Fields Improving in Second Year
For most of the 2005 season, defensive tackle Ron Fields watched from the sidelines as most of the members of his rookie class took the field as starters or key contributors. That finally changed in week ten when Fields suited and saw his first action while on the road in Seattle.
“I was hyped,” recalled Fields. “It was like I had drunk four mochachinos and was going off that caffeine. It was such a rush to play finally because I had just been waiting on my chance to get in and show them what I can do.”
He finished out the year playing in four games with seven tackles, not the production Fields quite hoped for but a foundation to build on.
“There’s nothing like experience and getting out there and suiting up for Sunday,” said defensive coordinator Billy Davis. “It allows the player to realize he does belong and he can do this and they really take a big step after they realize that, and Ron is definitely good enough to be here. He’s got a little bit of experience now and we are really hoping to get him some more this preseason.”
The former Mississippi State alum was a player the 49ers felt could really be developed into a top pro when the drafted him in the fifth round a year ago.
“He came in raw and (defensive line coach) Gary Emanuel has really done a great job of bringing him along with the techniques and scheme that we use here and Ron has shown that he fits well,” said Davis. “He’s a strong player, a big solid body.”
That massive body took a while to develop. Fields didn’t start playing football until high school because the 6’2, 323 pound player he is today was for many years a “skinny” kid.
“All of the sudden I just sprouted up and put on weight and they started recruiting me to play ball,” said Fields.
Rated as a top player in Louisiana coming out of high school, Fields spent a year at Hargrave Military Academy as he tried to improve his test scores to get into college.
“When I first got to the military academy, I didn’t like it and I was trying to go back home,” recalled Fields. “It grew on me because you have to make what you can out of it. I stuck with it and got my ACT scores up and went on to Mississippi State. But I think it was a better experience than had I gone to a junior college because I learned the disciplines of the military and all of that, about face, having your shoes shined, bed all tucked in, all of that.”
That discipline, combined with strength and athletic ability showed during his career at Mississippi State where he finished his senior season with 57 tackles, including 7.5 stops for losses.
“When I’m chasing down a running back, I just think that he’s trying to take food out of my mouth,” said Fields. “I’ve got to feed my family and so I just get after him.”
His run-stopping ability is something the 49ers knew could be an asset, but he’s also developing into more of a pass rusher. Fields said working against his teammates everyday in practice has helped to develop the skills necessary to get to the quarterback.
“Of course Larry Allen is a mass to get around, but Jeremy Newberry was really hard to go up against,” said Fields. “He has great hands and when I had the chance to work against him at the start of camp I really tried to find ways to get around him."
That motivation and motor is something head coach Mike Nolan
“He’s got an outstanding motor,” said Nolan. “When we drafted him that was the knock on him. ‘He doesn’t have a very good motor.’ He’s got a good motor. He’s a good football player and he has continued to get better. He just needs to stay on that track, but he’s going to be alright. That motor shows up because he’s been told many, many times that if you want to make it the NFL, you have to have a good motor. And I think he got that message.”
From his commitment to the off-season program to his maturity as a player, the 49ers are expecting big things out of this stout defensive lineman.
Fields, who changed his jersey number from 95 to 93, the year his beloved grandmother passed also feels that 2006 should be his year.
“My grandmother taught me to take advantage of every opportunity I get,” said Fields. “I feel more mature in the system now. I know my plays. Last year I was a rookie and they didn’t have the trust in me like I think they do now. I didn’t have that experience but I think now they are pretty sure about me. I worked hard at practice last year and tried to show them what I can do. I feel like I have a lot of potential and now this is my chance. It’s been a long time coming. It’s time to show what I can do. That’s what they brought me here for, so I’m going to make the most out of my chance.”
For most of the 2005 season, defensive tackle Ron Fields watched from the sidelines as most of the members of his rookie class took the field as starters or key contributors. That finally changed in week ten when Fields suited and saw his first action while on the road in Seattle.
“I was hyped,” recalled Fields. “It was like I had drunk four mochachinos and was going off that caffeine. It was such a rush to play finally because I had just been waiting on my chance to get in and show them what I can do.”
He finished out the year playing in four games with seven tackles, not the production Fields quite hoped for but a foundation to build on.
“There’s nothing like experience and getting out there and suiting up for Sunday,” said defensive coordinator Billy Davis. “It allows the player to realize he does belong and he can do this and they really take a big step after they realize that, and Ron is definitely good enough to be here. He’s got a little bit of experience now and we are really hoping to get him some more this preseason.”
The former Mississippi State alum was a player the 49ers felt could really be developed into a top pro when the drafted him in the fifth round a year ago.
“He came in raw and (defensive line coach) Gary Emanuel has really done a great job of bringing him along with the techniques and scheme that we use here and Ron has shown that he fits well,” said Davis. “He’s a strong player, a big solid body.”
That massive body took a while to develop. Fields didn’t start playing football until high school because the 6’2, 323 pound player he is today was for many years a “skinny” kid.
“All of the sudden I just sprouted up and put on weight and they started recruiting me to play ball,” said Fields.
Rated as a top player in Louisiana coming out of high school, Fields spent a year at Hargrave Military Academy as he tried to improve his test scores to get into college.
“When I first got to the military academy, I didn’t like it and I was trying to go back home,” recalled Fields. “It grew on me because you have to make what you can out of it. I stuck with it and got my ACT scores up and went on to Mississippi State. But I think it was a better experience than had I gone to a junior college because I learned the disciplines of the military and all of that, about face, having your shoes shined, bed all tucked in, all of that.”
That discipline, combined with strength and athletic ability showed during his career at Mississippi State where he finished his senior season with 57 tackles, including 7.5 stops for losses.
“When I’m chasing down a running back, I just think that he’s trying to take food out of my mouth,” said Fields. “I’ve got to feed my family and so I just get after him.”
His run-stopping ability is something the 49ers knew could be an asset, but he’s also developing into more of a pass rusher. Fields said working against his teammates everyday in practice has helped to develop the skills necessary to get to the quarterback.
“Of course Larry Allen is a mass to get around, but Jeremy Newberry was really hard to go up against,” said Fields. “He has great hands and when I had the chance to work against him at the start of camp I really tried to find ways to get around him."
That motivation and motor is something head coach Mike Nolan
“He’s got an outstanding motor,” said Nolan. “When we drafted him that was the knock on him. ‘He doesn’t have a very good motor.’ He’s got a good motor. He’s a good football player and he has continued to get better. He just needs to stay on that track, but he’s going to be alright. That motor shows up because he’s been told many, many times that if you want to make it the NFL, you have to have a good motor. And I think he got that message.”
From his commitment to the off-season program to his maturity as a player, the 49ers are expecting big things out of this stout defensive lineman.
Fields, who changed his jersey number from 95 to 93, the year his beloved grandmother passed also feels that 2006 should be his year.
“My grandmother taught me to take advantage of every opportunity I get,” said Fields. “I feel more mature in the system now. I know my plays. Last year I was a rookie and they didn’t have the trust in me like I think they do now. I didn’t have that experience but I think now they are pretty sure about me. I worked hard at practice last year and tried to show them what I can do. I feel like I have a lot of potential and now this is my chance. It’s been a long time coming. It’s time to show what I can do. That’s what they brought me here for, so I’m going to make the most out of my chance.”
