

Bears ownership wouldn't know good QB play if it was sitting in their lap, so nothing about that quote surprises me.

[raw]

 

Probably just meaningless “inside info” from Halas Hall. Even that Bears insider blogger @DaBearsBlog has turned on Fields though it’s hard to know what are his own thoughts and what he is echoing from what he’s heard.

 

Those were his thoughts yesterday, live response to the game. But yeah, that's probably standard propaganda after a game like yesterday. I could say, "I told you so" that the team hasn't decided Fields isn't the guy, but it's meaningless like you said.

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

Probably just meaningless “inside info” from Halas Hall. Even that Bears insider blogger @DaBearsBlog has turned on Fields though it’s hard to know what are his own thoughts and what he is echoing from what he’s heard.

Bears ownership wouldn't know good QB play if it was sitting in their lap, so nothing about that quote surprises me.

 

this is totally false.

 

they play A-ARON 2xs a year

[WrigleyField 22]

Who would you all have liked Poles to sign in the offseason? Allen Robinson was gone, wanted nothing to do with Chicago. Cincy picked up some o-line help, but Burrows is leading the league in sacks. Now that the dust has settled a bit, i'm not sure what Poles could have done other then draft a WR in the second. Its the most glaring move I'd say was a mistake so far

 

We never planned on making the playoffs but somehow still hoped for 25/32 350 3td games form Fields? Idk, that seems ...odd. I'm more than willing to let Fields figure it out in real time over the next 13 games.

There were plenty of WR options out there in FA better than Pringle.

 

One of those was widely mocked by fans due to his perceived overpay and he is one of the best WR in the game through three games.

 

There were absolutely limits to what the Bears could do (they weren't gonna make a blockbuster trade and you never wanna narrow in on one position in the draft), but they treated FA like... well like most first time GMs treat FA. But there was powder there (and now all roles over into an almost unusable amount in 2023). So I'm not lost as to what's occurring, but it wasn't the best foot forward with Fields.

 

Even in that context where, "okay I know they're gonna be a team that leada with the run" and the last two games look like they're treating Fields like he's a rookie 6th rounder from Conference USA.

 

who were the WR's that were available, especially the one that was mocked? Not being argumentative, I just dont recall them.

The specific example of the one that was widely criticized league wide was Christian Kirk. And he will likely come down to earth a little, but he was a legit threat that most probably pegged in the 11-14ish range per year and went for 18M, but with the way the WR went after considering what teams gave up in picks for other guys, it was/is a mild overpay. But a mild overpay who can bail out your O a bit, isn't really any overpay? Sure at some point you run against cap constraints, but that usually is a total non factor until the day you have to pay a QB top 5 money.

 

Amari is the one trade candidate that went for a price that was probably worth the risk. I can understand the Bears weren't in position to part with 1s for Hill, Adams, and Brown. But that's looking like a great trade that mostly just cost CLE money.

 

There were some other interesting FA. None that have popped like Kirk, but some of them are also stuck in lower roles, whereas they would have had a chance to step up in Chicago. And you could/should have still signed a Pringle with another mid level signing.

[UMFan83]

I'm sure everyone just wants to move on from the performance but damn

 

(this is not a video, I just took a screenshot from a video, so no need to click on the play button)

 

3rd and 6, Fields is intercepted throwing to Mooney in triple coverage. Pettis is completely open on the other side of the field and probably has a TD if the throw is on the mark. Kmet is also open as his checkdown on the side of the field he is looking at. Not sure if Kmet gets a 1st if the ball goes to him but certainly seems like a better option than Mooney with defenders all over him. It's possible the coaches are telling Fields to just focus on one side of the field which is why Pettis goes unnoticed. But plays like this are there to make.

[Tim]

I'm sure everyone just wants to move on from the performance but damn

 

(this is not a video, I just took a screenshot from a video, so no need to click on the play button)

 

3rd and 6, Fields is intercepted throwing to Mooney in triple coverage. Pettis is completely open on the other side of the field and probably has a TD if the throw is on the mark. Kmet is also open as his checkdown on the side of the field he is looking at. Not sure if Kmet gets a 1st if the ball goes to him but certainly seems like a better option than Mooney with defenders all over him. It's possible the coaches are telling Fields to just focus on one side of the field which is why Pettis goes unnoticed. But plays like this are there to make.

Rewind that a few frames to the point where the target decision is made. It's still bad, but it is much less clear than it is in this moment.

[raw]

That was similar to the other interception, except the 1st could have still been completed with a good throw. Guys are running wide open on the outside because Fields is staring down receivers in the middle of the field. I almost wonder if they are preaching to him to look middle, because he almost never threw in the middle of the field last year or in college. Most of his damage, and attempts for that matter, is done outside the numbers. The windows in the middle of the field close very fast in the NFL. They close even faster if the QB doesn't look off safeties. Then throw in that Fields is late to pull the trigger on damn near everything at this point, and you get turnovers on 10% of your throws.

[UMFan83]

I'm sure everyone just wants to move on from the performance but damn

 

(this is not a video, I just took a screenshot from a video, so no need to click on the play button)

 

3rd and 6, Fields is intercepted throwing to Mooney in triple coverage. Pettis is completely open on the other side of the field and probably has a TD if the throw is on the mark. Kmet is also open as his checkdown on the side of the field he is looking at. Not sure if Kmet gets a 1st if the ball goes to him but certainly seems like a better option than Mooney with defenders all over him. It's possible the coaches are telling Fields to just focus on one side of the field which is why Pettis goes unnoticed. But plays like this are there to make.

Rewind that a few frames to the point where the target decision is made. It's still bad, but it is much less clear than it is in this moment.

 

I do see a safety shading towards Pettis but appears to be setting his feet at the middle of the field to pick up Mooney just as he's leaving the frame. Probable that he's reading Fields' eyes, which is something that would be great if he could use to his advantage to free receivers. As for Kmet, he looks plain open as a checkdown as soon as he comes off his block. Again he might be stopped short if Fields decides to throw to him, but certainly better than throwing to Mooney there, especially given the game situation (tie game in the 4th quarter)

[raw]

That was similar to the other interception, except the 1st could have still been completed with a good throw. Guys are running wide open on the outside because Fields is staring down receivers in the middle of the field. I almost wonder if they are preaching to him to look middle, because he almost never threw in the middle of the field last year or in college. Most of his damage, and attempts for that matter, is done outside the numbers. The windows in the middle of the field close very fast in the NFL. They close even faster if the QB doesn't look off safeties. Then throw in that Fields is late to pull the trigger on damn near everything at this point, and you get turnovers on 10% of your throws.

 

Thinking about this, part of this is what gives me hope. I think this is similar to how Fields played against Cleveland and other games early in the year (Tampa). Things are just too fast for him right now or his brain is working too slow. He's not anticipating at all. Anticipation throws aren't really his thing, but he has to understand leverage and where safeties are. Maybe between the throwing mechanics, footwork, and new playbook he's just got too much going on right now. IDK, not trying to make excuses for him, but most of his issues seem like things that will come with experience and it seems like last year's experiences don't really matter at this point.

[Have a seat, Neifi]

 

Not great, Bob.

[minnesotacubsfan]

That was similar to the other interception, except the 1st could have still been completed with a good throw. Guys are running wide open on the outside because Fields is staring down receivers in the middle of the field. I almost wonder if they are preaching to him to look middle, because he almost never threw in the middle of the field last year or in college. Most of his damage, and attempts for that matter, is done outside the numbers. The windows in the middle of the field close very fast in the NFL. They close even faster if the QB doesn't look off safeties. Then throw in that Fields is late to pull the trigger on damn near everything at this point, and you get turnovers on 10% of your throws.

 

Thinking about this, part of this is what gives me hope. I think this is similar to how Fields played against Cleveland and other games early in the year (Tampa). Things are just too fast for him right now or his brain is working too slow. He's not anticipating at all. Anticipation throws aren't really his thing, but he has to understand leverage and where safeties are. Maybe between the throwing mechanics, footwork, and new playbook he's just got too much going on right now. IDK, not trying to make excuses for him, but most of his issues seem like things that will come with experience and it seems like last year's experiences don't really matter at this point.

 

I think Fields #1 issue is reading defenses and anticipating what they will do. He has eyes, he isnt a midget, so all the wide open WR's have to be things he SHOULD see, just not throwing to them because....(?)

 

I dont believe that (?) is because he's and idiot or somehow blind, so to me its that he isnt understanding what the D is doing in front of him. I hope to god its a matter of him getting to a point where it suddenly clicks for him. An analogy for me is learning a new rendering program. The user face will frustrate the hell out of me; what I think i set up and the tools I think I am using give me an unexpected result. But after a point, it clicks, things make sense in terms of where the right tools are and what they do, and I get much better at it almost instantly. That can happen weather or not I have training or study via LinkedIn Learning, sometimes it just takes awhile to understand how the programming works. The hard part for Fields is the Not For Long league may not give him enough time for it to click...or it just never clicks...but if it does he'll be fine. Thats why I say give him some time, keep working with him. We've got the whole damn season

Edited September 26, 2022 by minnesotacubsfan

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

Not great, Bob.

 

First drop back of the game, iirc. I was glad it worked out on a long run, but it looked so bad even live.

[Hairyducked Idiot]

 

Not great, Bob.

 

First drop back of the game, iirc. I was glad it worked out on a long run, but it looked so bad even live.

[minnesotacubsfan]

 

Not great, Bob.

 

 

"not sure what he;'s looking at" - he isnt looking AT the WR's, hes looking at the D! and he's confused by it

[jersey cubs fan]

I'm sure everyone just wants to move on from the performance but damn

 

(this is not a video, I just took a screenshot from a video, so no need to click on the play button)

 

3rd and 6, Fields is intercepted throwing to Mooney in triple coverage. Pettis is completely open on the other side of the field and probably has a TD if the throw is on the mark. Kmet is also open as his checkdown on the side of the field he is looking at. Not sure if Kmet gets a 1st if the ball goes to him but certainly seems like a better option than Mooney with defenders all over him. It's possible the coaches are telling Fields to just focus on one side of the field which is why Pettis goes unnoticed. But plays like this are there to make.

This photo shows 8 defenders.

[raw]

 

Not great, Bob.

 

 

"not sure what he;'s looking at" - he isnt looking AT the WR's, hes looking at the D! and he's confused by it

 

I'm guessing he looked at that nearest CB, but I think he does jump the underneath route probably later than Fields had hoped. But even if that's the case, there's no reason not to throw to the underneath guy once you hit the end of your drop. If he threw it quick enough, nobody can say that corner route is open because the CB is kinda in no-mans land. He's literally covering nobody for a bit and a throw can be made in front or behind him. Neither is not a real option here.