Patriots are interested in Fields

The Patriots are reportedly heavily interested in Justin Fields. On paper based on numbers, he looks good. When I wrote my top quarterback prospects list back in January, he finished behind Mac Jones who scored an 88.5, and Fields score of 87.5 that was enough to put him ahead of Dustin Crum 86.7 who returned to school, Trevor Lawrence who scored an 84.2 and Zac Wilson and Kyle Trask who scored an 80.4 and 80.2. I was shocked that Lawrence didn't make the number one spot on my list with all the talk about him. Link: http://vicariouslypatriots.blogspot.com/2021/01/temo.html

The problem is Fields had a lot of concerns when I read his scouting reports. Film and game play don't always agree with numbers and show things that numbers don't, that was evident in the scouting reports. I wrote an article that "Belichick could be playing Russian Roulette if he drafts Fields". Link: https://vicariouslypatriots.blogspot.com/2021/01/belichick-could-be-playing-russian.html

The article was my report in fields. What I had found was that Fields can be accurate and hit timing routes but throws to bubbles too often instead of putting the ball where it needs be. That although he has good strength, he has the ability to throw touch passes but he relies on his strength when he shouldn't. 

He has the ability to be elusive in the pocket but his pocket awareness is bad. He freezes and takes sacks or gets nervous and runs when he shouldn't.

Fields has good vision going through his reads but he's got the gunslinger mindset, always looking for the big play when he could be taking advantage of the dink and dunk and moving the chains. He has a habit of locking on to his first read and not looking off the safeties.

Fields is accurate on short to intermediate but accuracy fades when he goes longer. Many of his deep throws were from broken plays.

His gunslinger mentality gets him in trouble. Relying on his arm strength, he forces the ball into tight windows or to covered pass catchers, while other guys down the progression are open. This is also because he locks on to his first read too often. Again he needs to learn to take what the defenses give him and Dink and Dunk, like an intelligent passer.

Fields is more of a finesse runner, at least compared to Cam Newton. He needs to learn he's not gonna bull people over and learn to slide and save himself for another play. He can throw on the run, so defenses will need to account for him on the move which should allow him theoretically to throw the ball to open guys but accuracy of the throws will come into question.

The good news is Fields is very coachable. The bad is he gets lazy at times and it shows in his accuracy on tape. His decision making can be questionable. He's got all the potential to be a top pick but his consistency and work ethic on the field hurt his value. 

His footwork is said to be sloppy at times, throwing from the wrong stants and his throwing mechanics could be tighter. He's a lot like Cam Newton in this aspect as well.

Fields can line up under center and he has the ability to read a defense pre snap. He's also shown he can be a leader in the locker room but he's also shown he needs a lot of work and should not start year one and possibly not year two.

There were three names that I saw in comparison when I wrote my initial report on Fields. The ceiling name was DeShaun Watson, the floor name was Ryan Tannihill, and the in between name was Dak Prescott. 

Fields reads to me has a high risk, high reward, younger version of Cam Newton which is scary because without Newtons legs and deep ball, Newton is a backup quarterback. Fields, has the ability to have his problems fixed and be able to developed into the dink and dunk quarterback the Patriots need and want.

With his aggressive style, Jimmy Garoppolo or Tyrod Taylor would be mentors than Newton, to calm him down and show him how to play conservatively. If he was overtly cautious, then Newton would be a better mentor but Newton displays all the bad habits the Patriots will need to fix with Fields.  Not a good pairing. I believe fields could fall unless a team believes they can fix his problems but could he fall to 15 or would the Patriots need to trade up?