Justin Fields Secret Weapon?

T.J. Edwards sees some Jalen Hurts in Justin Fields, but what he can't see is the eyes of the Bears quarterback.

Edwards, the Bears linebacker acquisition from the Philadelphia Eagles, likes to read a quarterback's eyes in zone coverage like most good linebackers and defensive backs. He's a little mystified by what he's seeing from the Bears offense in practice.

Fields and DJ Moore have beaten Bears coverage in practice with regularity, including several times again in Day 2 of practices on Thursday.

"Yeah I mean I think again, we saw a little taste of it in OTAs, their connection in general," Edwards said.

Edwards thinks Fields might have an edge the defense doesn't like much.

"And also in general, one thing that I think he's doing right now, I don't know if it's the colored visor or something like that but you can't really see his eyes too well," Edwards said. "So he's doing a really good job of just kind of moving you at certain times and they just seem to be on the same page. You know, even with tight ends and things like that."

So that shaded visor Fields uses on his helmet to cover his face is throwing off the defense. He has more going for him, though, and Edwards should know.

Edwards provides good insight into the Bears quarterback because he played with another mobile QB in Jalen Hurts the last three years and saw the development of last year's MVP runner-up.

"Just going back, I think you saw his progression and one thing you noticed about Jalen was just his work ethic," Edwards said. "And I think that's really what kind of jump-started his progression so quickly. And you see similarities with what's going on here.

"I think just from what I know about Justin, you see him just getting to his reads quick, you see him kind of changing the field and getting through the progressions. He really tests you and keeps you honest with what you're doing. I think in that way you kind of see some similarities, and I got an up-close view of Justin last year playing here."

That was in December's 25-20 Eagles win at Soldier Field over the Bears.

"I know how talented he is with his feet and what he can do," Edwards said. "So I'm really excited. I'm really really impressed for sure."

The defense and coaches like saying until pads come on you can't really gauge what's going on up front and how linemen and the rush affect the passing game. Conversely, Edwards is quick to point out they haven't seen the best of Fields in scrimmaging because his scrambling isn't even really a factor.

"Yeah, I mean I think one, just from again from OTAS and from being here a couple days at camp, there's been some tight windows that he fit the ball in," Edwards said. "You see his arm, his arm strength and what he can do and how quickly he's getting that ball out is big time.

"And again we haven't even added in the feet factor yet and what he can do in the open field but I think they (receivers/QBs) all seem to be on the same page with what they're doing and making our jobs a lot moore difficult which is what you want right now."

Fields found Moore deep at the start of practice again, had a nice one fitting in the middle of the zone to him deeper and started off several drives in 11-on-11 and 7-on-7 by going right to Moore.

"It's simplified right now, but it's good that they’re able to be on the same page," offensive coordinator Luke Getsy said. "So as we continue to grow and things start to get a little bit more complicated with the looks that you’re getting and the offense we have in, we've just got to make sure that we continue to keep that pace.

"But they spent a lot of time together in the offseason and the summertime, too, so I feel good about where they’re at."

What Getsy really appreciates about Fields now is something he brought up in OTAs. The two can talk about the offense now in Year 2 have an actual discussion, rather than a mentor lecturing the disciple.

"I think I said this in the spring, I said it to (Darnell) Mooney on the field today," Getsy said. "It's fun to be able to talk deeper into the concepts and stuff. So, we're not talking about the simplicity of what the word means anymore. We're talking about what the reaction should be.

"And I think having those next-level conversations with Justin makes everything look like he's more comfortable with what we're doing. It's not one particular thing; I think it'sT on a whole, when you see the guy who's comfortable with the footwork, with the progressions, with the communication in the huddle. You guys see him using a lot more cadence in the first two days, so all that stuff I think has been fun."

While Getsy is seeing the progress from Fields and his receivers, they're not cutting back on basics like trying to get the ball out in rhythm faster than in the past.

"That's our training," Getsy said. "You guys see us out there all day. Coach Janocko does a great job. That's pretty much 90% of what we do is that timing and rhythm and making sure that we have the ball where it's supposed to be and when it's supposed to be there.

"And so we just keep drilling the heck out of it and then you take it to the team and 7-on-7 drills and then hopefully that carries over into your games."

Then Fields will try to put it all together: the receivers, the offense and the helmet visor.

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