Following the second preseason game, Chicago Bears head coach Matt Nagy once again stood behind his decision that Justin Fields would not be starting in the regular season opener. Fields was drafted with the 11th overall pick in the 2021 NFL Draft. Nagy has been adamant during his press conferences that Andy Dalton would be the week one starter for the Bears.
Matt Nagy and the Chicago Bears are out of their minds for not starting Justin Fields.
Bears’ HC Matt Nagy reiterated today that Bears’ QB Andy Dalton will start Week 1 at Los Angeles against the Rams, saying: “We need to see him in the regular season.”
— Adam Schefter (@AdamSchefter) August 21, 2021
First off, let’s look at the situation.
Entering the season, according to this article from Pro Football Focus, the Chicago Bears offensive line ranks 28th in the league. For what it’s worth, the Dolphins, Panthers, Steelers, and Giants are the only teams that rank worse.
By starting Justin Fields at quarterback, it alleviates the pressure on the offensive line. Fields ran a 4.44 40-yard dash at Ohio State’s pro day, which was the fastest time for a quarterback in 15 years. The former Buckeye is capable of escaping the pocket when it collapses and keeping plays alive.
Meanwhile, Andy Dalton is struggling.
Andy Dalton in two pre-season games so far:
9 drives, 5 three-and-outs, 1 INT 😐 pic.twitter.com/pCn1PkYOh6
— Barstool Ohio State (@BarstoolOSU) August 21, 2021
Head Coach Matt Nagy On The Hot Seat
If you’re looking to bet on the first coach that’s fired during the season, Matt Nagy might be a safe bet, especially if he continues to commit to Andy Dalton. While he has struggled at times, Justin Fields has shown the ability to move drives downfield as the starting quarterback.
Coming out of Ohio State, many had Justin Fields ranked second in the quarterback class, just behind Trevor Lawrence, including myself.
At some point, Nagy is also in danger of losing the locker room, especially if Dalton continues to struggle into week one. However, at that point, will he be able to save his job?
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