New York Jets starting quarterback Justin Fields is facing immense criticism.
NFL Insider Connor Hughes of SNY revealed on “Jets Final Drive” that Fields “right now, no matter where you look, Next Gen, TruMedia, Pro Football Focus, they’re all slightly different on the specific number, but he is last on every single one of those websites in time to throw. What that means is from when he gets the ball in his hands to when he throws the ball, he is taking the longest amount of time from snap to ball.”
This week, ahead of the Denver Broncos game in London, Fields was asked for his perspective on this critique of his game.
“I don’t think that’s a credible stat, so to say, if I’m being honest with you a part of the QB position,” Fields said.
“I’m not sure, I don’t really look at stats if I’m being honest with you. Yeah, I didn’t know that. I’m not on social media, so I have no idea. My job is to put up as many points on the board, whether that’s the least amount of time to throw or whether that’s the most. I feel like that’s not a good, if I’m being honest with you, that’s not a good indicator because you got guys who scramble and they count that, so it’s like yeah pocket passers are going to have the least time to throw because they scramble the least. I remember one of my years in Chicago, they said I had the longest time to throw too, and at the same time I’m scrambling behind the line of scrimmage, so of course you’re going to count that,” Fields explained.
Jets Coaches Back Fields Amid Heat From Fans and Analysts on Social Media
Jets offensive coordinator Tanner Engstrand was asked if he agrees with the narrative that Fields has been holding onto the ball too long this season.
“I think he is getting rid of the ball at the time in which the play is telling him to get rid of the ball. Again, I think we talked previously if we’re trying to push the ball down the field on a play-action pass, when do they start the stop clock? You know, that is going to take a little bit longer as opposed to throwing the quick game and throwing a slant or an out route. So when we want to try and utilize some of those plays, it is inherently going to take a little bit longer for him to get rid of the ball. But is he sitting back there and just hanging onto the ball in the pocket in drop-back pass? I really don’t believe he is, and he is correct with the guys that can utilize their legs as a weapon, it is going to increase the time to throw at times,” Engstrand explained.
Fields Hasn’t Been the Problem for the Jets
The former Ohio State product may be winless in the green and white, but he has succeeded statistically.
Fields leads all quarterbacks in the NFL this season in average rushing yards per game (51), per ESPN.
He is one of only two starting quarterbacks in the NFL who didn’t throw an interception through the first five weeks of the season (minimum four games played).
Fields through the first month of the season has set a new career high in completion percentage (67%), average yards per pass (7.1), and quarterback rating (100.1).
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