Who better to ask about the development of Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields than the defensive coordinator that has to face him in practice every day? That happened this week when Bears DC Alan Williams met with the media at OTAs and gave his opinion about the parts of Fields' game that have grown the most since last season.
“A couple things,” Williams said Wednesday. “Leadership. Because that’s what you want in your quarterback. I see good decision-making. That’s what you want in your quarterback. I see improved accuracy. That’s what you want in your quarterback. And how fast he’s processing. That’s also the, in my mind, what you want in your quarterback."
Fields" accuracy and processing time came under fire in 2022 when he completed 60.4% of his passes for 2,242 yards, 17 TDs, and 11 INTs. His dynamic rushing ability camouflaged some of his growing pains as a passer, but it's to be expected for a quarterback in his second system in as many years and whose wide receivers are fringe-NFL players.
“So from Day 1 last year to right now? From my standpoint, and I’m not a quarterback guru whatsoever, but I see how he has grown from last year to this year, and practice by practice by practice, he’s growing. So you have to be encouraged when you see those things,” Williams said.
The Chicago Bears have dedicated the 2023 offseason to building around Fields. The trade for receiver DJ Moore and the selection of right tackle Darnell Wright in the first round of the NFL Draft are evidence of that. So is the free-agent signing of right guard Nate Davis and the use of a fourth-round pick on receiver Tyler Scott.
But it doesn't matter how much the Bears build up around Fields if he doesn't develop individually as a player. Fortunately, the early returns on his offseason work have been overwhelmingly positive.
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