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Of course, Justin Fields should have slipped, because if you make yourself bad like he did Friday night, it will do you a lot of damage in the NFL, hurting more than he had when Clemson LB James Skalski lowered his head and almost his ribs broke. scrambled on a second quarter with a hit that gave Skalski a debatable ejection for target.
There will come a time, over and over, and over the years, at which Justin Fields will be reminded that when you face an NFL franchise, if you pay for payment, it’s critical that you generally do not want to give up when the old colleagues try, discretion is the best part of bravery, and you can better control your competitive juices in the environment of bigger and faster bloodthirsty predators with bad intentions.
But it was the national semifinals of the College Football Playoff, and it was a two-player duel against the great Trevor Lawrence.
The NFL will nod its head and fully understand it, and Justin Fields remembers more for how he met the moment and sent Lawrence off and Ohio State leads to a 49-28 demolition of Sugar Bowl at Clemson in New Orleans and a national championship date with Nick Saban’s Alabama.
All Fields did (22-for-28, 385 yards) was to laugh at the pain and pass it six times. Bombs away. Accuracy and leadership and a will to win at its best.
That does not mean that Justin Fields will give the Jacksonville Jaguars a breather with the no. 1-overall choice. No chance, no way.
This does mean that Justin Fields, Joe Douglas, GM, Jets, may have had to wait with the second choice if he and Adam Gase’s successor decide they need a successor to Sam Darnold.
The child probably looks like someone’s dreams.
The successor would be Fields of Zach Wilson of BYU.
And if Douglas and the next head coach decide to build around Darnold?
Well, the cost of the No. 2 overall pick has only risen for a desperate desperate team that Justin Fields will covet.
It was the evidence ground of Justin Fields after some sub-performances against Indiana (3 INTs) and Northwestern (2 INTs) that raised the question of his ability to process effectively.
It was Justin Fields’ big, bright stage to fool Clemson coach Dabo Swinney for disrespecting the Buckeyes when he picked them number 11.
Forgive Swinney and defense coordinator Brent Venables if they had flashbacks from Joe Burrow who had them (31-for-49 for 463 yards and 5 TDs, 58 rushing yards and 1 rushing TD) in LSU’s 42-25 national championship victory last January .
Fields powdered his right side through the crown of Skalski’s helmet. He was on his back on the Superdome lawn and stayed there for a tormenting moment.
Justin Fields did not stay in any way. Or out.
He walked to the sidelines. He makes up. He missed one play. When he returned, he immediately fired a 9-year-old TD pass to WR Chris Olave. He was examined in the medical tent. He’s not coming out. He finished the first half 16-for-18 for 223 yards and 4 TDs. No one spoke about the right thumb he sprained against Northwest.
There was an interception in the end zone early in the third quarter.
And not long after, a 55-yard TD cent to Olave made it to Ohio State 42, Clemson 21.
And then: a rainbow to Jameson Williams for a 45-yard TD that made it Ohio State 49, Clemson 21.
Six TD passes.
Six incompleteness.
Second career loss for Trevor Lawrence.
The second overall pick for Justin Fields.
Dromevelde. For someone.