BearFan PHX

to Justin's credit, I think he got misinterpreted with his coaching answer. On the surface, when he said "coaching" it sounds like he means "the coaches" but i think he meant something else. I think he meant "coaching points, all the things Im supposed to think about during a play" - so that wasnt a dig at coaches, but I think an honest answer to say what Ive been saying too, that reading defenses and understanding the plays quickly enough is difficult for him. I like Justin as a person, and he has amazing athletic and improvisational skills. The one thing I've said is missing, and this goes back to all the pre draft college analysis of him too, is that he doesnt process quickly enough. Hes not stupid, it's just incredibly hard to do this in tempo. Only about 20 QBs in the world can do it at the NFL level right now. If you give him, or pretty much any QB 6 seconds to throw, they are all Hall of Famers. if you give anyone less than 2 seconds, no one can make it work reliably. It's that 2 and a half vs 4 seconds where it all happens. Part of why we think Fields hasnt had a clean pocket is because he is taking that extra three quarters of a second to process. Another part of the problem is that receivers come out of their breaks, and thats usually the moment when they are going to be the most open. If you dont pull the trigger then, everything goes to hell. I also said that I FINALLY saw Fields make a few of those throws on time in this game. I'm not including the first drive of games where plays are pre-scripted - because QBs get a chance to really think about those plays before the game and do some "pre reading" Anyway, all of this to say that when Fields said that "coaching" was slowing him down, I think he was just saying what I've been saying about him, and I dont think he was criticizing the coaches at all.

Crosby and Sweat would be amazing, but in terms of pacing your salary cap, it's more likely we take a guy like Dallas Turner or Laiatu Latu with our second first rounder. That way as one gets older the other is peaking, and their contracts are not both coming due huge at the same time?

I had really never seen him read and throw on time before. Its a small sample - Im FAR from convinced, but it was a flash, and thats good.

ever since Sweat came in, they have the pieces to play very well.

true. Im sure DJ likes JF - hes a very likeable leader. I just dont think any of these guys tells the straight unvarnished truth, and I wouldnt want them to anyway? I also think around the league, players see how good Justin is at what he does best, a baller, an incredible athlete doing eye opening things. So they probably all love him. And if he adds a consistent read and throw in rhythm, he will/would be a VERY good QB.

IF the Bears win out AND WIN a playoff game, which I believe is "possible" if Fields makes reads, then I suppose that Fields and Eberflus could be back. Depending on how all that looked, I might even be willing to say I was premature in judging Fields and Eberflus. If they win, rather than lucking into wins for example. Now I wouldnt bet on this, but I'll say it as a goal. If they can do that, then obviously they would have become a team above what I thought was possible based on the previous data. I fully admit that Justin made about 5 throws today in rhythm that are what I've been wanting to see. If he was doing that every week all season long, my evaluation of him would be very different. I am cynical that it will become the norm, but that's a guess, I have no crystal ball. If that all happens, again by effort not luck, then I will be on the bandwagon. I do think the defensive roster has the opportunity to be good enough to do that. But I've always believed in them. I still think with a different DC, the defense would look even better. I am very excited for next year. Of course I mean with a new QB and Head Coach, but to be fair, if they run the table, then Fields and Eberfuls WILL be a new head coach and QB from what we've seen previously. I will also say that winning coach or GM of the year in your first year is more hype than winning it later after you built something (looking at you Nagy and Pace). If Eberflus can keep the team and win big next year, I think he'd be a candidate for coach of the year. I guess what Im basically saying is that i think thy had zero chance of doing that, and now they turned it around by about an inch. If that continues, it will be an amazing turnaround, more that i think is possible. I still think it wont happen. I see us winning maybe 2 more games this year. And that wouldnt be enough in my eyes, depending of course on how it occurred. For example, the Minnesota game counts as a W in the standings, but to me it was a loss. This game today was definitely a win. We took that game and controlled it. A lot on defense. Anyway, I hope that all happens. And Id be on the bandwagon then, but not if a little taste of it happens, but not consistently. Fair?

add another pass rusher and a better FS and this defensive roster is gonna be fearsome

for sure. having all those injuries on the OLine, and 4 games missing Fields really made it difficult. Of course all teams have adversity, and injuries, and thats part of the game. But yeah, if Fields had played like this week 4 or something, it'd be a lot easier to think about.

This was probably Fields' best game. He may have had better stats in others, but to my eye, he threw in rhythm a number of times. I wish this was 5 weeks ago so he has enough time to prove consistency, but no doubt we saw flashes today.

last time I said "Bears win we all lose" because i didn't feel they earned that victory. They played like a loss, and found a lucky last minute way to win. This win is different. This is a real win. We won this game.

I dont think the Lions are that good. Theyre a middle team, and beating them definitely shows progress.

lol I can meet you halfway

The two most important things to have to win games are a QB and a pass rush.

yeah Sweat's impact is more than his sacks. He's been a huge part of our play against the run too - not necessarily making tackles, but collapsing the running lanes.

4th down win this play and the game is over.

This is where Sweat makes all the difference. I suppose you can get away with the giant prevent zone if you can get pressure from rushing 4

any high school coach should be able to call the plays from here to win the game.

RUN. THE. BALL.

wow, pure luck St Brown didnt catch that.

Good job Dexter, youve earned that with constant improvement all year. Remember how slow he was getting out of his stance at the beginning of the year? Great job young man. Are we sure we need a 3T?

for sure.

Ha! Big hit by Brisker!

Oh man, that ball was the game just hanging there for EJax

we already are. and the lead is probably enough, but still. the coaches dont trust the players.

anything, and it keeps the clock moving.