Chicago Bears: Mark Fields will make you forget about Bryce Callahan

Q&A with Mark Fields

DaWindyCity (DWC): Thanks so much for taking some time out of your day to talk with us. If you would, please talk a little bit about your preparations for the NFL Draft?

Mark Fields (MF): Now that the Combine and Pro Day are over, I’m just focusing to make sure I get into football shape. Stay up on my cardio drills and taking it one day at a time until we get through the draft. I’ve got a couple of visits lined up as well.

DWC: Your father played linebacker for nine years in the NFL. Talk to me about what it was like growing up in a football family.

MF: It was cool growing up in a football family. Playing football is really all I ever wanted to do, watching him. It’s just something that has been a part of this family for a very long time. Growing up he taught me a lot of things about the game early on. So I would say it was a positive just because I was exposed to so much at a young age.

DWC: What has your father told you that has helped you prepare for this moment and the NFL Draft?

MF: He’s told me just to be myself and always tell the truth. And to let them see your personality.

DWC: You were a part of two National Championship teams at Clemson (2016 and 2018). What did you take away from playing in so many big games that you think will help you at the next level?

MF: At Clemson, we played in a bunch of big games. I feel like it’s going to help me at the next level because I’ve been exposed to having 110,000 people in the stands every Saturday, so being a part of that and a winning program, I just feel like it’s gotten me ready for the next level.

DWC: What are you going to miss the most about your time at Clemson?

MF: Just the people. You know at Clemson, it’s a family type atmosphere. Everybody welcomes you with open arms and everyone is honest. So that’s probably what I’m going to miss the most — that and going to war every week with the guys in that locker room. It was real fun.

DWC: You know, there are a lot of similarities between Dabo Swinney and Matt Nagy, particularly in how they take an honest approach with their players. If you could, tell me a little bit about what it was like to play for Dabo.

MF: Playing for Dabo is awesome man. He’s always honest and lets you know things you need to work on. And he’s very spiritual as well. He poured into me a lot in that area as well. Not just football — I could go to Dabo for anything. So I’m definitely going to miss playing for a guy like that. He poured so much into me over my four years here at Clemson to help me get ready for what I’m going to do at the next level. So I’m really going to miss that a lot.

DWC: Who was the toughest wide receiver you covered in college?

MF: Man you know, that’s a pretty tough question but I’d have to say the guys I went up against in practice over my four years at Clemson. You know practice here at Clemson is like game-day. I remember the first time I stepped on the field as a freshman, my first one-on-one rep was against Mike Williams. So I’d have to say all the guys I’ve seen here at practice — from Mike Williams to Charone Peak, Deon Cain, Ray-Ray McCloud, Artavis Scott. Even the boys we have now, Tee Higgins and Justyn Ross, all those guys. I’ve seen everything, from the big guys to the small shifty guys, I’ve seen everything.

DWC: You had a really good Senior Bowl. Tell me what you took away from that experience.

MF: The Senior Bowl was cool. I met a lot of great people and made some really nice relationships. It was a great week of work and another opportunity for me to show my skill set and what it is I can do. I had a great week there and it was an awesome experience.

DWC: How was the NFL Combine?

MF: The Combine experience was awesome. I got to sit down and talk with a lot of different teams — the Bears being one of them. And just to have the opportunity to show what I can do on the big stage. So all in all, I had a really good experience at the Combine.

DWC: Some scouts have called you the best cover corner in the Southeast. Where do you think you stack up against other cornerbacks in the draft?

MF: To be honest, I think I’m the best corner. I can play inside and outside. I feel like I bring so much to the table. I have so much in my toolbelt. I can play different techniques — off, press-man. I feel like I can do it all, especially with my athleticism. So obviously I feel like I’m the best corner in this draft.

DWC: What are some of your biggest strengths?

MF: Like I said, the ability to play inside and outside, outside corner, nickel. The ability to blitz as well. I can blitz off the edge. I can do multiple things in the defense, as well as special teams — gunner, run down on kickoffs — so I can bring special teams to the table as well.

DWC: Do you think there is a part of your game that might be underrated?

MF: Just my ability to tackle — to play that nickel in the box. That’s another aspect of my game I didn’t really get to show in college because I was on the outside covering so much. But I feel like that’s an aspect of my game that a lot of people will see at the next level, along with my covering ability and my ability to come off the edge, and blitz. I feel like those are aspects of my game that people will see at the next level.

DWC: Is there a current NFL cornerback that you think your game is similar to?

MF: You know what, I take bits and pieces from everybody’s game. I’m not a 6-foot-1 corner, so I really don’t look at guys like that but I do watch them. And I try to take bits and pieces from everybody’s game and incorporate it into my own.

DWC: What NFL wide receiver are you most looking forward to facing?

MF: Yeah, I want to go against Antonio Brown. That’s who I want to go against. That’s exciting to think about.

DWC: Have you had an opportunity to meet with anyone from the Chicago Bears?

MF: I talked to a couple of people at the Senior Bowl. But I do have a visit there on the 31st in Chicago and I’m looking forward to that. I think it’s going to be a fun time up there to connect again with the coaching staff and meet some of the players and stuff like that. So I’m excited about that trip.

DWC: The Bears led the NFL with 27 interceptions last season. What are your thoughts about the possibility of playing for a defense like that?

MF: Obviously that would be super-exciting. Coming from a defense in college where we had a lot of takeaways. We played a lot of man, and a lot of zone as well. So playing for a defense like that would play right into my strengths. I feel like up there in Chicago they would utilize me perfectly, allowing me to do a lot of different things in the defense. So it’s really exciting to think about.

DWC: What kind of impact do players like Khalil Mack, Akiem Hicks, Leonard Floyd, and Eddie Jackson, have on a cornerback’s job?

MF: Yeah man, when you have monsters like that on the front end, it just makes it so much easier on the back end because you know, you don’t have to cover as long because you have constant pressure from dudes you know are going to get to the quarterback. And when you have a ballhawk like Jackson back there, you know he’s going to be over the top. He’s just a guy with amazing ball skills and he can cover sideline to sideline. So a guy like that is amazing to have back there in the secondary. And having guys like that in there, it makes the corner spot a lot easier.

DWC: If you could talk to all 32 NFL general managers, what would you want them to know about you?

MF: I’m a guy who is a fiery competitor. I love to compete. I’ve got that dog in him. I can play inside and outside corner, and I can bring it on special teams. Just an all-around baller. I’m just looking for an opportunity.