Official 2023 Training Camp thread

[HearshotKDS]

Don’t think they are in pads until Wed - could be wrong though - so any rush vs. tackle drills are going to be weird as a result. Braxton definitely needs to improve his anchor - both physical and his technique- but losing a drill in shorts is pretty much meaningless in my opinion - there’s plenty of game tape from last year to reach the anchor conclusion.

 

[Bearly]

I'd say that Josh Allen was a known project coming out of college. He was drafted because of his size and arm strength, and it was clear he needed work being a polished passer. His career completion percentage in college was 56% vs Fields 68%. I'd also note that Allen showed rushing ability in college and his best year of rushing was better than Fields' - 523 to 484. Point being Allen was drafted on raw ability where Fields was already considered NFL ready.

I cannot help but think that Fields should have shown a lot more at this point in his career outside of rushing ability. He was ahead of Josh Allen as far as being a polished QB that was supposedly NFL ready.

Allen was taken at 7. Fields at 12 while being the better Athlete. Fields dropped due to questions about his passing acumen. Your plating both sides of coin. They’re different players but seem on similar trajectories, though never a given.

Allen was in year 3 with the same OC and worked hard to correct his mechanics in the prevous off season. Also had a great D to get him the ball back.

Fields spent this off season correcting mechanical issues and finally has a year 2 in the same O with viable targets which is huge for a developing player. Unlikely that he has a great D but should be competent

Josh’s year 2 to 3 improvement in reads and accuracy were enormous.
Fingers crossed.

 

[Bearly]

I wouldnt really say it has taken him a while in the NFL. He hasnt even played his 2nd season yet. Used to be that WRs took like 2-3 years to develop in the NFL. Fans seem to be comparing him to elite WRs that developed faster than that.

Not implying he should have have been all that last year but looked a bit lost on routes and I also get the left footed punter remark by another poster but the Bear took him off punts for more than that. They aren’t blind nor unaware of what we see. Returning 18 punts in college is not the same # as he waited under and completely disregards practice.

Unlike many, I didn’t hate the pick but always saw him as a gadget player and return specialist. Not a top 3 WR on a good crew. Those can also be game changers if the develop and get used correctly.

Read any scouting report. He’ll likely never become a refined route runner but shouldn’t have to.

Hand off/toss it early or over the top plus returns is plenty.

 

[Bearly]

Let me get to the point of why I think you are making excuses.

What amazing pass rusher is Braxton going up against?

If the talent of the Bears pass rushing was at a playoff level, I wouldn't care.

But they don't have an edge pass rusher across from him that anyone would have seriously care about.

It's not improper for me to be this concerned this early.

Nick Bosa?
Everyone, except Jimbo Covert, gets beat. Usually, when they go down, it’s to stay in the way during a lost rep and yes DEs ate allowed to win a rep.. we won’t know what’s up with Jones until Sept.

To be fair, part of Jones doing well most of last year was that a top rusher could swap sides but they don’t do that against easy marks. They keep pounding him.

 

[Bearly]

I can name examples where pocket QBs get hurt as well. Running QBs are not more susceptible to injury than others

More about picking your spots and not getting greedy. Fields seemed to get better/good at it as the year played out. Key word is still QB. Take the run if you need to but not in place of viable throw.

 

[ILoveDick]

Allen was taken at 7. Fields at 12 while being the better Athlete. Fields dropped due to questions about his passing acumen. Your plating both sides of coin. They’re different players but seem on similar trajectories, though never a given.

Allen was in year 3 with the same OC and worked hard to correct his mechanics in the of season. Also had a great D to get him the ball back.

Fields spent this off season correcting mechanical issues and finally has a year 2 in the same O with viable targets which is huge for a developing player. Unlikely that he has a great D but should be competent

Josh’s year 2 to 3 improvement in reads and accuracy were enormous.
Fingers crossed.

Revisionist take.

 

[Aquineas]

Much of the same that we've been saying—just the rhythm and timing of the passing game, having him get connections with the guys you didn't see in the spring," Eberflus said. "And continue to develop a connection with DJ. He's done that.

Bears Coaches have noticed Justin Fields' improvement

 

[Aquineas]

Of course, a lot of this is going to come down to the obvious, and that’s the play of the quarterback. And Justin Fields’ tireless work ethic is bringing progress, and resulting reasons for optimism. The ball’s coming out faster, and he’s throwing with more accuracy, and looks looser out there in large part because he’s moving more efficiently (with improved footwork) and the picture of all that’s around him is clearer to him than it was a year ago.

Albert Breer Bears Training Camp Notes

 

[satchice]

It came out today that Velus went out with Gill one day where he found that Gill had invited several NFL punters. He fielded over 100 punts with only 2 hitting the ground. Not perfect, but certainly an improvement. He also got to learn how to read the flight of the ball and, thus, was more effective fielding them.

I would certainly not rule him out of anything on the Bears offense or special teams. I could imagine him sometimes going against another team's 4th CB and, yes, I could imagine him beating that CB in that situation. Would it happen often? I don't think so, but having another speedster to give starters a breather is not a bad thing.

The Bears just might have the best one through 5 WR group in the NFL, certainly the fastest.

I’m

I didn't say he had NFL starter talent as I already said the Niners did a disservice to him drafting him that high.

I said he had talent, is the youngest QB going into to their 3rd year and incredibly inexperienced. The latter makes it hard to judge because again the dude only has about 500 throws across HS, college and the NFL. Guys get 500 passes in 1 year. He has taken 7 years to get there. So he is extremely raw.

I noticed that you said that he is the youngest 3rd year QB several times now, and I am wondering why? Is that a good thing, a bad thing, or completely irrelevant? If being 5 months younger than Brock Purdy is irrelevant then why do you keep bringing it up? Other than that I agree with you that he is extremely raw and inconsistent.

 

[bears26]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1685985629929185280

 

[iueyedoc]

Revisionist take.

What is revisionist about it?
You are just flat ass wrong, Fields passing was not considered "NFL ready."

His NFL.com draft profile weaknesses are a laundry lists of passing game deficiencies.
Strengths

• Toughness/willingness to do what it takes is always on display.
• Never lost a Big Ten game as a starter.
• Vast improvement in 2020 with fumbles per snap.
• Good size with stout lower body to stave off sacks/tackles.
• Lateral footwork to side-step downhill blitzers.
• Usually finds a firm, sturdy passing base beneath him.
• Plenty of zip for long, field-side throws.
• Attention to drive mechanics generates velocity when needed.
• Makes quality reads when deciphering high-low concepts.
• Confident and comfortable throwing into intermediate zone windows.
• Willing to take a big hit to deliver a pass.
• Good command and accuracy on boot action to the right.
• Keeps defenses honest with his legs.
• Picks up tough yards on the ground when team needs it.

Weaknesses

• Needs to improve pocket mobility for clean launch points.
• Below-average feel for edge pressure, running himself into pressure points.
• Field vision is average in face of the blitz.
• Missed open blitz beaters in the middle of the field against Indiana.
• Gradual operation time prevents expedited release.
• Needs to release ball earlier on anticipatory throws.
• Needs to improve eye manipulation as a pro.
• Stagnant eyes invite coverage to the passing party.
• Forces receivers to slow for deep throws.
• Pet spin move as runner got him clocked against Clemson.

 

[Aquineas]

@Kyle Brandt (I know you peruse this board you fellow Bears homer you), y'all should try and get Lovie Smith on as a guest host on the Good Morning Football.

 

[hebs]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1685401985539772418

PJ probably shouldn't have thrown the ball, but he had to put it in that location because the LB (Edmonds) was in the way and blocking his ability to lead the receiver. Also... VJayjay always seems to get slippery balls...

 

[Aquineas]

PJ probably shouldn't have thrown the ball, but he had to put it in that location because the LB (Edmonds) was in the way and blocking his ability to lead the receiver. Also... VJayjay always seems to get slippery balls...

I see what you did there.

 

[SugarWalls]

It was one rep against a guy that had 7 sacks last year and is strong enough to play inside at DT. Walker is stronger than most Edge players Jones will face.

Already making excuses

 

[bears26]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1686001914972946432

 

[dabears70]

Can you just shut the **** up already?

 

[ILoveDick]

What is revisionist about it?
You are just flat ass wrong, Fields passing was not considered "NFL ready."

His NFL.com draft profile weaknesses are a laundry lists of passing game deficiencies.

Post Josh Allen's for comparison. And I said Fields was an NFL ready QB, not that he was an NFL ready passer. Almost every rookie QB needs work. The point is Josh Allen needed a lot more, but you know that.

 

[Dejo]

https://twitter.com/i/web/status/1685987870064914432

 

[The Big Grabowski]

As I recall, the issues surrounding Justin Fields that caused his fall in the draft were:

1). Work ethic - Orlovsky trashed him citing rumors that "He's a last-guy-in, first-guy-out type of quarterback"
2). Mechanics - Orlovsky (again) questioned his delivery speed. I think it was on the draft broadcast I heard him point out a loop in Justin's arm motion.
3). Reading the field - An NFL team put it out there that Justin threw to his 2nd read or later on only 7 of 225 passes.
4). Medicals - There was a late revelation that Fields takes medication for seizures.

Justin has proven himself to be a first in, last out guy, prompting an apology from Orlovsky. There are no questions about his work ethic or leadership. He's definitely tightened his mechanics, speeding up his delivery heading into camp last year. He seems to have cleaned up his footwork this year. The medical doesn't appear to be an issue as he's never suffered a seizure when taking his meds.

Reading the field is the only lingering question. Kurt Warner was very positive about that. In his breakdown, he saw Justin moving through progressions and throwing to the right read. Consensus seems to be that it's less an issue of Fields knowing what's going on and more an issue of trusting what he sees and letting it rip. Hopefully we'll see that as we get into preseason games.