For Tippmann, the only player who took 100% of the snaps on offense last season, playing with a mobile and elusive quarterback will be a new experience.
“Coming from Wisconsin, we pocket pass or drop back,” Tippmann said of his days in college. “So getting to play with someone like that … I mean, it’s super exciting. Just being able to be out on the field, through OTAs and then through camp now, just seeing what he can do on the field with his legs, just the way it opens up the entire offense. It’s night and day. I’m excited about it. “
He added: “When we’re out there, he’s a really calm guy, kind of keeps everything levelheaded in the huddle, so that you’re able to just go to work every single day. And then, when you come off the field, I can say, ‘Hey, what would you think about that?’ And, you know, I get an honest answer right then and there. So it’s been great.”
The challenge for Fields will be to internalize and master his third different offensive system in a third straight season. The new OC Tanner Engstrand has been challenging and working with Fields since the two former NFC Central rivals — Engstrand with the Lions and Fields from his three seasons in Chicago — joined forces.
As he strives to make believers out of any skeptics in the critics’ section, Fields said that he has simple goals.
“Winning, winning games, winning a lot of games, making the playoffs,” he said. “I think that’s number one on my list for this team. And winning the division as well. So I think those are the goals that are set forth. But of course, before we do all that stuff, we got to win our division. And go out and really do better each and every day. So all that to say that’s of course, down the line, so you kind of got to focus on today and tomorrow. But taking it step by step, day by day. But those are the goals that I want to accomplish this year.”