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Fields fits what Shanahan has looked for in dual-threat QBs initially appeared on NBC Sports Bayarea
It is simple to consider Kyle Shanahan and mechanically suppose he solely likes pocket-passers. That is, in spite of everything, the man who traded up within the third spherical to draft C.J. Beathard and has been open about his love for Kirk Cousins.
However the 49ers coach additionally was the architect of the offense that Robert Griffin III piloted throughout his Rookie of the 12 months season in 2012. Shanahan additionally has mentioned that how he evaluates quarterbacks is at all times altering and he is aware of the route the league is heading in after dropping a Tremendous Bowl to Patrick Mahomes and getting diced up by Josh Allen final season.
This brings us to the 49ers’ nice QB quest within the 2021 NFL Draft and Ohio State’s Justin Fields. Fields, who entered the season because the No. 2 QB within the class, now finds himself, by means of no fault of his personal, within the No. 3 to No. 5 vary behind Trevor Lawrence and Zach Wilson. The minute the 49ers acquired the No. 3 choose from the Miami Dolphins whispers that Shanahan was concentrating on Alabama’s Mac Jones, a prototypical pocket-passer, began to buzz round.
However anybody who labels Fields as an athlete taking part in quarterback simply hasn’t seen him in motion, and those that suppose Shanahan will not take a dual-threat QB simply have not been listening. And, after Fields ripped off an unofficial 4.4 40-yard sprint time and put on a show together with his proper on Tuesday at his professional day, you may see how the Ohio State star’s talent 08set and Shanahan’s view of the dual-threat signal-caller mesh effectively.
Here is Shanahan in 2018 discussing how defenses have yet to figure out the right way to correctly defend the read-option recreation, one thing he helped popularize within the NFL with Griffin.
“It’s a really sound scheme,” Shanahan mentioned. “It’s how do you need to assault it? What do you need to do off it after they one hundred pc decide to cease it? Which you’ll be able to, however that opens up all the things else, so what do you do to scare them out of all the things else? Is your quarterback adequate to run with the soccer to make them decide to cease it? And as soon as they do, is he adequate to make the passes that he has to that they simply opened up. And if he’s, that’s an enormous difficulty. It’s powerful to search out that man. And when you don’t shield him proper, when you don’t do the correct stuff, it’s powerful to remain wholesome.”
That final half, about staying wholesome, is vital to spotlight.
Not solely did Fields run a 4.4 40, however he additionally has a prototypical NFL body at 6-foot-3, 230 kilos, which suggests he ought to be capable to stand up to the hits that may come his means when utilized within the quarterback run recreation.
Not solely does Fields have the specified measurables to remain wholesome and take up hits, however he additionally has top-level arm expertise which makes him not a operating quarterback, however a quarterback who can run. As Shanahan famous, probably the most deadly model of the read-option comes when a quarterback could make a protection must worry him beating them together with his legs after which choose them aside after they decide to stopping the QB run recreation.
Any doubt about Fields’ arm power and accuracy ought to have been put to relaxation lengthy earlier than he donned shorts and a T-shirt on Tuesday, however he dazzled throwing the soccer for good measure.
Fields’ draft critics are involved about his decision-making quickness and talent to work by means of his progressions.
However when you watch Fields play for 2 seasons at Ohio State, it is clear that his points primarily stem from his confidence in his elite arm power and accuracy that he will get overzealous and tries to make the harder throw. Shanahan, who is without doubt one of the greatest quarterback coaches within the NFL, is perhaps the right man to take arguably probably the most gifted quarterback within the draft, harness his uncommon abilities and unleash him on the NFL.
RELATED: Jones, Shanahan offer glimpse into why they could be ideal draft pairing
It is honest to recollect what Shanahan mentioned after Allen ripped the 49ers aside by way of how he evaluates quarterbacks.
“How I consider all the things is at all times altering,” Shanahan mentioned. “Issues change, individuals change, you begin to see you may win soccer video games with any sort of quarterback so long as they’re adequate, and you’ll be adequate in lots of of various methods. So I consider quarterbacks by way of looking for individuals who can have an opportunity to be a type of elite-type guys, and there is numerous alternative ways to do it.”
Now, pair that with what Shanahan advised the media Monday about his ultimate QB archetype.
You need an elite participant and, in fact, if you will get a man who’s elite together with his arm and may play in that pocket and do all the things and nonetheless run round and make off-schedule performs. I imply, that is what you’ve got seen with [Kansas City Chiefs quarterback Patrick] Mahomes,” Shanahan mentioned earlier than later noting his prime standards for a quarterback. ” … I do suppose there’s extra choices coming into the league, however if you cannot sit in that pocket and play the place, finally it isn’t going to matter. So, they each go hand in hand.”
The final half definitely might give Jones a leg up within the competitors between him and Fields for the No. 3 choose. However Fields, who has the highest ceiling of the prime 5 QB prospects within the class, would appear to test each containers. Fields’ athleticism is spectacular, and being able to beat defenses along with your legs, particularly on third down, presents one other dimension to an already deadly offense. However Fields is a good passer with the arm expertise to hold within the pocket and ship strikes on command.
He is been over-analyzed to the purpose the place individuals have talked themselves out of a man who a no-doubt top-three choose six months in the past. This is identical man who rolled into the Sugar Bowl and threw six touchdowns in a mauling of Clemson.
It is lazy and naive to imagine Fields’ greatest asset is his legs, when, the truth is, it is his arm that ought to get prime billing. Labeling him as a operating quarterback is a thought born out of old-school NFL draft racism.
Fields’ expertise is simple, and with the correct coach, he might be a famous person. Considering Shanahan is not that coach as a result of he has gained with Cousins, Matt Ryan and Jimmy Garoppolo is equally lazy.
Shanahan has advised us what he appears for in a quarterback, how he views the quarterback run recreation and the kind of participant that may make that assault lethal.
Fields would seem to test all these containers, particularly after his professional day present.
Mac Jones is firmly within the dialog for the No. 3 choose. He checks Shanahan’s primary field and his skill to course of shortly and make good anticipatory throws is precisely what the 49ers coach needs.
However Fields would possibly provide much more of what Shanahan is searching for. Do not take my phrase for it, simply hearken to Shanahan.
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