Justin Fields wanted to go somewhere that fulfilled two desires. They would allow him to compete for the starting job and have a more proven history of winning. The Pittsburgh Steelers checked both boxes, so the Chicago Bears accommodated the former 1st round pick by sending him there. Unfortunately, he faces a big problem. Russell Wilson is the one he’s competing with. While the seven-time Pro Bowler isn’t the player he was a couple of years ago, he is still a far more proven passer. Also, it appears Fields still hasn’t fixed some of the primary issues with his own passing ability.
One of the primary criticisms throughout his time in Chicago was his inability to throw with good timing and anticipation. Fields was putting in work with James Everett Jr., a wide receiver trainer nicknamed “The Route God.” NFL veterans Diontae Johnson and Jarvis Landry were also in attendance. During drills, Fields was throwing several curl and hitch routes. It was here people began to notice something. Former Steelers Pro Bowl Le’Veon Bell decided to voice it aloud.
Everett quickly countered those statements, stating the seemingly late throws were due to Fields doing some progression work. It doesn’t appear to have convinced anybody, if only because three years of game action back this assessment up.
Nobody has ever denied he is a tremendous athlete with a terrific arm. The problem has been the failure to realize those two things alone don’t make great quarterbacks. You must be able to think the game out at lightning speed. That means assessing defenses pre-snap, reading coverages post-snap, and understanding where to go with the ball, all in the space of three seconds. That requires timing with his feet and knowing how to throw to the spot on the field where the receiver will be, not where he is. The ball arriving late leads to two things: either a missed opportunity for yards after the catch or a potential turnover.
People have insisted up and down for three years that Justin Fields would get there. He’d learn how to do it right. Unfortunately, this isn’t something you can learn. If it were, every quarterback could do it. There is a reason this is the hardest position to play in professional sports. The processing of information alone is massive. Fields is a smart young man. Nobody disputes that. The problem has always been he can’t think fast enough. Sadly, that is the primary reason he is where he is now.
