The Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback state of affairs is now below a microscope. (Photograph by Joe … [+]
Getty PicturesThe Pittsburgh Steelers’ quarterback state of affairs can be some extent of rivalry transferring ahead after Sunday evening’s displaying towards the Dallas Cowboys.
A sport that was delayed nicely over an hour as a consequence of climate in Pittsburgh concluded with the Steelers falling by the rating of 20-17.
Dak Prescott led the Cowboys down the sector on a game-winning drive that culminated in a landing move to Jalen Tolbert. This got here after Prescott dedicated three giveaways earlier within the sport.
Regardless of yielding that 70-yard game-winning landing drive, Pittsburgh’s protection was to not blame for this loss. It was all in regards to the lack of offense led by quarterback Justin Fields.
The previous Chicago Bears first-round decide simply didn’t have it in his fifth begin as a member of the Steelers. Fields accomplished 15-of-27 passes for 131 yards with two touchdowns. He added a mere 27 yards on six rush makes an attempt.
This efficiency come amid the seemingly return of fellow quarterback Russell Wilson subsequent week. The free-agent signing missed the primary 5 video games as a consequence of a calf harm he suffered in the course of the summer season. Wilson was surprisingly the emergency No. 3 quarterback Sunday evening after ramping up observe exercise in the course of the week.
Acquired this previous offseason to revamp the Steelers’ quarterback room, Fields and Wilson have been concerned in a coaching camp battle earlier than the latter suffered the aforementioned Calf harm. It led to Fields getting the QB1 job heading into the season.
Quick ahead greater than a month, and the 3-2 Steelers may now be again on the drafting board in the case of this place. Fields had led them to a 3-0 report earlier than struggling throughout their present two-game shedding streak.
Russell Wilson Return Renews Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback Competitors
Ought to the Steelers flip to Russell Wilson? (Photograph by Justin Berl/Getty Pictures)
Getty PicturesThe 35-year-old Wilson signed a mere one-year, $1.21 million contract again in March following a failed two-year run with the Denver Broncos. For Pittsburgh, the hope was that he may rekindle his days with the Seattle Seahawks by which Wilson led them to 2 Tremendous Bowl appearances and a Lombardi Trophy.
Clearly, Wilson’s harm impacted issues on this entrance. It led to Fields “incomes” the beginning gig by default. Heading into Week 6 towards the Las Vegas Raiders, consideration in Pittsburgh will now flip to what head coach Mike Tomlin has deliberate at quarterback. He has but to present a sign a method or one other lower than 24 hours after a second consecutive defeat.
As for Fields, he is aware of full nicely that Sunday’s efficiency simply was not sufficient.
“We simply missed pictures and shot ourselves within the foot once more,” Fields advised reporters, through the Steelers’ official web site. “So I do not suppose we’re a type of groups searching for id. I believe we all know who we’re. We’re a crew that predicates on operating the soccer and staying on schedule in first and second down after which executing on third down, however we simply did not get the job completed.”
Pittsburgh’s largest performs on offense have been a 28-yard move from Fields to George Pickens and a 20-yard display screen to operating again Najee Harris. Exterior of that, Fields continued to wrestle getting the ball down the sector. It’s been a continued subject for the previous Ohio State star since Chicago made him the No. 11 decide within the 2021 NFL Draft.
From a broader perspective, down and distance performed a job in Pittsburgh’s shortcomings on offense Sunday evening. It transformed on simply 3-of-12 third-down alternatives whereas averaging a mere 4.0 yards per play. That’s simply not going to chop it in right this moment’s NFL.
That is the place Wilson’s seemingly return comes into play. His veteran expertise would change the dynamics in the case of pre-snap penalties, working the down and distance points and discovering higher alternatives on third down.
Pittsburgh Steelers Have No Fast Repair At Quarterback
Pundits can put many of the blame on Fields for Pittsburgh’s efficiency Sunday evening. He’s the quarterback. It comes with the job title.
Nonetheless, there’s much more in play right here. This offense lacks elite skill-position expertise. And when somebody just like the aforementioned Pickens disengages throughout a sport, that’s magnified additional. The younger broad receiver was benched at occasions Sunday evening, which is a transparent indication one thing is simply not proper on that entrance.
“You recognize, we simply wished to type of decrease his reps in an effort to get extra productiveness,” Tomlin mentioned of Pickens after the loss.
Will issues magically change ought to Tomlin choose to start out Wilson over Fields in Week 6? The symptoms above appear to color a skeptical image in that regard.
Wilson got here to Pittsburgh after he was benched late final season in Denver. He has not seemed like a starter-caliber quarterback after departing Seattle following 10 good seasons within the Pacific Northwest. Throughout that two-year run with the Broncos, he put up an 11-19 report with 42 landing passes in 30 video games.
For the Steelers, it’s going to be all about whether or not they consider playoff rivalry is the secret transferring ahead. In that case, beginning a extra seasoned Wilson is sensible. If not, going the youth route with the 25-year-old Fields needs to be within the playing cards.
For now, we wait and see what Tomlin has deliberate. However what I do know is that the established order is just not working.