Chicago Bears training camp: Does Justin Fields have enough to work with or is he being set up for failure?

Chicago Bears training camp is underway. It could be argued that the team left Justin Fields out to dry in his rookie season. Now, with the old coaching staff sent packing, will the new regime do enough to save Fields from becoming a bust?

The Chicago Bears are one of the odds-on favorites to finish dead last in the NFL. The depth chart is devoid of talent at a number of spots, with most of them being premium positions. The off-season trade of star pass rusher, Khalil Mack, and the fact that veteran Allen Robinson is now a Ram, signifies a changing of the guard scenario in the Windy City.

Left behind to help get this rebuild off the ground are a few players with high-end potential. Obviously quarterback Justin Fields drips talent and confidence. Running back David Montgomery is routinely one of the most slept on players in the league, and wide receiver Darnell Mooney is bound to reach his next level of development now that he’s perched atop the depth chart. Cole Kmet rounds out a somewhat promising crop of young talent on the offensive end.

As far as defense goes, Robert Quinn returns to Chicago for a third season. In 2021, Quinn produced a career year by recording an astounding 18.5 sacks. It was a common thought that the Bears might be looking to capitalize on Quinn’s sky-high value on the trade market, but they decided to keep the talented edge rusher around. Cornerback Jaylon Johnson and safety Eddie Jackson are strong pillars to build around in the secondary, and linebacker Roquan Smith mans the middle of the unit.

On the surface, those are some really promising pieces. However, when we dig into the rest of the roster, it begins to cast doubt on their ability to develop in such terrible conditions. For Fields, he is working with an offensive line made of paper. I don’t want to be disrespectful but I don’t think many of the Bears’ starters on the offensive line could block a chair at times. Little time to work with in the pocket is a recipe for disaster with a young quarterback. With Teven Jenkins seemingly on his way out, things don’t look to be getting better any time soon.

The next thing working against Fields and the team as a whole is the lack of options in the wide receiver room. Darnell Mooney is on his way to solidifying a spot as a No. 1 option in an offense. After that, the depth chart consists of Byron Pringle, N’Keal Harry, Equanimeous St. Brown, and Velus Jones Jr. That is not good. The last name on that list is one I’d like to shine a spotlight on real quick, though, because I believe he has the potential to catch a lot of footballs as a rookie in 2022.

Velus Jones Jr. is a much older prospect than his peers from the 2022 NFL Draft. Jones is 25 years old, and has only been a real starter at wide receiver for one season. He spent the first four years of his collegiate career at USC, serving as the primary kick returner after redshirting as a freshman. Jones transferred to Tennessee and played in the COVID-shortened 2020 season. Wisely, Jones utilized the extra year of eligibility granted to anyone who played in 2020, and it paid off big time.

Jones caught 62 passes for 807 yards and seven touchdowns in his lone season as a starter at Tennessee. He parlayed this into being selected at No. 71 overall by the Chicago Bears. He should immediately start in the slot, and he will likely be the x-factor most weeks when it comes to moving the football on offense for the Bears. Jones is a strong route runner, and he uses his vast experience to “outsmart” his defenders.

The Bears offense is going to be ran by new offensive coordinator, Luke Getsy, in 2022. Getsy spent the past two seasons working under Matt LaFleur in Green Bay as the quarterback coach and passing game coordinator. Getsy looks to bring over the same new-age approach to the Packers division rival, Chicago Bears. It will be important for the first time offensive coordinator to keep his young quarterback clean and feeling comfortable in the pocket.

Of course, that is always much easier said than done. The offensive line ranked near the bottom of every category last season, and they lost arguably the best player on the line when James Daniels signed with the Pittsburgh Steelers. The unit must improve if Chicago is to have any success on offense. Being able to establish a strong run game on the back of bellcow David Montgomery would benefit Fields greatly.

The defense is very much a work-in-progress, but new head coach Matt Eberflus is a specialist on that side of the ball. He helped transform the Indianapolis Colts into one of the stronger defensive units in the league. Inheriting building blocks like Roquan Smith, Jaylon Johnson, and Eddie Jackson is a great step in the right direction. If Quinn can repeat his success at getting to the quarterback, they might be able to surprise some teams.

Last year felt a lot like Justin Fields was being led out to the slaughter. If the offensive line doesn’t take a step up, it’s going to be another year of hostility in the pocket. The good news is that, even though things aren’t ideal, the franchise is committed to beginning a new era in Chicago. Rather than the hopelessness that floated around the locker room, this year will feature much more positivity, even if the wins don’t stack up. It’s going to be a bumpy ride, but this is the season we find out what Justin Fields is truly made of.