Content available exclusively for subscribers
One thing you hear a lot about Justin Fields is that he is only 26 and has a lot of upside.
We are certainly going to find out.
Some would argue he has a ton of upside.
Some would argue at this stage his skill set is settled science.
What I mean by “settled science” is that some would argue that the chances of him becoming better at progressions and becoming a full field reader at this stage might be a little far-fetched.
A source close to the Bears told NFL scribe Tyler Dunne about Fields in 2024: “Maybe you can add some RAM or extra memory to your computer, but whatever processor you have, that’s what you have.”
“Fundamentals can improve – that’s physical,” wrote Dunne in the story about Fields. “Processing is a different animal. Processing is more ingrained.”
“When you watch him, watch his eyes,” one of Fields’ former coaches told Dunne. “He tries to see the whole thing and doesn’t see anything. His eyes are all over the place.”
People who really understand how quarterback play works will tell you there is only so much you can do to improve processing. Many people just don’t get this no matter how many times you try to explain it to them.
The Jets picked a QB named James Morgan in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of FIU.
His work ethic was unmatched. We have never seen a player stay on the field for as long as he did after training camp practices working on drills to improve his game.
But when he played in games, even in the preseason, it seemed he just didn’t see the field that well.
This has nothing to do with work ethic. Either you can do it or you can’t.
So some would argue that Jets QB coach Charles London and passing game coordinator Scott Turner will not be able to turn this player into an elite processor.
What they need to do, along with offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand, is design a system that focuses on what he does well. He’s an elite scrambler and has a great arm, so he can make all throws on first reads. So it’s encumbant upon Engstrand to dial up great first reads and a ton of read options.
A former Bears executive quoted in Dunne’s story wonders if Fields is a good fit in the New York market, and he said this a year ago:
“It is f–king hard to play in this city at that position because as soon as you play two or three bad games, you’re the worst mother–ker on the planet and it comes down heavy,” this former Bears exec says. “I don’t think it’s a coincidence that the New York Jets and the Chicago Bears are the two teams that have the hardest time finding quarterbacks because you better have the guy who’s wired right. And talented.”
Not sure New York will be Fields issue if he struggles.
It could be progressions, and that could be an issue playing in Sheboygan.
It will be fascinating to see how this turns out.
Buckle-up.
March 24, 2025
