(670 The Score) The Bears are averaging an NFL-low 20.8 passing attempts per game, an approach that’s logical given their lack of receiving talent and their rushing prowess. The Bears lead the NFL with 201.7 yards per game on the ground and 5.6 yards per carry.
While understanding all of that, NFL analyst Trent Dilfer also believes it’s about time for the Bears to ramp up their passing attack and let second-year quarterback Justin Fields air it out more. That probably isn’t what gives the Bears the best chance to win games this season, but it will benefit them in the long term, Dilfer said on the Parkins & Spiegel Show on Monday afternoon.
“It leads me to what I think the bigger conversation is – when do you go away from the 20 to 26 throws a game to the 30 to 36 throws a game?” Dilfer said. “When do you start lowering the volume of runs – they’re an unbelievable run team, and they’ve done a really nice job, so some are going to say, ‘What are you talking about, Trent? Look, we’re making historic rushing numbers, 30 points a game.’ I get all that. I totally get all that. But if you’re trying to win a Super Bowl next year or the year after, at some point, we need to add 100 to 150 throws to Justin’s season this year, so that he can have more learning moments."
Fields was 12-of-20 for 167 yards, two touchdowns and one interception in the Bears’ 31-30 loss to the Lions on Sunday. In his film review of the game, Dilfer only graded 14 of Fields’ 20 passing attempts, as he indicated only 14 of them involved progressing through reads and making choices.
“I want to be able to grade a lot of throws,” Dilfer said. “Like, we want to see him develop as a thrower knowing that the only way you can win a Super Bowl is to throw your team into the end zone, throw your team first downs, throw your way in two-minute drills, to throw your team into a situation to win the game when everything is on the line. I think the conversation needs to at least start, ‘OK, we’re still trying to win, we’re still going to run the ball, we’re still going to protect our offensive line, but we need to see six to eight more (throws) next week. Maybe in three weeks, it’s 10 to 12 more. But we got to see him throw the football more so he has more learning lessons throwing it.’”