Focusing in Close for Justin Fields

Bears quarterback tells the team's website the areas he has worked hardest on include the short passing game.

Justin Fields has become consumed with small ball. 

He already had the longer ball down.

In an interview with Larry Mayer of the team's website, ChicagoBears.com, the Bears quarterback talks about his need to improve all the little aspects of football from accuracy in the short passing game to getting the ball out of his hand faster."

"Just being more consistent with my quick game stuff," he told ChicagoBears.com. "I feel like down the field I'm pretty accurate. Just being more consistent with getting the ball out faster, being more accurate, giving my wide receivers, my running backs, tight ends a better chance to catch the ball and run for extra yards. I'm focusing pretty hard on that this offseason."

JUSTIN FIELDS TALKS ABOUT WHERE HE'S IMPROVING

Fields already was the most accurate passer in the league in terms of completion percentage from 10-19 yards, according to Pro Football Focus. He improved from 11th the year before.

D.J. Moore helps Justin Fields attack the intermediate area of the field, an area he did well targeting in 2022:

- Fields led NFL with a 66.7% completion percentage on throws 10-19 yards downfield

- D.J. Moore's 172 targets 10-19 yards downfield from 2019-22 is 2nd-most in NFL

— Brad Spielberger, Esq. (@SpielbergerBrad) March 10, 2023

 However, his completion percentage hovers just above 60% because he isn't accurate enough with the shorter throws.

Getting it out of his hand quicker has been something Bears coach Matt Eberflus has talked about since last offseason. According to NextGen Stats, Fields was getting it out in 3.12 seconds. It was the slowest time for quarterbacks who started a full season. Only Deshaun Watson, Sam Darnold and Zach Wilson took longer.

Fields' time to throw was exactly the same amount of time it took Jalen Hurts to get it out of his hand in 2021.

Fields seems to be flourishing as a leader and is more comfortable in the role, according to what GM Ryan Poles said last week. He confirmed this with the interview ChicagoBears.com posted.

"I think it's important, being the quarterback, for me to build that camaraderie with everyone," Fields told Mayer.

So when DJ Moore was signed, it was Fields as the welcoming committee.

"His first night here, I went out to eat with him and his family," Fields said. "That was cool to get to know him a little bit. We didn't know each other that well at that point, but the more time we've spent with each other the more comfortable we've gotten around each other."

Fields will get his first chance to put his greater comfort with the offense and leadership on display for media next Tuesday as the team moves into phase 3 of the organized team activities, involving actual on-field practices with 7-on-7, 9-on-7 and 11-on-11 work. All of this is non-contact.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven