It's obvious he can't read defenses. So Bears have turned him into Captain Checkdown. There was a Stat at one point in the game where Fields had completed 8 passes on 3rd down. Only 4 resulted in 1st downs.
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This is exactly it. There was a point at the end of the game where they had to complete legitimate passes and he stood there patting the ball completely confused. He eventually completed one easy pass for 20 yards. I think it was the one on his passing chart that was down the field. He is just completely baffled by NFL defense.
Wow, last night's game was a shit show. We shouldn't have a problem beating either of those teams if they continue to play like last night.
Is it that Fields is slow reading the field or that the coaches are so afraid of him making a mistake that they have turned him into a scared kid behind the line ?
To many coaches telling you to NOT MAKE A MISTAKE will kill your confidence and make you look lost. Fields threw down field a lot a OSU. Now he looks nothing like that qb. Paralysis by analysis.
It took Lamaar Jackson a little longer than others. He has improved a TON as a passer. Fields does look bad, and I have no idea of his work ethic or really the coaching staff in Chicago. But like you said, the physical tools are all there. Its a shame he can't put it together enough to even look semi competent.
Fields is a slow processer and a big game hunter. It's why he gets sacked a lot. He had a very good OL and receivers around him at OSU, and I suspect the offense was not nearly as complicated as anything on the pro level.
I think those factors helped mask deficiencies in his game, and those will get exposed in the NFL. Disguised coverage confuses him and the pass rush makes him nervous.
To be clear, I'm not saying he's dumb, being a pro QB relies upon very fast mental processing and few can do it.
The question is whether he can be coached into reading a defense faster or not, I suspect experience will help but ultimately he probably needs a scheme that will meet him halfway... hence the short throws.
Being Checkdown Charlie can move the chains and win a few games -- until teams figure you out on film and squat on the routes.
I think Dobbs just had some bad luck with tipped balls, but he also had some poor throws and terrible decisions where he just didn't see the defender. They've done better with him that I thought they would, they're 6-6 and have a bye to figure things out and get Jefferson back.
That was a pretty terrible game though. Neither one seemed capable of winning.
I get the sense that Fields isn't able to read a defense and know who will be open against the defense before they're open. He needs to spot an open guy and then fire it. He has all the physical tools. So did Trubisky. He just can't break down a defense with his mind, and doesn't look like he can move a safety with his eyes.