Fields Thread, Secondary Issues, Goodbye Heinz, Latest on Watson, and Other Bears Bullets

Jul 19, 2022

Kyle Schwarber taking a dive against Albert Pujols in last night’s Home Run Derby hasn’t been seen since Obi-Wan Kenobi took one against Darth Vader at the Death Star. And maybe that’s fitting because, like the former planet-demolishing, not moon, Dodgers Stadium is impossible to get out of after a game.

Nevertheless, HR Derby remains a treat. Now, if we can get the NBA dunk contest to get on that level again…

Here is an interesting thread on Justin Fields. It is an eye-opener for a handful of reasons. You can browse through the entire 16-tweet behemoth here. But what grabs my attention is that there is some stuff on the exhilarating end of the spectrum:

He also becomes a better passer on the run because footwork is not an issue.

Watch him create space, then put it only where his TE can get it, on the run, across his body.

This also makes it easier on the offensive lineman, who just has to direct Bosa inside.

[11/16] pic.twitter.com/PyNCQIdnGN— SharpClarke (@SharpClarkeNFL) July 18, 2022

This is the kind of stuff that allows you to dream big on Fields. His ability to make plays with the likes of Jesse James because of arm talent and athleticism is special. It is moments like the one above that make you understand why he believes he can succeed with whatever receivers Ryan Poles puts on the roster.

But with the good comes the bad. And this is a bit unnerving:

You can see it here, too. Despite the play working, Fields was late on this throw because his footwork and mechanics make it very difficult to anticipate and be ready to make the throw on time.

Not a disaster, but a consistent flaw.

[3/16] pic.twitter.com/FjFkC6pQfA— SharpClarke (@SharpClarkeNFL) July 18, 2022

And in this portion of the thread, you can understand why the Bears were driving home mechanical tweaks earlier in the offseason. And why it’s been essential to see Fields working on his game independently away from the team. You won’t get much pushback from me if you’re someone who believes the Bears needed to do more to surround Fields with better blocking and pass-catching talent this offseason. But Fields’ pocket abilities need to improve in order for all of this to work the way we want it moving forward. Full stop.

Heads up! New installments of the Bears’ “Meet the Rookies” webisodes are coming:

https://twitter.com/ChicagoBears/status/1549182227879145472

Kyler Gordon, Jaquan Brisker, and Velus Jones Jr. were the Bears’ first three picks in the 2022 NFL Draft. I have high hopes for each of these players, and I’m sure I’m not alone. Gordon and Brisker figure to be starting in the secondary for a team whose defensive backfield was ick last year. And Jones is the highest-profile new receiver with the most upside. Jones has a locker next to Justin Fields, which we can only hope marks the beginning of a beautiful relationship. The Bears tend to do well with these, so I’m looking forward to the rollout.

Warren Sharp’s football analysis does a decent job in marrying numbers with what you see with your eyes. But I’m hoping Ryan McCrystal’s defensive backfield rankings at Sharp’s site aren’t predictive, as the Bears rank 30th on the list. Only the Giants and Texans (a pair of Bears opponents) check-in below Chicago’s football team. McCrystal isn’t alone in being low on the Bears at this point, as PFF’s Michael Renner ranks the Bears’ secondary 31st. Double ouch.

If it is any consolation to Bears fans, it feels as if these low rankings are rooted in the uncertainty that comes with the Bears having so many unknowns in the secondary. Brisker and Gordon are rookies. Both have tremendous upside and could be impact starters upon arrival. Even McCrystal believes the rankings will prove to have underrated the Bears if Brisker and Gordon are immediate impact players. However, expecting that from the get-go would be a mistake. There will be some growing pains in the defensive backfield with youngsters in the secondary. But the growing pains will come from players whose talent and upside can (hopefully) eventually make us forget about the tough times when things get good.

I can’t wait to watch these to get after balls in the air:

A quality read over at Windy City Gridiron from Jack Silverstein, who writes that even though Steve McMichael won’t get into the Hall of Fame this year, his candidacy remains strong. Jack does a beautiful job explaining what’s next in this journey:

The only alternative name I’ll call this stadium is The House Where Justin Fields Got Hosed Out of a Road Win (for obvious reasons):

The Ketchup Bottles have been removed. @ScottDanka pic.twitter.com/T6aepPz8Mm
— Bob Pompeani (@KDPomp) July 18, 2022

Oh, so the Deshaun Watson situation has a chance to drag on and get even uglier?

Another note: If Watson ends up incurring the full-year suspension the #NFL is seeking – either from the arbitrator or a league appeal of Robinson’s decision – I’m told his camp and the @NFLPA have already made the decision to file a lawsuit against the league in federal court. https://t.co/KdwXJjhBz3— Charles Robinson (@CharlesRobinson) July 18, 2022

The intent of Deshaun Watson to sue over a full-season suspension may never become reality. The current thinking is that Judge Robinson's punishment will land in the range of 2-8 games. https://t.co/wtHDhP6DL7— ProFootballTalk (@ProFootballTalk) July 19, 2022

Colleen Kane (Tribune) reports the North Carolina woman who was suing Bears defensive lineman Mario Edwards (which you might recall stems from an incident that happened during the 2020 season) is voluntarily dismissed her complaint earlier in July. However, he lawyer said she plans to re-file later. We’ll continue monitoring this situation.

I definitely understood this reference:

“Keepers are due on August 14th” pic.twitter.com/fkoycDFjXO
— Talkin’ Baseball (@TalkinBaseball_) July 18, 2022

Sure, I’m a traditionalist when it comes to a great many football things. But part of me wishes the Bears had the audacity to modernize their uniforms. At minimum, a cool alternate would go so hard for this franchise:

https://twitter.com/AdamSchefter/status/1549381393058340865

I’ve been preparing myself for a Willson Contreras trade for nearly a year. Not because I want him to go, but there has been a sense of inevitability surrounding the possibility of a deal. In any case, it will still be gutting to see him go — especially when he says stuff like this:

Willson Contreras “Just Has a Feeling” This Won’t Be His Last All-Star Game As a Chicago Cubhttps://t.co/dmMrJWUmsk pic.twitter.com/31mnUdUkay— Bleacher Nation (@BleacherNation) July 19, 2022

Chicago sports fans are going through it right now. But no one more than Blackhawks fans, who in addition to watching a teardown take place right now, they know the rebuild will be televised without one of their favorite broadcasters:

Eddie Olczyk: “I Will Die a #Blackhawks But This Was My Decision” https://t.co/GvajwyNcx3 pic.twitter.com/d7MBx3iuXF
— Bleacher Nation Blackhawks (@BN_Blackhawks) July 18, 2022

written by

Luis C. Medina

Luis C. Medina, who you can find on Twitter at lcm1986, has been covering the Chicago Bears at Bleacher Nation since 2017. Since then, he has written about 3 head coaches, 5 play-callers, and 11 starting quarterbacks. Previously, Luis wrote about the Cubs and MLB at BN (2015-16) and worked in the Chicago Tribune sports department (2011-16). He also co-hosted a Cubs postgame show, Outside the Ivy, in 2019.

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