dplank wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 5:24 pm
Yogi da Bear wrote: ↑Mon Jun 07, 2021 4:52 pm
So to clarify, should we start Fields when he's actually ready? Does him performing better than Dalton in training camp make/prove him ready? Or should we simply start him opening day? Because I'm confused.
And what exactly are looking for to determine whether or not Fields is ready?
We should start him when he’s ready. If that’s Week 1 great, if he’s not ready he should sit until he is. We should not force him opening day if he isn’t ready. Good?
As for readiness assessment, that’s tough because we aren’t in practice. What I hope the coaches do is see when he has a good grasp of most of the playbook, command of the huddle, and seems “comfortable” out there. As fans, we won’t know that. I’ve mentioned Dalton before because I think he’s a good player and sets a pretty solid performance mark for Fields to have to beat as a “rough take” on his readiness. But the real decision would come from practice and out of our view as fans.
What I would NOT do is force him to sit as a predetermined thing. You seem to be suggesting that.
Okay, I'll try to interpret what you're saying. If I have it wrong, let me know.
From what I gather, Dalton is kind of the benchmark here for you. If he can perform better than Dalton in practice, then we should start him. Is that right? I have a couple of problems with that.
First, like I've already said, I think with Fields' natural abilities, he's probably better than Dalton right now. That doesn't mean that Fields is ready by any stretch of the imagination. I think that Mahomes was probably better than Smith from the get go too. I'll say again, if Fields has to wear a sleeve with plays on it, I don't think he should play, even if he is better than Dalton. He can't be comfortable in that situation.
Second, let me reiterate, there's a big difference between beating somebody out in practice when you're focusing on single plays and digesting a complete game plan and playbook. Practicing a single play, you'll get to the point where it's simply playing, while with a complete game plan, you might still be thinking out there: what do I do next, what's my progression on that play, what are my audibles, what defense are they in, what do I do, etc...
With this in mind, for me, I absolutely don't START him until he's ready. If somehow Dalton goes down in preseason, and Fields isn't ready, I'd start Foles instead. As part of this, and a predetermined thing--I absolutely would NOT start Fields Opening Night. Period. There's no way he's ready. And I wouldn't send him in there against that Ram defense at their house. No way. Fields doesn't need the stress of that shit on his first game out. Now, I might have him prepare a couple of plays to be used as a weapon in that game, and to have something we can review with him the following week. But no way do I start him.
And if Dalton is starting Week One, I'd also start him Week Two to give him a shot at his former team. After that, I'd more open to starting Fields, but my preference would be to follow the plan I've already laid out. Give Fields a couple of plays each game to really master and use those in games. Make the plays different ones each week. Then give him a scripted series for a week or two, evaluating each week whether he's ready to handle a complete game plan. Only when he's then ready to do that would I start him, and in that start, he wouldn't be wearing an arm band with plays on it either. lol