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PITTSBURGH — Buying Justin Fields after signing Russell Wilson was alleged to be a long-game transfer for the Pittsburgh Steelers. With Wilson in pole place for the beginning job from the minute he signed, the Steelers would methodically decide if they might mould the uncooked potential on show in Chicago into the Steelers’ subsequent franchise quarterback.
As an alternative, Wilson’s lingering — and now aggravated — calf damage expedited the Steelers’ analysis of Fields with the majority of first-team work via coaching camp and two regular-season begins. He could possibly be in line for an additional, with Wilson’s calf at lower than 100% and the Chargers — with a protection permitting a league-low 6.5 factors per sport — coming to city Sunday. With only one landing in two weeks and a mean of 260 yards per sport, the Steelers’ offense beneath Fields is a piece in progress. Nonetheless, a two-game pattern measurement gives a extra tangible take a look at what Fields brings to the job than his coaching camp reps and preseason motion.
“I feel with every passing day I am studying extra about him,” coach Mike Tomlin stated Sunday. “I simply assume that there is not any substitute for a relationship. You undergo one thing collectively, you study yourselves and one another and so it is simply been a very good course of. Wanting ahead to it persevering with.”
Passing sport
A few of Fields’ most evident weaknesses in his Chicago tenure got here within the passing sport, however via two weeks, the Steelers have decreased Fields’ margin of error by simplifying the go assault.
Fields has averaged 6.1 air yards per try, in accordance with ESPN Analysis, nicely under his profession common of 8.4 air yards per try. In consequence, he’s finishing a career-high 69.8% of passes and has a completion share above anticipated worth of -1.4%, additionally a career-best, in accordance with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats. And maybe most significantly: Fields hasn’t thrown an interception or misplaced a fumble.
When he does stretch the sector, he is discovering receiver George Pickens loads. Pickens leads Steelers receivers with eight catches for 114 yards with a mean of 14.3 yards per reception.
Fields has solely been sacked 4 instances in two video games. In 2023, he was sacked 10 instances in his first two video games. Of Fields’ two sacks in opposition to the Broncos, one was a protection sack for a lack of a yard and the opposite got here within the pink zone.
Fields’ ball placement has improved every sport. He confronted the best blitz charge of his profession in opposition to the Broncos (64.3%), in accordance with NFL Subsequent Gen Stats, however he accomplished 9 of 13 makes an attempt for 83 yards and a landing.
“You could possibly simply see he was dotting ’em at present,” large receiver Van Jefferson stated Sunday. “It is nice having him again there. He did quite a lot of nice issues at present, and so he simply received to proceed to construct and proceed to maneuver ahead.”
In some methods, the Steelers’ early go assault with Fields reduces him to extra of a game-manager function moderately than leaning into his large play potential. And whereas he is minimized errors, there have nonetheless been a pair recurring points, primarily within the snap exchanges with middle Zach Frazier. There was a fumble on the snap alternate in each video games, although the Steelers did not lose possession.
Speeding assault
Maybe probably the most worthwhile piece of Fields’ upside is his capacity to run the ball. It offers the Steelers one other run menace on the sector, making it tougher on defenses to key in working backs Najee Harris or Jaylen Warren. Fields is the Steelers’ second-leading rusher behind Harris with 84 yards on 22 carries, averaging 3.8 yards per carry.
By way of two video games this season, the Steelers are working higher going up the center, averaging 3.5 yards per stick with it such runs in comparison with 1.8 yards per carry in 2023. The Steelers are additionally averaging 3.7 yards per carry contained in the tackles, up from 1.4 yards per carry in 2023, but they’re the one staff to not rating a dashing landing regardless of main the league in rush makes an attempt.
Towards the Falcons, Fields had 14 carries for 57 yards, whereas that quantity dropped to eight carries for 27 yards in opposition to the Broncos.
Fields leads all quarterbacks with 12 designed runs via two weeks for 28 yards. He is additionally picked up 4 first downs with these performs. Nonetheless, whereas Fields has probably the most known as runs, he is fifth in whole yards on these performs with a season-long designed run of seven yards. He additionally averages simply 2.3 yards per rush in designed runs, rating third behind Lamar Jackson (6.3) and Jayden Daniels (2.4). That means that whereas the Steelers are using Fields’ capacity as a runner, he isn’t being requested to cowl quite a lot of floor on these carries.
However Fields continues to be persevering with to learn to discover the correct time to make use of his legs. He admitted to breaking the pocket too quickly, resulting in a sack in opposition to the Falcons, and typically his prolonged scrambles lead to penalties in opposition to the offensive line.
“It is powerful on them,” Fields stated of the offensive linemen. “Particularly after I scramble out and people D-linemen are chasing after which they’re locked up, and the D-linemen are attempting to go get away. It’s powerful on them.”
Nonetheless, Fields’ teammates consider he is constructing confidence find that timing with extra sport motion.
“Utilizing his legs when wanted on first downs or simply staying within the pocket and simply taking successful,” tight finish Darnell Washington stated, describing methods he is seen Fields’ confidence translate on the sector. “I felt like at present what I seen, I noticed him on the bottom loads after the throws and issues like that.”
0:53
Rex Ryan: There is no approach the Steelers are buying and selling Russell Wilson
Rex Ryan ponders whether or not different groups within the NFL will pursue buying and selling for Russell Wilson and explains what they’d want to surrender to safe his signature.
Intangibles
There’s, after all, an elephant within the locker room: the present quarterback association has the trimmings of a clumsy scenario. But outwardly, the gamers are navigating it as finest they will.
Wilson is a captain and continues to exit for the coin toss. There is not an influence wrestle. That is not Fields’ fashion.
“He is been respectful of Russ,” Tomlin stated in an interview with the CBS broadcast Sunday. “He would not bow all the way down to Russ.”
And although Fields spoke brazenly of eager to be a starter within the NFL after arriving in Pittsburgh, he is downplayed any discuss of a quarterback controversy within the common season.
“To be trustworthy, I am not even fearful about that,” Fields stated. “I simply got here in wanting a win and I am glad that we’re leaving right here with a win. So by way of who’s beginning, who’s not, all I need to do is win on the finish of the day.”
It is that method and Fields’ management fashion that makes the present quarterback association work. He is the primary to confess he isn’t a person of many phrases. However that is why, his Steelers teammates stated, when he does communicate, they’re additional tuned in.
“He is undoubtedly calmer, laidback, however he has a sure aura about him,” left deal with Dan Moore Jr. stated. “Individuals sort of simply need to comply with Justin naturally. When he speaks, you need to pay attention. He would not say a lot, so when he does communicate, it is undoubtedly one thing you need to hearken to, however he is been an incredible chief for us.”
