If you’ve never been part of a dress rehearsal, they are crazy exciting. (And somewhat terrifying.) Until that performance you really don’t know what type of play you have.
Fields’ first half would have had us whispering in the wings, “I think we got something real here.”
— DaBearsBlog (@dabearsblog) August 28, 2022
It’s hard to get excited for a “dress rehearsal” when the opponent announces none of their stars will play and several of your own stars won’t play either. They don’t have dress rehearsals for a production of Hamlet and let the Claudius and Gertrude sit them out. Nevertheless, we watch.
Quarter One.
- Dante Pettis returns the first punt. He’s been reliable in that job this summer and he seems to have a solid spot on the roster.
- Why does David Montgomery need preseason reps? We know how limited the shelf life of running backs is in the league. Why would you subject one to a single hit they don’t need to take?
- Second drive for the offense provided a sense of how Getsy wants to approach the field. This is not an offense that will exist between the tackles. They want to use every inch, from sideline to sideline.
- Justin Fields taking cheap shots in the preseason. That seems valuable.
- Fields’ touchdown strike to Ryan Griffin was on a rope. The kid has a remarkable arm.
- He also played an extremely composed quarter. He sat in the pocket. He surveyed the field. He delivered the football accurately.
- Hard to really gauge what this defense will look like without seeing Robert Quinn and Roquan Smith out there. But they are checking all the boxes when it comes to intensity.
Quarter Two.
- David Montgomery looks quicker, but there was no reason for him to STILL be carrying the football in the second quarter.
- Fields to Pettis for the second touchdown. Another strike, after Fields looked all other options.
- Never overreact to preseason action but Jaquan Brisker has some superstar potential. He’s as good in run support, pursuing the player, as he is in coverage, pursuing the football.
- Fields throws a touchdown pass to a wide-open Cole Kmet. But the play was made by Fields’ patience. He had the checkdown early. But he didn’t take it. He allowed the play to breath. It did. Touchdown.
- Really strong performance all around from Justin Jones.
- Same for Kindle Vildor, who looks like he’ll have a significant role in the defense.
There is only one story of this half, and subsequently, game. The Bears saw what Justin Fields can be in this league. And what he can be is a top tier starting quarterback.
Quarter Three.
#Bears injury update:
DL Dominque Robinson (leg) has been downgraded to out.— Bears Communications (@BearsPR) August 28, 2022
Quarter Four.
I don’t believe any important players got hurt in the 1st half, and nobody hugely important is playing in the 2nd half, so tonight was a huge W for the Bears. #PreseasonAnalysis
— Johnathan Wood (@Johnathan_Wood1) August 28, 2022
