Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers are increasingly incorporating QB Justin Fields into their game plans. Over the past two weeks, he has played 10 snaps with very mixed results. At the end of the day, the Steelers believe the changeup is a bigger problem for the defense than it is for them.
“That’s part of what we’re doing. I’ve been pretty clear [the fact] Justin in the past [Fields] He’s healthy now, he’s a viable, capable guy,” Tomlin said yesterday. From the Steelers website. “That’s something your opponent has to realize. When to use it and how much to use it depends on your weekly plan.
When asked if changing the quarterback out mid-drive could disrupt the offense’s rhythm, Tomlin acknowledged that point. “It’s certainly a possibility, but we’re more excited about the challenge it poses for the other team,” he said of Fields filling in for Russell Wilson. “And I think that reflects our general attitude. We live in hope, not fear.”
The Steelers have mostly used Justin Fields on second, third or fourth down, rarely starting a new set of downs, never mind the series. Of course, the sample size is still very small, so no satisfactory conclusions can be drawn.
But still, we know that change can disrupt things. Even Justin Fields admitted he had communication issues in his first official game. He was scheduled to play early in the game, but a pre-snap penalty changed course.
As for who makes the call about when Justin Fields will play, Mike Tomlin said that authority rests with either him or OC Arthur Smith. “It can happen from either party, and it certainly has happened,” he said. At least Smith can go to Tomlin and say, “I’d like to bring in Fields.”
The Steelers want to use Fields because he adds rare athleticism under center. However, the defense didn’t seem to respect him as a quarterback during the game, and his throws didn’t go well. Although Tomlin claimed to have believed the call, many questioned the decision.
Of course, sometimes things work out just the way the Steelers envisioned. Justin Fields broke off on a 30-yard run in the final game, but couldn’t score so he kicked himself. After the game, he said on the sideline that he needed to do a better job of relaxing himself.
It’s probably a good idea if he has to throw the ball, too. And I think if the Steelers really want to make this happen, they need to get Fields to succeed and pass out of this package. Because if the defense doesn’t respect passing opportunities, they will concede points.
