Fields was an incredible open field runner. I compared him to Devin Hester. In 2022, he was a threat to score anytime he touched the ball as a runner. But then in 2023, they told him if he was in the open field, and a defender came up to him, that he should slide. Which is smart, because of injury as you say.
But it took away the biggest part of his game. I think another way to say it is that Fields' skill set didn't really translate that well to the QB position, but he is as dynamic an open field runner as anyone, including Hester and Sayers.
No one can really argue this. From Nagy to Getsy, while gutting the team to clear the roster and salary cap, in 2021 and 2022 Justin Fields had an impossible job. In 2021 he had no one to throw to, and all along he had too much pressure in his face from defenses. It was an impossible job, and no one could have taken the 2021 Bears to the playoffs.
This is all true.
The only thing I'd say is that it doesn't prove the Fields would be good without those impediments either, and I saw him enough in clean pockets staring down open receivers and not pulling the trigger to make a judgement.
I feel that Justin may have developed better had he not been in such a nightmarish situation, but i also think that fields himself is never going to be a top QB because while he has all the prototypical athletic skills to be an amazing QB, he doesn't seem to be able to read defenses or get through progressions fast and get rid of the ball.
Put Bagent's brain in Fields' body, and we'd have traded the #1 pick this year, because that Bagent/Fields creation would be as good as any QB.
There were many plays during that period where he did have time, and guys were open and he looked right at them but didn't throw the ball.
So I think the bad football was a team effort, and Justin was just as much a part of it as everyone else.
But there is no denying his incredible athletic ability, including his arm! And he did have an impossible situation, and he does seem like a good guy too. But still, I saw enough on film, and apparently so did the league to judge him anyway.