A Measured Justin Fields Advancement

Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy puts a measuring stick against Justin Fields' improvement that normally is reserved for interstellar travel.

Luke Getsy knows the statistics and took part in the team's evaluation of quarterback Justin Fields prior to the NFL draft.

The eternal debate whether the team was better off with Fields or taking one of the quarterbacks in the draft No. 1 raged for what seemed was an eternity, although it was probably only about a month.

Make no mistake. The Bears are fully behind Fields and have been.

"I mean I was a part of the watching and the evaluating of film," Getsy said of QBs in the draft. "Then we interviewed them at the combine, so I was a part of that stuff too, yeah."

"... I think he's just light years ahead of where he was."

-Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy on Justin Fields

Getsy had a problem with talk saying here's where Fields is and can go, and what rookies like Bryce Young and CJ Stroud can do because the comparisons are not on a level playing field. Fields has played two years and it becomes apples to oranges.

"I think you're just doing your due diligence with the draft as we do with every single position," Getsy said. "The other thing is, as we evaluated Justin from last year I think the growth, from where everybody—including yourselves (media)—like how the way that you viewed the guy and the way the team viewed the guy to where he was at this time last year, to where he is now, I think he's just light years ahead of where he was.

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"And I feel like he has a ton more to grow going forward. So we're excited to try to get the best out of him moving forward and keep working toward where we think he can go."

Fields' final statistics for two years frequently get tossed about. Recently it was noted Fields skeptic Michael Lombardi looking at his stats for two years and deducing the Bears should have been more involved in getting a quarterback.

However, Fields' improvement in the second half of last year, with sub-par talent and a constantly changing lineup due to injuries, was dramatic. It's where the light years comment becomes reality.

Actually the improvement began in Week 5 during the loss to Minnesota. From that point on Fields had a passer rating of 92.2, 15 TDs to seven interceptions, 63% completions and 7.0 yards per attempt.

Until that point in his career, Fields had a passer rating of 70.1, completion rate of 57%, 6.95 yards per completion, nine TDs and 14 interceptions.

Getsy took it a step beyond and included his improvement to 1,000-yard rusher in Year 2.

"So the yards that he ran for, a third of those came off of pass plays where he scrambled that he decided to run," Getsy said. "That's an element that we're fortunate to have with him in that position."

Based on the improvement, Getsy sees only huge things ahead for Fields.

"Then it goes to everything, right?" he said. "Getting the team around him better, and us all being together for another year and the continuity that we have and the communication that he and I have.

"Where we were kinda at the beginning of the season to the end of the season, I think is a lot better, so we're hoping to build off of all that stuff. So I think any time you can be together with somebody and keep that consistency there's going to be growth. He has a lot more growth ahead of him and we're excited to tap into that."

A big problem had been passing mechanics but Fields worked Oliver Bozeman of the Bozeman Academy to try to improve this. 

"Obviously the passing game is the priority, we ran the ball very well, but we all know we’ve got to improve in the passing game," coach Matt Eberflus said. "Part of that is rhythm and timing. That's the footwork with Justin. 

"He's been working on that really, really good. In terms of the quick pass, dropback pass, movement pass, and he’s really made some big strides in that area coming in so far—on his own and now coming into the Phase 2 (of team workouts), that first week. That’s really about it."

When his mechanical improvement from the offseason is added to the improvement from late last season and what they have brought in so far to help him with receiver DJ Moore and also tight end Robert Tonyan, the Bears see something big from their QB. 

They really do see Fields and the offense "light years" ahead of last year.

Twitter: BearDigest@BearsOnMaven