How should QB snaps be divided in Chicago Bears preseason opener
The Chicago Bears will have an interesting decision to make when it comes to how they handle quarterback snaps in the preseason. Of course, these games are not going to count, and they do not want to see Justin Fields get banged up.
At the same time, Justin Fields is in year two, and the team did not do a great job of getting him enough reps to start last season. It is also a completely new offense, so with the change and needs for experience, it is a fine line to walk.
Beyond that, the change in 2021 from four to three preseason games will affect how teams view using the preseason.
In most years, the first game is about establishing a reputation, the second and third games were for starters, but the fourth game was for the end of the roster battles. Will the first two games have the significance of the middle two?
How should Chicago Bears split QB reps?
The expectation will be that Fields is going to start, the question becomes how long he will play. The only value to keeping him deep into the game would be to work the two-minute drill. Still, that may be better for the second game, or whichever game the team will use as the dress rehearsal.
In most cases, you should expect to see Fields open the game, and then get three or four more drives, depending on game flow. It should be enough to where Fields can knock the rust off, can see live defenses, and call plays of the new offense, but not enough that he will be seeing backups who want to make a name for themselves throwing their body at him.
This should go into the middle of the second quarter. Trevor Siemian can finish the second quarter, and hopefully, run a two-minute drill. This will still be valuable to have Siemian get the experience and put the others through the drill.
Siemian can run the two-minute drill, take notes during halftime, and then they can have him come out and run the first drive of the second half as well.
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From there, it will be Nathan Peterman’s time. Expect him to play from the mid-way point of the third quarter, through the end of the game.