Tag: justin fields touchdown pass

Matt Nagy-less Justin Fields throws incredible play-action touchdown pass

Justin Fields’ impressive touchdown pass against the 49ers proves once again that Matt Nagy has done Fields no favors.

As was pointed out on this week’s preview podcast with myself and Mark Schofield, Bears head coach Matt Nagy has done just about everything possible to mismanage the efforts of rookie quarterback Justin Fields, From refusing to use him as an option runner, to throwing the same old slant/flat garbage out there every week, it’s a miracle Fields has been able to do anything with his head coach and “offensive mastermind” hamstringing him as he has.

With Nagy out of the picture this Sunday against the 49ers due to the COVID protocol, it would appear that the coaches left on the staff — and specifically offensive coordinator Bill Lazor in this case — have been able to give Fields more to work with. This impressive touchdown pass to tight end Jesse James with 12:03 left in the first half shows one way in which Fields needs (and is now getting) more help.

Notice the boot-action on that touchdown pass? Well, through Week 7, per Pro Football Focus, Fields had completed 23 of 35 passes for 262 yards, 7.5 yards per attempt, 65.7% completion rate, one touchdown, no interceptions, and a passer rating of 97.6 with the benefit of play-action. Without play-action: 52 of 96 for 554 yards, 5.8 yards per attempt, 54.2% completion rate, passer rating of 48.7. Fields has been given play-action on 46 dropbacks, which ws tied for 28th in the league with Ben Roethlisberger, who hates play-action and always has. 

And the Bears should have been well aware of this.

Justin Fields at Ohio State in 2020 with play-action: 33.5% of his dropbacks. 57 completions in 77 attempts for 907 yards, 11.8 yards per attempt, 74.0 completion rate, nine touchdowns, one interception, a passer rating of 146.4. 

So, at least Fields will have a full schematic arsenal this week. When Nagy returns? Well, sadly, we know how that will go.

Watch: Justin Fields uses “Y Leak” for his first NFL touchdown pass

Justin Fields’ first NFL touchdown pass came on one of the most effective play calls in the NFL. Why does “Y Leak” work so well?

Bears rookie quarterback Justin Fields had already run for a touchdown in his NFL debut against the Dolphins, and with 3:52 left in the third quarter, Fields hit tight end Jesse James for a 30-yard touchdown pass — Fields’ first at the professional level. It’s interesting to see how this play was designed, and why it worked so well in this case.

The Dolphins were throwing ton of man coverage at Fields, and one of the sure ways for any mobile quarterback to beat man coverage is to run against it. Cornerbacks have to turn their heads in man coverage assignments, and when they turn their heads, they leave open rushing lanes for the quarterback. Fields had already run five times for 33 yards and that touchdown when this play was made, and he’d scrambled for 21 yards just two plays before when he didn’t like what he saw in coverage.

So, when the Dolphins saw run-action blocking and Fields rolling to his right with center Adam Redmond pulling out to block on what became the touchdown pass, they might have read this as a designed run. That was their first problem. Their second problem was that James ran the “Leak” route to perfection — on such routes, the tight end should look like he’s running a short crosser away from the play (possibly as a blocker), he should get lost in the mess of players at the line, and then, he should break into the open field. With that, Fields had James as open as he’ll ever see any receiver at this level.

From the overhead view, you can see the Dolphins further flummoxed by the intermediate crosser and deep post run away from the eventual play. There’s also the matter of the running back as the backside hot read — by the time James releases to his route, the defender has committed underneath.

“Leak” is a staple concept in Kyle Shanahan’s 49ers offense, which is why you’ll see similar wide-open backside throws designed by Shanahan.

Defenses are betwixt and between on such plays because they have to defend the boot, they have to deal with the two-man frontside routes, they have to address the backside hot read, and then, they have to adjust to a frontside tight end running a simple crosser and then becoming a deep receiver. It’s a lot to handle, and kudos to Bears coach Matt Nagy and his staff for dialing it up to Fields’ benefit.

Fields finished his first NFL game completing 14 of 20 passes for 142 yards and a touchdown, and that touchdown was obviously the big play. It’s important to remember how much Fields’ ability to make people miss as an open-field runner set it up.