Saturday, September 21, 2024
HomeSportsChicago Bears QB Justin Fields brief with answers at news conference

Chicago Bears QB Justin Fields brief with answers at news conference

Published on

spot_img


Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields didn’t stir up any drama this time at his weekly news conference Wednesday at Halas Hall.

A week after his comments to reporters became social media and talk show fodder, Fields was guarded — and at times short — with his explanations about his mindset and where the Bears offense goes now after they put up just 250 yards per game over an 0-3 start.

Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields walks off the field after the loss Sept. 24, 2023, at Arrowhead Stadium.

What can he do to push away thoughts of a 13-game losing streak dating back to last season through Sunday’s 41-10 loss to the Kansas City Chiefs?

“There’s no thought,” he said.

Really?

“No,” he said.

A week ago, Fields called a second session with reporters following his weekly news conference to clarify he wasn’t blaming coaches for his “robotic” play. A lot of attention had settled on his comments earlier that day about the amount of information with which coaches were asking him to play — and how processing it all and trying to be perfect with it can take him away from being the player he wants to be.

He vowed to say “F it” and “play free.”

So did Fields feel like he played more freely Sunday against the Chiefs, when he threw for 99 yards, a touchdown, an interception and ran for 47 yards?

See also  Woodgrove opens with blowout of four-time defending champ Madison

“Yes, I did,” Fields said simply.

Fields was more expansive on other answers, but it was clear he wasn’t trying to win anyone over to his point of view with this interview session. Perhaps he just knows nothing he says is going to change the way the Bears offense has looked in the month of September, when he has put up a 67.7 passer rating, tied for 30th in the league.

When Fields was asked what he saw on the film from the loss to the Chiefs, he said, “Just got to focus on details within each and every play. Everybody’s got to do their job.”

And indeed, the Bears need better from everyone on the offensive side.

In terms of Fields’ playmakers, top receiver DJ Moore led the Bears with three catches on six targets for 41 yards on Sunday, including a dropped deep ball. Darnell Mooney was targeted once and didn’t have a catch, though Fields seemed to bristle a little at a question of him not being more involved.

“Y’all say we’re not getting the ball to DJ enough and then of course (Mooney) and next it’s going to be Chase (Claypool) and then it’s going to be Cole (Kmet),” Fields said. “We have a lot of playmakers on offense. Everybody’s not going to be able to get 15 targets a game. We’ve got to spread the love around. In certain instances, where they do put two people on DJ, then Moon, Chase or Cole might get it or something like that. Just spreading the ball out of course and wanting to get the ball into our playmakers’ hands when the opportunity is available.”

Chicago Bears wide receiver DJ Moore is targeted for a pass in the second quarter of a game against the Kansas City Chiefs at Arrowhead Stadium on Sept. 24, 2023.

The point, Fields surely understands, is that the Bears aren’t getting the ball into any of the playmakers’ hands on a consistent basis.

See also  Twins exercise options on their longest-tenured players, Jorge Polanco and Max Kepler

As the Bears search for answers heading into a meeting with the Denver Broncos at Soldier Field on Sunday, coach Matt Eberflus said he preached “determination” and “fight” at the team meeting Wednesday. He also met with the Bears’ leadership council, which has a player or two from each position group, talking in part about how they can help their teammates strive for improvement.

Fields said he leans on Mooney often under trying circumstances and also has spoken with Moore this week as he tries to “make sure everybody’s morale is up and everybody’s determined to go win.”

And he has tried to keep his own mindset right too.

“I just know all the adversity I go through is going to make me stronger as a person and as a player,” Fields said. “So you’ve just got to look at the bright side of things and think of yourself as going through adversity for a reason, so that’s what I’ve been doing.”

That the Bears face the Broncos in Week 4 after the walloping from the Chiefs certainly could be considered a bright side.

The Broncos gave up 726 yards of offense in the Miami Dolphins’ 70-20 win Sunday. Dolphins quarterback Tua Tagovailoa threw for 309 yards and four touchdowns, with wide receiver Tyreek Hill accounting for 157 of those yards. Running back De’Von Achane ran for 203 yards and two touchdowns.

The Bears, of course, are not the Dolphins. And Eberflus noted that when asked what the Bears can take from the Week 3 film.

See also  Luke Leverett becomes Providence's safety valve

“That’s a different skill set that they were playing, so I think they set their defense up differently I’m sure,” Eberflus said. “So we’ll see where it goes in terms of playing a different opponent this week for those guys. They’re going to be determined. That same thing happened to them, and they’re not happy about it either. It’s going to be a battle.”

Fields is also prepared for that fight.

“We’re both 0-3,” Fields said. “We’re both wanting that first win of the season, so it’s going to be scrappy and it’s going to come down to who executes more, situationally, who has more takeaways and stuff like that. We all know the things that go into winning a game, so we’ve just got to take care of those details.”



Source link

Latest articles

Trump needs to revamp his campaign if he wants to win. How can he? – San Diego Union-Tribune

The 2024 Presidential election is now in the home stretch, with less than...

Internet in classrooms already harmed learning — don’t make it worse by adding AI

Classrooms have become a battleground in the media frenzy around new large language...

‘The West Wing’ cast reunites at White House for 25th anniversary

Welcome back to the Bartlet administration. The cast and crew of The...

You Might Not Be Defrosting Your Food Safely

Most of the time, shortcuts can be great. No time to slice,...

More like this

Trump needs to revamp his campaign if he wants to win. How can he? – San Diego Union-Tribune

The 2024 Presidential election is now in the home stretch, with less than...

Internet in classrooms already harmed learning — don’t make it worse by adding AI

Classrooms have become a battleground in the media frenzy around new large language...

‘The West Wing’ cast reunites at White House for 25th anniversary

Welcome back to the Bartlet administration. The cast and crew of The...