Bears quarterback Justin Fields made it clear he wants Chicago to take the offensive training wheels off and let it rip more often.
“That’s one thing I talked to [offensive coordinator] Luke [Getsy] and coach [Matt Eberflus] about,” Fields said Wednesday, per NBC Sports Chicago’s Josh Schrock. “I felt like I was a bit too conservative during the game.”
In a 38-20 loss to the Green Bay Packers on Sunday, Fields had a decent performance, completing 24-of-37 passes for 216 yards and rushing for 59 yards on nine carries. Yet the Bears averaged a meager 4.6 yards per pass. Fields shoulders some blame for missing open throws. Yet Packers quarterback Jordan Love, excelling in his second career start, highlighted flaws in Chicago’s game plan.
“While the Bears handcuffed Fields with a stale game plan that called for a heavy dose of screens and short-game, the Packers showed belief in Love, allowing him to throw downfield,” wrote Schrock.
The strategy paid dividends for Green Bay, as the 24-year-old Love threw three touchdown passes with the Packers averaging 8.5 yards per pass.
Under the right circumstances, Fields could produce similar results. The 11th overall pick of the 2021 NFL Draft possesses solid arm strength and elite mobility, allowing him to extend plays and stretch defenses. Additionally, the Bears have weapons in the passing game, such as wide receiver DJ Moore.
So, if the Bears truly believe Fields is their franchise QB, they must place more faith in him and instill an aggressive offensive approach. Otherwise, they will stifle his potential.