Justin Fields is Bears’ future. How crucial is he today?

NFL coaching camps open formally Tuesday and all 32 groups’ purpose is to win Tremendous Bowl LVI in Los Angeles subsequent February.

There are two competing camps on the market proper now among the many thousands and thousands of Bears followers as summer time begins to hurry towards fall.

The mantra of 1 camp is, “Justin Fields is the second coming. Get him on the market instantly. We’ll stay along with his rising pains, and the losses that include it.”

In camp No. 2, their chant is, “Win as many video games as you may irrespective of who’s at quarterback.” Campers right here embody basic supervisor Ryan Tempo and head coach Matt Nagy.

These two hopes, needs or no matter you’d wish to name them are mutually unique.

Within the historical past of the Tremendous Bowl, no rookie quarterback has ever gained as a result of no rookie has ever taken his workforce there.

Within the Tremendous Bowl period, rookie quarterbacks have only a .355 successful proportion in playoff video games.

Speaking to at least one coach lately he requested me, “Why do not followers perceive how troublesome it’s and the way lengthy it takes to get a younger quarterback prepared?”

On the evening Fields was drafted Tempo informed us, “Once we choose a quarterback, the scenario that quarterback is coming into is important.

“Matt has spoken to Andy Dalton tonight. That communication and readability for us is basically vital. Andy is our starter, and we’re gonna have a extremely good plan in place to develop Justin and do what’s greatest for our group and win video games.”

Over the previous three seasons, 10 QBs drafted within the first two rounds have grow to be rookie starters. They’re a mixed 42-69-1 and none have been to the playoffs.

Nagy shared an analogous sentiment two days after Tempo made his feedback.

“Now it is our job to develop him,” Nagy mentioned. “There will likely be a plan with Justin and with Andy and with Nick (Foles), and with simply how we go about this. I feel that is going to be essential is that we perceive it. I went by that in 2017.”

That 2017 plan was Chiefs offensive coordinator Nagy watching Patrick Mahomes sit on the bench the primary 16 weeks of his rookie season as Alex Smith led the workforce to 10-6 and the AFC’s fourth seed.

The worst factor the Bears can do to Fields’ improvement is to place him on the sphere earlier than he is prepared or earlier than his workforce is prepared for him. The Bears understand it.

However can this Bears workforce contend?

Are they even nearly as good as final 12 months’s 8-8 workforce that claimed the NFC’s seventh seed?

The protection can return to high three or 4 within the league — which they proved in 2018 was ok to key a official playoff run — if the 4 30-somethings — Akiem Hicks, Khalil Mack, Robert Quinn and Tashaun Gipson — are nonetheless of their primes, with the return of Eddie Goldman and the arrival of the actual Quinn, and with a a lot improved move rush to assist overcome the lack of Kyle Fuller and indoctrination of recent defensive coordinator Sean Desai.

It is an actual risk with a ton of ifs.

On offense, Dalton gained 50 video games as a recreation supervisor. He led the Bengals to 5 straight playoffs his first 5 seasons whereas surrounded by high quality weapons and a stud offensive line.

Dalton’s Cincy arsenal included Cedric Benson, BenJarvus Inexperienced-Ellis, Giovani Bernard, A.J. Inexperienced, Marvin Jones Jr., Jeremy Hill, Mohamed Sanu, Jermaine Gresham and Tyler Eifert. Inexperienced was the one fixed from year-to-year.

I’ll argue that David Montgomery, Tarik Cohen, Allen Robinson, Darnell Mooney, Jimmy Graham and Cole Kmet are able to matching that firepower.

Dalton, nevertheless, additionally had All-Execs Andrew Whitworth and Kevin Zeitler, and proper deal with Andre Smith in entrance of him virtually all 5 seasons — Zeitler arrived for Dalton’s second 12 months — and the Bears are usually not at present near matching that.

Can they get there this 12 months?

Everybody higher hope they not less than shut the hole as a result of it appears like that could possibly be the obvious roadblock to each whether or not they can contend now, and the way quickly it will likely be smart to place Fields within the huddle.

Clearly he’s the longer term, however for proper now, in the present day, Fields isn’t the reply.

Sure, Dalton appears like a 75-foot putt, however how a lot enjoyable is watching a type of drop?

• Twitter: @Hub_Arkush