LAKE FOREST, Ill. (670 The Score) -- As the Bears worked through their final drills in practice Thursday morning at Halas Hall, quarterback Justin Fields found a tight window in coverage and connected with tight end Cole Kmet.
That completion didn't happen by accident. Kmet viewed it as an example of growth. He identified an opening in coverage, and Fields found him.
"That doesn't happen last year," Kmet said.
A year ago at this time, Fields began his first NFL training camp by leading the Bears' scout-team offense. He was targeting reserve receivers like Rodney Adams and Isaiah Coulter, who weren't going to make the 53-man roster.
The Bears' former regime believed the best course of action for Fields, the No. 11 overall pick in 2021, was to develop behind the scenes while trusting veteran quarterback Andy Dalton with the starting offense. That plan then changed quickly when Dalton suffered an injury. Fields took over under center in just his second NFL game without any first-team snaps in practice, which showed throughout the course of a challenging rookie season.
"Me being a rookie, I was kind of thrown into there," Fields said.
Fields struggled to properly convey the play calls in the huddle at times as a rookie. He often missed targets getting open in coverage. He lacked the timing and rhythm necessary for success in part because he wasn't afforded the opportunity to establish them in practice.
The 23-year-old Fields is now established as the Bears' starting quarterback entering his second season. With that has come the opportunity to develop a greater connection with his targets.
"He is the guy, and this is his team," Bears receiver Darnell Mooney said.
Fields' lack of chemistry with his receivers last season was one of the primary reasons he struggled as a rookie. The enhanced connections now are why there's hope that Fields can enjoy a breakthrough sophomore season.
Fields brought Mooney and Kmet to his home in Georgia this offseason, and they ran route after route on the practice field. He took time over the summer to work through plays with his teammates. Fields often texted teammates about the Bears' offense and building out route concepts in their playbook.
After practices during the offseason program and now in training camp, receivers don't want to leave the practice field early if Fields is still there ready for extra work.
"That's what's so special about him," Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said. "Forget all the athletic part. With the way he attacks every single day and his approach and lead by example ... He's a natural-born leader type of a guy. We're lucky to have a guy like that leading this thing."
Fields completed 58.9% of his passes for 1,870 yards, seven touchdowns and 10 interceptions last season. He displayed improvement throughout the course of the season despite setbacks. Fields got dialed in with Mooney and Kmet in particular as he gained more experience leading the first-team offense.
Fields and the Bears' targets then took that work into the offseason and built upon it. All those throws in Georgia, all those late nights on the Walter Payton Center turf and all those extra reps after practice, Fields knows they're part of the process of becoming the guy. He's willing to put in the work and hopes it soon pays off.
"I just want to be great," Fields said. "At the end of the day, this is my life. This is what I want to do for as long as I can. It's my job. It's my life. I don't know anything else. I've been doing this since I was, what, 6 years old.
"I know that at the end of the day, that as long as I give my best, I know what I can do. And I know that once we reach our full potential what we'll be able to do."
Chris Emma covers the Bears, Chicago's sports scene and more for 670TheScore.com. Follow him on Twitter @CEmma670.
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