OT: Bears Talk - Justin Fields era begins

[CaPiTanAK]

Justin Fields is going to win the starting QB job for Week 1. Dalton has nothing on him. LOL It's a diff vibe going from Beta Trubisky to Alpha Fields.

[dice]

Justin Fields is going to win the starting QB job for Week 1. Dalton has nothing on him. LOL It's a diff vibe going from Beta Trubisky to Alpha Fields.

fun, meaningless fact: andy dalton rushed for more yards in college than justin fields did

[dice]

I think the decision on who starts Game 1 is pretty simple- whichever guy looks like he will give the Bears the best chance to win games will start. They won't start Fields just because he is held to be the future franchise QB, if Dalton looks more comfortable, is making better throws in preseason and in practice, knows the offense better, makes fewer mistakes, etc.

If Fields, OTH, is doing all those things better, then he will start Game 1 I believe.

If it is very close, then I guess that's the only time when these other factors will come in to play. But it will all come down to who they coaches think will be more likely to win games.

if it is very close, the "we didn't pay dalton to be a backup" factor comes in as well. he was signed to be a bridge QB. the team called him "QB1." apparently he was told he would start. without the "unless we draft a QB" caveat. i think that fields would have to clearly outplay him in training camp in order to start week 1

I think that's probably right. Dalton will likely get the benefit of the doubt, just to see what he's got left in the tank. If he's good, great. If he's lousy, then bring in Fields. It's much easier to go from Dalton to Fields, then to have to go from Fields back to Dalton.

management will be looking for any excuse to bring in fields, whether that be dalton struggling despite the bears winning (a la trubisky last season) or dalton playing well but the team losing. the likeliest scenario is both the team and dalton being mediocre, which is why the transition could stretch all the way to the bye week

i wonder whether the decision will be entirely nagy's...team performance is what will make or break his future in chicago, after all

[nomorezorro]

i don't know if management will be looking for an excuse to bring in fields as much as the fans will be. pace & co. are projecting an air of confidence in emphasizing patience and the long game with fields. either their jobs are more secure than it looks from the outside, or they think leading with "andy is our starter" is the best way to maximize the amount of rope they're getting from the fields pick

i would guess the one thing that's could be working in fields's favor from the outset is if nagy is eager to get a dynamic qb under center. if fields's deep ball accuracy translates from the jump, that adds a dimension to the offense that's been lacking in nagy's entire tenure here. i could see him getting tempted by that & thinking the benefits outweigh the negatives of fields's growing pains

[Chi town]

Jeff hearing Fields starting from week one.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

[dougthonus]

The Bears announcing Dalton as the starter isn't really all that meaningful.

If they announce Fields as the starter this early and he is outplayed by Dalton all summer and clearly needs more time to learn, then it would be really hard to walk it back. If they announce Dalton, and Fields ends up kicking Dalton's ass all summer, it's easy to flip it around.

They could also just leave the situation in limbo and say "we have an open competition" too, but the only announcement that would be meaningful to me is if they announced Fields as the day 1 starter. This announcement is very open to change based on what happens IMO.

I do think they'll do whatever they think is best for Fields.

[TheFinishSniper]

This is same situation with Derrick and Hinrich. Someone will get fired if Derrick doesnt eventually start if become obvious early. Doesnt matter if one has more experience if other one is true lead and dynamic to move a team to higher ceiling. If Nagy doesnt someone else will take all credits for taking that move.

[Chi town]

The data supports Fields. Brilliant read here.

https://dabearsblog.com/2021/can-justin-fields-upgrade-chicagos-qb-performance-in-2021#more-28505

[Susan]

This is easily the most media Nagy has done since he came here. He was on 670 The Score and ESPN1000 this morning.

Let Fields overtake Dalton but don't outright give him the job is the perfect way to handle it. If he's ready week 1, play em. If it's week 4, play em. No need to rush him but he's going to be the guy from day 1 I bet.

[mack2354]

I think it comes down to the offensive line more than how the QB's play. The offensive line was horrible last year and that's partly why Mitch and Foles both struggled. After they made changes to personal along the line later in the season things started to click for them and we looked better down the stretch.

You don't want Fields getting killed or having his confidence shaken early if the O-Line is playing poorly. I'd start Dalton week 1. If the line was providing great protection but Dalton was missing throws, late on passes, etc then I'd bring in Fields week 2. If the line is collapsing early and often, they aren't getting any push in the run game, etc then I'd let Dalton continue to start until the line works out the kinks.

[Dresden]

if it is very close, the "we didn't pay dalton to be a backup" factor comes in as well. he was signed to be a bridge QB. the team called him "QB1." apparently he was told he would start. without the "unless we draft a QB" caveat. i think that fields would have to clearly outplay him in training camp in order to start week 1

I think that's probably right. Dalton will likely get the benefit of the doubt, just to see what he's got left in the tank. If he's good, great. If he's lousy, then bring in Fields. It's much easier to go from Dalton to Fields, then to have to go from Fields back to Dalton.

management will be looking for any excuse to bring in fields, whether that be dalton struggling despite the bears winning (a la trubisky last season) or dalton playing well but the team losing. the likeliest scenario is both the team and dalton being mediocre, which is why the transition could stretch all the way to the bye week

i wonder whether the decision will be entirely nagy's...team performance is what will make or break his future in chicago, after all

I think mgt. will take the long view- they want what's best for the long term career of Fields. If that means sitting half a season,that's what they will lean towards. It's the fans that will be looking for any excuse to start demanding Fields start. I could see Fields clearly outplaying Dalton in the preseason, and winning the job from Day One. I could also see Dalton starting the season at #1, and then Fields coming in after the Dalton fails to produce, or throws a bunch of picks, or most likely IMO- gets hurt. In which case it will be interesting to see who goes in-Fields or Foles?

[Dresden]

I think it comes down to the offensive line more than how the QB's play. The offensive line was horrible last year and that's partly why Mitch and Foles both struggled. After they made changes to personal along the line later in the season things started to click for them and we looked better down the stretch.

You don't want Fields getting killed or having his confidence shaken early if the O-Line is playing poorly. I'd start Dalton week 1. If the line was providing great protection but Dalton was missing throws, late on passes, etc then I'd bring in Fields week 2. If the line is collapsing early and often, they aren't getting any push in the run game, etc then I'd let Dalton continue to start until the line works out the kinks.

Good point.

[Chi town]

I think it comes down to the offensive line more than how the QB's play. The offensive line was horrible last year and that's partly why Mitch and Foles both struggled. After they made changes to personal along the line later in the season things started to click for them and we looked better down the stretch.

You don't want Fields getting killed or having his confidence shaken early if the O-Line is playing poorly. I'd start Dalton week 1. If the line was providing great protection but Dalton was missing throws, late on passes, etc then I'd bring in Fields week 2. If the line is collapsing early and often, they aren't getting any push in the run game, etc then I'd let Dalton continue to start until the line works out the kinks.

I'm betting Bears will be a running team with a healthy oline and Monty Cohen tandem healthy. Our line was good when Mustipher took over at C. We get Jenkins and Daniels back. Juan Castillo just said he thinks Ifedi could be a pro bowler.

I think our line will be above average and make life easy for Fields with play action. We will make teams stop our run which will open up the field for Fields. You know Nagy can't wait to chuck it deep with Fields.

[2018C3]

Alot of guys never get the chance to shine. In college my dorm floor put together a intramural team.

Are quarterback was just some 6'3" inch former high school receiver who happened to have a rocket for a arm. He was a great athlete, and tossed perfect spirals, but the rest of our team sucked.

We also had a little 5'6" or so Italian guy at running back who had quick moves and was extremely shifty and hard to grab a flag from.

The make shift dorm room team won more games than my frat team did the following year in the same competition.

The frat team drank more, and 1/2 the guys showed up drunk or hung-over on game day. I can't blame them. as I was also one of the drunk guys who usually played on the line.

We were just a bunch of dumb slow meatheads who worked out all day, and drank almost every night.

For me. this pretty much explains my first run at college life. "Work out. Try to look good, sell plazma, and get enough money for beer and a party".

----------------------------------------------------------

I had to fail first before the real world hit me and woke me up. It wasn't until later on I got stuck at a job and made a choice to change my ways and become more serious in my study's.

Once I realized I was the problem, within just a few years I was able to turn around things really fast. I was able to pull myself out of a hole I dug for myself in less then a year.

Worked three jobs including a night shift at UPS, did all my homework during lectures, made the deans list every semester.

I interviewed at IBM consulting for a mock practice college setup interview, and told them my struggles. I said "All these other guys have it easy, I'm working three jobs. I work so I could go to school. School is secondary, and I'm still making the deans list and out performing all these other guys". IBM consulting gave me a unexpected offer I could not refuse a few days later.

I took the job, dropped my classes, and finished up later.

I had my own house and was driving a BMW by the age of 26. I did it the hard way!

[2018C3]

Also please spare the bull crap this only happened because I was white. I worked on a very diverse young team. We had four Black Americans, Three Asians. Three Middle Eastern's from both Pakistan and India. And five Europeans when we started out. Only two of the European's were US born, and three were born in other countries, Russia, Poland, and Canada.

Today I only keep in touch with two from that team. Both are my same age and although we have switched jobs, we have all pretty much hopped to the same companies and worked the majority of are careers together through recommendations. I keep in touch with the Polish guy, and one of the black guys. Both of them are very successful today. Were friends for life and have all taken vacations together.

[fleet]

Jeff hearing Fields starting from week one.

Read on Twitter

?s=20

It really sounded like Nagy backed off a little yesterday.

[ATRAIN53]

LOL

That pic was like getting the latest issue of playboy. Total fan porn.
Now we just want a full spreads.....

speaking of - you know he has sister that plays softball at UGA
https://georgiadogs.com/sports/softball/roster/jaiden-fields/5341

and his dad played Linebacker at Eastern KY and is now a cop in the ATL

I forgot that he really is pure GA boy and did originally start out as an SEC QB at Georgia, but Jake Fromm was in front of him so he transfered to OSU.

kinda funny that we draft Fields to replace Trubisky
and Trubisky is out in Buffalo now battling with Fromm to be Josh Allens backup.....

[fleet]

Nagy continuing to leave the door open when he said ‘Andy is the starter, he’ll get first team reps’.Clearly a comment about what will happen when OTAs and or maybe training camp starts, not necessarily after the season starts. If he said ‘Andy is the starter’, and left it at that, you might assume he was talking about the reg season. The part he added about first team reps makes it a statement about the now, not the future.

Ian Rappaport reported that Nagy’s prefererence is that Andy starts and plays all year. Which is stupid, but whatever. My preference was to live with Jessica Alba, which wasn’t the hand I was dealt.

[Hold That]

Nagy continuing to leave the door open when he said ‘Andy is the starter, he’ll get first team reps’.Clearly a comment about what will happen when OTAs and or maybe training camp starts, not necessarily after the season starts. If he said ‘Andy is the starter’, and left it at that, you might assume he was talking about the reg season. The part he added about first team reps makes it a statement about the now, not the future.

Ian Rappaport reported that Nagy’s prefererence is that Andy starts and plays all year. Which is stupid, but whatever. My preference was to live with Jessica Alba, which wasn’t the hand I was dealt.

Honestly feels like he wants to avoid the whole QB training camp battle and just allow Fields to naturally beat him out if fields shows he’s good enough. Plus as of right now Nagy is right in what he’s saying, Dalton gets first reps unless Justin proves during camp that needs to be revisited. But why add on more unnecessary pressure and controversy. Then you’ll have Dalton upset and his agents commenting anonymously causing friction.

[sco]

Nagy continuing to leave the door open when he said ‘Andy is the starter, he’ll get first team reps’.Clearly a comment about what will happen when OTAs and or maybe training camp starts, not necessarily after the season starts. If he said ‘Andy is the starter’, and left it at that, you might assume he was talking about the reg season. The part he added about first team reps makes it a statement about the now, not the future.

Ian Rappaport reported that Nagy’s prefererence is that Andy starts and plays all year. Which is stupid, but whatever. My preference was to live with Jessica Alba, which wasn’t the hand I was dealt.

Honestly feels like he wants to avoid the whole QB training camp battle and just allow Fields to naturally beat him out if fields shows he’s good enough. Plus as of right now Nagy is right in what he’s saying, Dalton gets first reps unless Justin proves during camp that needs to be revisited. But why add on more unnecessary pressure and controversy. Then you’ll have Dalton upset and his agents commenting anonymously causing friction.

There is no downside to having Dalton start the season and start games. If the Bears win a bunch of games and Dalton looks good, great - no rush. In all likelihood, Dalton will sputter at some point during the first half of the season. It will give Fields some time to figure stuff out, for the OLine to gel, and there won't be the pressure to "save the season" by benching Fields if he struggles.