You know, when you watch Justin Fields play, it’s never really boring. Now think about that for a second.
There is this raw, electric energy that just grabs your attention, even if you’re not a die-hard fan of his team.
He’s got this blend of speed and arm talent that you just don’t see very often, and honestly, it makes you wonder what could have been if things had gone perfectly differently for him in Chicago.
He’s the kind of player that forces you to take a side, really.
You either love his potential or you hate his decision-making.
There isn’t much middle ground with Fields.
Table of Contents
- The Ohio State “What If”
- Chicago Bears: A Hall of Fame Bust in the Making?
- Trading Up for the Future
- The Pittsburgh Steelers Transition
- Why He Struggles with Consistency
- The Double-Edged Sword of Mobility
- Final Thoughts on the Quarterback
The Ohio State “What If”
So, let’s rewind a bit.
Before he was throwing for 300 yards and running for another 100, he was under center at Ohio State.
And man, did he look like a different animal there.
You remember that 2019 season, right? He put up video game numbers, throwing touchdowns and running them in himself like he was playing Madden 20.
It was honestly mind-blowing.
But then, he got benched for Justin Burrow. Oddly enough,
Or maybe it was Dwayne Haskins? It gets a little fuzzy because that whole transition was messy. Oddly enough,
But looking back at those tape, you can see exactly what scouts saw.
He wasn’t just a runner; he had this uncanny ability to extend plays with his legs and then deliver a strike downfield.
It’s actually kind of sad thinking about it now.
He showed flashes of brilliance that were undeniable, but the team management at the time made some questionable moves.
He went through that whole period of development, or lack thereof, in Columbus.
And then, the NFL draft happened.
Everyone wanted to see what he would do against top competition.
He did okay in the Senior Bowl, but you could tell he was raw.
His mechanics were a little weird, he was trying to force throws into tight windows, and sometimes he just held the ball too long.
But that athleticism? That was undeniable.
It was the kind of stuff that makes general managers stay up at night.
A Messy Draft Night
But then came the draft day trade.
The Chicago Bears trading up to get him.
It felt like a signal that the franchise was all in on him.
They traded away a lot of assets, basically mortgaging their future to get a quarterback who was still learning the game.
I remember watching that press conference and thinking, wow, that’s a lot of pressure for a rookie. Oddly enough,
You gotta wonder if that kind of hype helps or hurts a young player.
It definitely didn’t help him in year one.
He was thrown into the fire immediately, and he wasn’t ready.
He looked overwhelmed, rattled, and just plain lost out there on the field.
Chicago Bears: A Hall of Fame Bust in the Making?
Okay, let’s talk about Chicago.
It was a rough ride for a while, wasn’t it? You have Matt Nagy as a coach, and then you have this massive roster turnover.
It’s hard to build anything when players are leaving left and right.
Justin had to deal with a ton of injuries, too. Oddly enough,
His shoulder got messed up, his hand got hurt, and he just couldn’t get into a rhythm.
It was frustrating to watch, especially if you were hoping he would be the guy.
You see these highlight reels where he scrambles for 40 yards, and then the next play he’s throwing an interception because he’s trying to make a hero play.
And then there’s the whole offensive line situation.
It’s like, you can be the fastest guy in the world, but if nobody is protecting you, you’re gonna get hit.
A lot.
Fields took a beating in Chicago.
It probably messed with his confidence a little bit.
I mean, who wouldn’t be shaken after getting sacked like 50 times in a season? You start to doubt your own ability.
You start to second-guess your reads.
It’s a vicious cycle.
And then, just when you think he’s starting to click, a season-ending injury happens.
It feels like the Bears just never gave him a real chance to succeed.
It’s almost like they were rushing him.
Trading Up for the Future
Trading up in the draft is a huge risk.
You’re basically betting the farm on one player.
The Bears gave up a ton to move up and get him. But there’s a catch.
They could have stayed put and taken Zach Wilson or Trey Lance or whoever was there.
But they wanted Fields.
They saw that ceiling.
That high ceiling that you just know is there, even if his floor is a little bit shaky.
It was a bold move, and it paid off in the short term with some great plays, but the long term results? They’re still up in the air. Here’s the interesting part.
It’s a gamble that still hasn’t paid off big time yet.
The Pittsburgh Steelers Transition
Now he’s in Pittsburgh.
A new team, new stadium, new fans.
It’s a fresh start, which is exactly what he needs. Here’s the interesting part.
The Steelers have a different kind of culture, too.
They’re a grind-it-out team, a blue-collar team.
They value toughness and physical play.
That suits Fields pretty well, honestly.
He’s a tough kid.
He’s not afraid to take a hit to make a play. And this is where things get interesting.
But they also have Kenny Pickett.
That makes things complicated.
You have two quarterbacks now, and you gotta figure out who the starter is.
I think it’s pretty clear that Fields is the backup right now.
Or at least, that’s what the front office is saying.
But you never know how these things play out.
Injuries happen, and when they do, you have to be ready.
Fields has to sit and learn.
He has to watch from the sideline and study the playbook.
It’s not easy being a backup, especially one that was a first-round pick.
There’s pressure to perform, but there’s also pressure to be patient.
I think he’s handling it okay.
He seems like a guy who wants to learn and get better.
Why He Struggles with Consistency
Let’s be real for a second.
The biggest issue with Fields isn’t his arm strength or his speed.
It’s his decision-making.
And that’s something you can’t teach, or can you? He still tends to hold the ball too long.
He tries to make the spectacular play instead of the safe, smart play.
It’s like he’s addicted to the highlight reel.
He wants to be the guy who runs for a touchdown, not the guy who throws a check-down to the running back.
- Too much hesitation in the pocket.
- Tendency to force passes into coverage.
- Inaccurate deep throws.
- Lack of touch on short passes.
So, what’s the fix? I think he needs to simplify things.
He needs to trust his protection.
He needs to realize that throwing the ball away is a good play.
It’s frustrating to watch, but it’s also something that can be fixed with experience.
He’s young.
He’s only 24 or 25 years old.
He has plenty of time to figure it out.
It’s just going to take some patience and some good coaching.
The Double-Edged Sword of Mobility
And then there’s the mobility.
It’s his biggest asset, but it’s also his biggest liability.
Because he can run, defenses have to account for him.
They have to bring extra pressure or blitz him.
That opens up holes in the passing game. Oddly enough,
But it also makes him vulnerable.
If he fumbles, it’s a disaster.
If he gets hurt running the ball, it’s a major loss for the team.
It’s a high-risk, high-reward style of play.
You gotta love it, but you also gotta be careful.
It reminds me of Michael Vick in his prime.
He was exciting to watch, but he was also turnover-prone and injury-prone.
Fields is a little more accurate than Vick was, but he’s also a little less mobile.
It’s a weird comparison, I know, but it’s the only one that really comes to mind.
He’s a unique player, that’s for sure.
You don’t see many guys with his combination of size and speed.
He’s a dual-threat QB in the truest sense of the word.
Final Thoughts on the Quarterback
At the end of the day, I think Justin Fields is still a work in progress.
He’s got the tools to be a star, but he’s missing that finishing touch.
He needs to become a smarter player.
He needs to trust his coaches and his teammates.
He needs to learn how to play within the system instead of trying to break the system.
It’s going to take time, but I think he’s going to be okay.
He’s got a lot of talent, and he’s got a lot of heart.
I just hope he gets the opportunity to prove it.
I hope he finds a team that really believes in him and lets him play.
I hope he gets the offensive line he deserves. Oddly enough,
I hope he gets the weapons he needs. Here’s the interesting part.
Because when all the factors are right, the kid can play.
He really can.
He’s got that certain something that makes you think he can do anything.
So, keep watching, keep hoping, and see what happens next.
It’s going to be a fun ride, I can tell you that.
Here’s the interesting part.
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