By [ad_1]
INDIANAPOLIS — The Bears keep that they arrived in Indianapolis for the 2024 NFL Scouting Mix nonetheless early in the information-gathering stage of their franchise-defining quarterback journey.
Each common supervisor Ryan Poles and head coach Matt Eberflus talked Tuesday in Indianapolis, portray an image of a franchise that wishes everybody to consider issues are up within the air. Poles stated he had “no grasp plan” and admitted the timeline to a remaining determination might be longer than anticipated based mostly on how lengthy it takes him to know the highest prospects as folks. Eberflus stated the Bears are nonetheless within the means of evaluating every part as they plot a course ahead.
Poles stated he plans to be clear with quarterback Justin Fields and will “do right by” Fields and commerce him shortly ought to the Bears determine their best course is to move on from the 24-year-old quarterback.
Every part the Bears stated Tuesday was about placing on the facade that they have not determined whether or not Fields is a part of their future. However issues began to slide by as Poles and Eberflus talked concerning the traits they search for in a quarterback, giving a giant trace on the route they’re at present leaning.
“I have a look at conditions. I have a look at the fellows that may function third down, two-minute, and the top of the sport conditions,” Eberflus stated Tuesday. “To me, that’s a separator. And then you definitely have a look at toughness. Toughness for a quarterback actually is concerning the psychological toughness to have the ability to stand within the pocket and ship the ball and likewise to have the discernment to have the ability to transfer out of the pocket and create when it’s crucial. They arrive in all completely different sizes and shapes. It’s at all times been enjoyable to guage these.
“I do know what a very good quarterback seems to be like and what’s arduous on a protection is a man who has the flexibility to create, a man who has the flexibility to throw with timing and accuracy, and the man who can transfer the ball down the sector when it’s the important moments. So on third down, two-minute, all these important moments.”
Fields’ incapacity to ship within the fourth quarter has been a quarterback scarlet letter over the previous two seasons.
Out of 40 quarterbacks who threw no less than 50 passes within the fourth quarter final season, Fields ranked thirty ninth in passer score at 53.4. Solely Bailey Zappe was worse. He ranked twenty eighth in yards, tied for twenty sixth in landing passes, and was tied for the second most interceptions within the remaining quarter. Thirty-one quarterbacks threw no less than 20 passes this season whereas trailing with 4 minutes or much less remaining within the recreation. Fields ranked twenty ninth in passer score and twenty eighth in completion proportion and was tied with Jordan Love and Aidan O’Connell for essentially the most interceptions.
The place Fields does examine the packing containers is as an individual and chief.
Poles has frequently harped on the significance of attending to know every of the highest prospects as an individual. Poles stated Tuesday that “time on job” with every prospect will probably be important because the Bears attempt to decipher what sort of chief every man is, what makes him tick, and whether or not or not he is the best man to guide the Bears franchise going ahead.
“You are in search of examples of dependability, selflessness, management, and possession,” Poles stated. “It’s arduous as of late to search out folks which might be like, ‘Hey, this was unsuitable.’ ‘Yeah, it was unsuitable, and right here’s what I’ve to do to right it.’ Fairly than simply sort of being BSing your means by it.”
Eberflus echoed that crucial a part of the Bears’ course of will probably be taking the time to search out out issues about Caleb Williams, Drake Maye, and Jayden Daniels that they already learn about Fields.
“The wiring of a quarterback—clearly No. 1 is management,” Eberflus stated. “It’s important to be an important chief, you’ve gotta be resilient. You’ve gotta be capable of deal with criticism, after which clearly the bodily traits. That’s a giant a part of it. The accuracy, the timing, the platform, all of the stuff you speak about with that. After which being a winner. That’s what it comes right down to. All these groups that do issues on the finish of the season, they’ve winners on the quarterback spot.”
Fields checks the management field. There isn’t any query that his teammates gravitate towards him and can play arduous behind him.
However Fields has additionally spent the final two seasons working to refine his rhythm and timing within the pocket. It acquired higher this previous season, however he additionally spent the least period of time within the pocket final season. In accordance with Subsequent Gen Stats monitoring knowledge (H/t NFL.com’s Tom Bliss), Fields spent simply 80.5 % of his dropbacks and designed runs within the pocket. For comparability, Josh Allen and Lamar Jackson had been simply above 85, whereas Patrick Mahomes was a shade beneath 87. CJ Stroud and Jordan Love had been at 90.2 and 91.9, respectively.
Fields confirmed higher pocket presence in 2023. He did a greater job of scrambling with a passer’s mentality and maintaining his eyes upfield in search of explosives.
However Poles is aware of all of that. He has spent the final two years with Fields. He is aware of what he’s and what he is not.
The following step of the method is about Poles and the Bears studying concerning the unknown.
The Bears are slated to satisfy Williams, Maye, and Daniels for the primary time this week. These 20-minute sitdowns function the jumping-off level for a deep dive that can decide the Bears’ future on the quarterback place.
Poles stated he hopes to get the method carried out quickly however is conscious that it might be extra drawn out relying on how lengthy it takes him to have the required time on job with every prospect.
The Bears will spend time with the prospects in Indianapolis, at their professional days, on 30 visits and doubtlessly maintain personal exercises if the timing works out.
The Bears won’t have a “grasp plan,” but it surely certain feels like they know which means they’re leaning.
“Earlier than free company can be good,” Poles stated Tuesday. “Like I stated, if we had been to do one thing with Justin, I need to do proper by him and I do know, once more, residing in that gray area, we might need to do one thing sooner fairly than later.”
Final yr, Poles stated he’d should be “blown away” to maneuver off Fields.
One yr later, he is speaking about “doing proper” by Fields whereas his coach lists off packing containers that Fields does not essentially examine.
In making an attempt to say nothing Tuesday, the Bears stated greater than sufficient.
Click here to follow the Under Center Podcast.
