FBR: Fields struggling in shorts

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

I'm tempted to merge all of these into an "Arguments that are at least 3 years old" thread.

will all my Oline posts go in there ?

[HisRoyalSweetness]

22 minutes of some of Fields' play, which includes the brilliant 50-yard completion called back for a hold, one of the big PIs calls and the offensive PI that negated a second TD throw.

"I just wasn't sure how well this offensive line can play. I don't imagine you can put Russ back there if Russ isn't fully healthy because Russ is going to be running for his life out there."

"At the end of the day I think that Justin, if he beats the Chargers this weekend, he's going to keep the job. If he plays bad and they lose I think you got to look to Russ a little bit. But look, I think that we all know though this offensive line, they've got to get better. Justin's got to play a little better too but I thought it's a really good start to the year."

Encouraging comments in relation to Fields continuing to start and rack up those snaps to send that R4 pick our way...

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Steelers again preparing Justin Fields to start at QB with Russell Wilson (calf) limited

The Pittsburgh Steelers are in the same position as last week, preparing for quarterback Justin Fields to make another start.

Head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday the plan at this stage is to once again get Fields ready to start Sunday's game against the Los Angeles Chargers as Russell Wilson continues to deal with a calf injury.

"Really, we're kind of in the same posture as we were in last week with Russ," Tomlin told reporters. "As I sit here today, Russ is not scheduled to be a full participant in practice, and so we're readying a plan that features Justin and his readiness."

It's the same story as last week -- almost verbatim -- as Tomlin reiterated he's not living in "hypotheticals" when it comes to Wilson questions.

"We'll follow Russ throughout the week, and if his participation gets to a level in participation and quality where he should consider him, we'll delve into that at that time," he said. "Obviously, when that happens is a component of the consideration. But as I sit here today, he is not scheduled to be a full participant tomorrow in practice, and so we're readying ourselves around Justin, and we'll stay in that mindset until something else happens. Hypotheticals is a waste of our time."
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-again ... lf-limited

[dplank]

The One Step Ahead of the Defense All Day! Cmon. That's bad.

We are allowed to call Bad Takes bad right? Just asking

Then take it up with the announcers who said it.

He doesn't have a personal grudge against the announcer, just me. It's 100% personal, so don't bother with pointing out that all I did was refer to something an announcer said while watching the actual football game. He will quote and troll me up until the mods decide they won't allow it any longer. Thank you again for the attempt at community moderation!

[RichH55]

The announcer was wrong if he said that - And not a personal grudge against the announcer either.


Maybe Dplank ask the Mods about the Boy Who Cried Wolf that every disagreement or times a fact is presented (Generally 13 points by an Offense and less than 120 Yards passing isn't considered particularly good) it's not a personal attack.

I am sorry the Facts aren't on your side in this one. Take it out on them, not me.

[dplank]

https://www.espn.com/nfl/recap/_/gameId/401671632

[RichH55]

Opposing teams are averaging 8.666667 Points a Game Against Pitt Defense this year

The absolute dead last team in the NFL (in points) averaged 13.88 points a game

That's the short and dirty of it. With this level of Defense the 2023 Carolina Panthers would be 3-0 (Panthers and Patriots tied for least amount of Points last year)

Instead its all Fields being good and one step ahead of the Defense yadda yadda. 3 Scoring Drives in this game - 1 was a TD instead of a FG unlike last week (the one FG Scoring Drive seemed to give Fields every Personal Foul Call we wanted in Chicago - all in one drive)

But just get to 51% Fields - thats all that matters

[RichH55]

Steelers would be ahead of 4 teams from Last Year in terms of Points Per Game.

There are 32 Teams total.

[RichH55]

Opposing teams are averaging 8.666667 Points a Game Against Pitt Defense this year

The absolute dead last team in the NFL (in points) averaged 13.88 points a game

That's the short and dirty of it. With this level of Defense the 2023 Carolina Panthers would be 3-0 (Panthers and Patriots tied for least amount of Points last year)

Instead its all Fields being good and one step ahead of the Defense yadda yadda. 3 Scoring Drives in this game - 1 was a TD instead of a FG unlike last week (the one FG Scoring Drive seemed to give Fields every Personal Foul Call we wanted in Chicago - all in one drive)

But just get to 51% Fields - thats all that matters

1985 Bears Opponents Points Against Per Game:

12.375

[HisRoyalSweetness]

3 games down, 6 to go to reasonably ensure that 51%.

Fields played well enough to retain the starting job next week. As long as the team keeps winning it makes little sense for Tomlin to rock the boat and every reason to let Fields' keep auditioning for the gig longer-term.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

This place if Fields gets a ring

[RichH55]

The Ringer liked it

"But this is a new season, and the Steelers have a new quarterback: Justin Fields, who, surprisingly, has made the Pittsburgh passing game watchable for the first time in years. Fields didn’t light up the Chargers’ secondary in Sunday’s 20-10 win, but he put on a professional display of quarterbacking we didn’t see very often during his time in Chicago. He completed 25 of 32 passes for 245 yards with a touchdown and an interception. He scrambled only once, and he took only two sacks and lost just 13 yards on those plays. He committed his first turnover of the season—an unfortunate interception off a batted pass—but kept the ball out of harm’s way. It was the perfect performance for a quarterback trying to impress Mike Tomlin, who has spent the past few seasons coaching around the mistakes of Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitchell Trubisky. Fields more than pulled his weight in this win, and with the Steelers at 3-0 and in first place in the AFC North, it’s hard to see how Tomlin could possibly send Fields to the bench once Russell Wilson recovers from the lingering calf injury that has sidelined him since just before Week 1."

[dplank]

Opposing teams are averaging 8.666667 Points a Game Against Pitt Defense this year

The absolute dead last team in the NFL (in points) averaged 13.88 points a game

That's the short and dirty of it. With this level of Defense the 2023 Carolina Panthers would be 3-0 (Panthers and Patriots tied for least amount of Points last year)

Instead its all Fields being good and one step ahead of the Defense yadda yadda. 3 Scoring Drives in this game - 1 was a TD instead of a FG unlike last week (the one FG Scoring Drive seemed to give Fields every Personal Foul Call we wanted in Chicago - all in one drive)

But just get to 51% Fields - thats all that matters

I literally just posted a link to an ESPN article and got 3 bagged for it. Healthy.

[RichH55]

Opposing teams are averaging 8.666667 Points a Game Against Pitt Defense this year

The absolute dead last team in the NFL (in points) averaged 13.88 points a game

That's the short and dirty of it. With this level of Defense the 2023 Carolina Panthers would be 3-0 (Panthers and Patriots tied for least amount of Points last year)

Instead its all Fields being good and one step ahead of the Defense yadda yadda. 3 Scoring Drives in this game - 1 was a TD instead of a FG unlike last week (the one FG Scoring Drive seemed to give Fields every Personal Foul Call we wanted in Chicago - all in one drive)

But just get to 51% Fields - thats all that matters

I literally just posted a link to an ESPN article and got 3 bagged for it. Healthy.

Well the last post was literally a positive thing I found on Fields.

And you think that anytime there is a comment on Fields in the Fields thread - that's its about you? Really?

[RichH55]

This is also what the Steelers do - their Offense HAS been better with Fields than Mitch or Pickett or Mason Rudolph. That's an objective fact so far. It's also not much of a hill to overcome (also a fact)


"It’s been more than five seasons since the Pittsburgh Steelers fielded a passing game that could be called “productive” by even the most generous standards. Per TruMedia, the 2018 season was the last time Pittsburgh finished with a positive expected points added average on pass plays—that’s back when Ben Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown, and JuJu Smith-Schuster were still at the tops of their respective games. Pittsburgh has been an offensive wasteland since then. Only the Jets, Panthers, Commanders, and Giants have been worse by total EPA over the previous five seasons."

IN those 5 seasons they havent had a losing season and are also averaging 9.6 Wins a Year too

[Rusty Trombagent]

Field's second act as a game manager is interesting, to say the least.

[wab]

Field's second act as a game manager is interesting, to say the least.

Yeah, I did not have that on my bingo card.

[dplank]

It's who he was after he returned from injury last year - he played what I kept calling "winning football".

He was in control of the offense. He was limiting negative plays, reducing sacks significantly, took really good care of the ball, owned time of possession, etc. He looked like a different player after watching Bagent come in and have success by just distributing the dang ball quickly. That appears to have carried over.

[Grizzled]

He doesn't look like he's relinquishing the starting job. Do the Steelers try to trade Wilson after he recovers to a team needing a QB?

[wab]

I doubt they trade Wilson unless he makes a fuss, or a team like Miami gets desperate to save their season. It's not too often you have a cheap HOF caliber QB on the bench in case you need him.

Fields is still a work in progress and also has a propensity to get injured.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

A quick 3 minute look at two of Fields' plays from this week illustrating how Fields is reading the defense pre and post snap:

[HisRoyalSweetness]

For those who don't want to watch a whole game but are interested in seeing how Fields performed:

[dplank]

I doubt they trade Wilson unless he makes a fuss, or a team like Miami gets desperate to save their season. It's not too often you have a cheap HOF caliber QB on the bench in case you need him.

Fields is still a work in progress and also has a propensity to get injured.

Russ to Miami makes a ton of sense

[Moriarty]

I doubt they trade Wilson unless he makes a fuss, or a team like Miami gets desperate to save their season. It's not too often you have a cheap HOF caliber QB on the bench in case you need him.

Fields is still a work in progress and also has a propensity to get injured.

Russ to Miami makes a ton of sense

If they're trying to win games, maybe
If they're trying to tank, no

I'm not sure where they're at right now. And I'm not sure they can really know without seeing what Tua is going to try to do. And what the doctors, NFLPA, and league will say.

If they think he's going to stupidly insist on trying to play again and they won't be allowed to stand in his way, then they really ought to let him get his next concussion ASAP, so the matter can be settled and they can move on ASAP.

[dplank]

It’s my local TV market, they had Super Bowl hopes this year (foolishly IMO). That’s a hard pivot from that to tank after Week 3!

[RichH55]

It's who he was after he returned from injury last year - he played what I kept calling "winning football".

He was in control of the offense. He was limiting negative plays, reducing sacks significantly, took really good care of the ball, owned time of possession, etc. He looked like a different player after watching Bagent come in and have success by just distributing the dang ball quickly. That appears to have carried over.

It's really only winning Football when the Defense is holding the opposing team to very low scores (Which should have been the GB game last year too)

It's the same winning Football Pittsburgh has been playing for years and I don't think you'd credit the previous QBs (Mason Rudolph, Mitch!, Kenny Pickett)

I give credit - I thought with 3-0 record (no matter how it was arrived at) that this would be more Over the Top Fields is awesome stuff.

But yeah - if you hold the opposing team to under 10 Points on Average - Most QBs in the NFL are gonna have winning records

[dplank]

That 4th rounder is looking like darn near a lock right now. Fields already started 4 games and is playing so well I can't imagine they'd change to Russ. Here's his stat line after 4 weeks:

77/109 Comp/PA
Comp% - 70.6% which ranks 7th in the NFL
6 Total TD's against just 1 Turnover (1 turnover in 4 games is excellent)
10 sacks for 73 lost yards (this is right down the middle average in the league right now)
QB Rating - 98.0 (puts him 11th in the league if you remove Flacco who only played part of one game)
QBR - 52.1 (puts him 18th)

And while not a QB stat, the team is 3-1. So I just can't see Tomlin making a switch at QB.

[thunderspirit]

I wish JF all the success in the world when his team doesn't play the Bears.

[LacertineForest]

That 4th rounder is looking like darn near a lock right now. Fields already started 4 games and is playing so well I can't imagine they'd change to Russ. Here's his stat line after 4 weeks:

77/109 Comp/PA
Comp% - 70.6% which ranks 7th in the NFL
6 Total TD's against just 1 Turnover (1 turnover in 4 games is excellent)
10 sacks for 73 lost yards (this is right down the middle average in the league right now)
QB Rating - 98.0 (puts him 11th in the league if you remove Flacco who only played part of one game)
QBR - 52.1 (puts him 18th)

And while not a QB stat, the team is 3-1. So I just can't see Tomlin making a switch at QB.

Those are solid numbers for a guy on a new team learning a new offense. The offense still isn't scoring a ton of points (interesting that they lost the week when they had their best offensive output), and it seemed like the Steelers still wouldn't fully commit to him as the starter going forward, but I don't know if that's just gamesmanship or if they've talked more about it recently (haven't been paying attention to Steelers' media).

I'm very curious to see what he looks like against some better teams. Their schedule is pretty forgiving until the 2nd half. Hopefully he's got 9 starts under his belt by then!

[RichH55]

That 4th rounder is looking like darn near a lock right now. Fields already started 4 games and is playing so well I can't imagine they'd change to Russ. Here's his stat line after 4 weeks:

77/109 Comp/PA
Comp% - 70.6% which ranks 7th in the NFL
6 Total TD's against just 1 Turnover (1 turnover in 4 games is excellent)
10 sacks for 73 lost yards (this is right down the middle average in the league right now)
QB Rating - 98.0 (puts him 11th in the league if you remove Flacco who only played part of one game)
QBR - 52.1 (puts him 18th)

And while not a QB stat, the team is 3-1. So I just can't see Tomlin making a switch at QB.

4th Rounder is what ultimately matters. Now onto the cherrypicked stats!

QB Rating doesn't matter at all - honestly if a person was working in Football and they went up to a decision-maker and tried to make a serious point referencing QB Rating - you'd probably have their keys to the building before Lunch.

He has 3 Fumbles already. Only lost 1 of them - but if you don't think that matters - then you are misleading yourself. 3 fumbles in 4 games would not be considered "Excellent"

Sack Rate is more important than Sacks outright. If you only throw the ball 20 times a game - you are probably gonna take less sacks then a team throwing it 40 times a game. But that's a situation where if you get sacked 5 times on 25 dropbacks - that's WAY worse than 7 Sacks on 47 Dropbacks

On the Record thing (3-1 is indeed a Fact) - I just wouldn't be so sure on that (I'm not saying it doesn't matter at all, just that it wouldn't shock me in the least if Tomlin doesn't care about it)

Pittsburgh is in a three way tie for 22nd overall in terms of Points scored (and thats with a decent chunk of particularly Long FG in that 1st game) - Most QBs will win you the game when the opponent is averaging less than 10 Points per game

Tomlin had a chance to basically say Fields was the starter (he could have even used a phrase to give him some leeway for when (IF?) Russ is ever healthy) - and he kind of went out of his way not to say that.

Pittsburgh hasn't had good QB play in quite some time now - they also haven't had a losing record in that span of subpar QB play - and they keep moving on from the QBs (In fairness - not usually in season)

So I don't get the feeling that Tomlin puts all that much stock into it. I could be wrong.

There is also that 4th -All things being equal the Steelers are incentivized (currently) to not play Fields