LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- Before Justin Fields was an NFL quarterback preparing to make his first career start for the Bears, he was a high schooler struggling with the nerves of his role.
Fields would second-guess himself on throws, let doubt creep into his mind and wonder whether he could be great. As he now looks forward to stepping into the spotlight Sunday against the Cleveland Browns at FirstEnergy Stadium, Fields wishes his younger self could be as comfortable as his 22-year-old self is now.
“That’s where just the whole story changed,” Fields said of his former mindset.
Since the Bears traded up to select Fields with the No. 11 overall pick in the NFL Draft in late April, his coaches and teammates have pointed to his calm confidence. It was something he found back in high school that flipped the script to his career.
If Fields becomes a franchise quarterback as the Bears hope – as I believe he will prove to be for Chicago – it will be because of how he combined his immense talent with a strong frame of mind.
Of course, it hasn’t all come easy for Fields, a prized prospect out of Harrison High School in Georgia who committed to staying home and leading the Bulldogs’ program. There was immense pressure in that decision, and he ultimately lost his opportunity when Georgia chose to start Jake Fromm over him. So Fields transferred to Ohio State, betting on himself with the Buckeyes and earning his place as a prized quarterback prospect.
After each of his first two NFL regular-season games, Fields pointed to his journey in guiding him to this stage.
"If you would've told me seven years ago, eight years ago that I'd be in this position, I wouldn't believe you," Fields said.
“Actually seeing myself in this position, being able to get the start on Sunday, it's an amazing feeling."
League scouts were of course drawn to Fields’ tremendous arm talent and dual-threat abilities, both of which can change a game. They saw a player whose gifts matched the accolades as he led Ohio State to a 20-2 record over his two seasons as a starter and a leader who battled through broken ribs to lead his Buckeyes to the national championship game in January.
Then they came to understand Fields' confidence and recognized something special. The Bears saw the same even-keeled rookie after he scored his first NFL touchdown and threw his first interception.
Fields has what it takes to be great, and his story is just beginning.
4-down territory
1.) The Fields offense
On a third down late in the first half last Sunday, Fields took a shotgun snap and worked through his reads. He found receiver Darnell Mooney open along the right sideline and hit him for an 11-yard strike that moved the chains.
That play also easily could've resulted in a scramble from Fields that picked up the first down – like his scamper late in the fourth quarter as the Bears sealed their win against the Bengals. It's all part of the dual threat that Fields presents, which offensive coordinator Bill Lazor noted ahead of the matchup against the Browns on Sunday.
The Bears have trusted Fields to rely on his own internal clock in the pocket in deciding when it’s time to run. But Lazor realizes they must also design plays that can maximize his mobility. On Sunday, Fields will be operating parts of coach Matt Nagy's usual offense while also likely running more read-option plays that work to his strengths.
“Whether it’s a designed read or run for him or whether it’s his ability to extend plays, there are a lot of quarterbacks in the NFL that can do that and have it be part of the package,” Lazor said. “So I think we’ve proven that we recognize it, and it’s on them to decide how it affects their game plan.”
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Another element Fields brings the Bears is his ability to extend a play with his feet to create a throw that wasn’t designed. In such situations, his receivers understand their responsibility.
It’s their job to react to Fields and find a seam in coverage.
“Make sure you’re running the way he runs,” Mooney said. “If he’s running out of the pocket, the play isn’t over. He definitely will throw you the ball deep.
“You just got to be on the radar.”
2.) Blind side secured
There were plenty of questions about whether nine-time Pro Bowl offensive tackle Jason Peters could still play well at 39 years old, but the Bears didn’t doubt it when signing him in August. Neither did Peters.
Through two games, Peters has performed well. He ranks ninth out of 74 tackles, according to Pro Football Focus. For Peters, staying strong throughout the course of a game is simply about trusting technique.
“Football shape is a whole different ballgame,” Peters said. “Just running and doing gassers. You’re out on the field working against a bag versus a live guy. You got one guy coming in for two or three plays, maybe five plays on a 10-play drive, and then you have another guy come off the sideline full tilt, ready to roll. I’m six, seven plays in, now you’ve got a fresh D-end. It’s just stacking -- you’ve got keep grinding and stacking the plays over and over and over.
“It’s mind over matter. When your legs start to fatigue, all I do is get down in my stance and I talk to myself sometimes: ‘Get to your spot.’ Just doing stuff over and over and over. It’s really muscle memory. I’ve done it for so long. It’s getting to your spot, using your hands. Your technique takes over when your body gets fatigued. If you don’t have the technique when you get fatigued, you’re going to start getting beaten a lot.”
3.) Nichols and dimes
As general manager Ryan Pace begins thinking of how he'll utilize open space when the salary cap increases in 2022, he should have defensive lineman Bilal Nichols near the top of the priority list.
Set to become a free agent next March, Nichols picked up his first sack of the season last Sunday and continued what has been strong play throughout the course of his young career. Nichols has become a key piece of the defensive line since the Bears drafted him in the fifth round in 2018.
In recent years, the Bears have watched defensive linemen like Roy Robertson-Harris, Brent Urban and Nick Williams earn lucrative offers elsewhere that led them to leave Chicago. The 25-year-old Nichols should be somebody whom Pace covets to ink to a second contract.
"I just feel like it's going to come,” Nichols said. “I've waited my whole life to get to this point, and I can continue to wait a little longer. I just want to focus on playing ball right now."
4.) Sack machine
Bears pass rusher Robert Quinn was credited with a sack Wednesday after the NFL reviewed a mistake in the box score from Sunday. He now has 2.5 sacks through two games, meaning he has already surpassed his total of two from 2020.
Does Quinn find that at all rewarding?
"Not much at all,” said Quinn, who joined the Bears on a five-year, $70-million deal in 2020. “I mean, two sacks, you shouldn’t be too happy about that. I think I got a lot more work to do.
“I don’t want to get too comfortable, because you still got to go out and prove yourself."
Quote to note
"I’m going to go out there on Sunday and play my best and just try to come out with the win. That’s my main focus. My main focus isn’t winning the starting job."
-- Fields
Injury report
QB Andy Dalton (knee) -- Dalton has already been ruled out for Sunday, with the Bears preparing Nick Foles as their backup behind Fields.
NT Eddie Goldman (knee) -- After missing the first two games of the season, Goldman is trending toward playing. The Bears could use their nose tackle against the Browns’ two-headed monster at running back.
S Tashaun Gipson (groin) -- Gipson went from being limited in practice Wednesday to being held out Thursday, a discouraging sign.
DL Akiem Hicks (illness/knee) -- Hicks has likely been sidelined in practice as a precaution for his illness, but the knee issue seems to be something he'll have to play through moving forward.
LB Jeremiah Attaochu (hamstring) -- The Bears could rely on second-year pass rusher Trevis Gipson more if they're without Attaochu, who played 51% of the team’s defensive snaps last Sunday.
WR Darnell Mooney (groin) -- Once again, Mooney isn’t in jeopardy of missing the game, as the team has him on a maintenance plan in practice.
Prediction (2-0): Browns 21, Bears 17
In his first NFL start, Fields will show flashes of greatness mixed with reminders that he’s a rookie. The Bears will come up short against a legitimate AFC contender in Cleveland.
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago’s sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.