Justin Fields Megathread - Steelers Edition

[RichH55]

Pittsburgh rolls behind Fields again! No way they change, no friggin way

That's more WITH Fields not behind him.

But he's playing good enough to get to 51% - Lets Hope.

Another Fumble too

[dplank]

Yea your other link acted like he wasn’t starting today even though that was never in doubt. The team is behind him, that job is his barring a losing streak.

[RichH55]

Yea your other link acted like he wasn’t starting today even though that was never in doubt. The team is behind him, that job is his barring a losing streak.

Not my link - But "eventually" replace is - not the same as "immediately"

Do you really think the Steelers don't think they can win all the games where the Defense is both getting turnovers (the one INT led directly to a very short TD) AND giving up 13 or less points a game?

The 1985 Bears Defense gave up 12.375 Points a game. Steelers when they are right there or better than that are 4-0.

Feels like maybe, just maybe that could and should be part of the discussion.

Unless we don't think Tomlin and the Steelers management can put 2 and 2 together on that.

[RichH55]

Pittsburgh rolls behind Fields again! No way they change, no friggin way

Yet this is the first thing I saw when I went to ESPN: NFL Week 6: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game

Will Russell Wilson start in Week 7? Though the Steelers beat a short-handed Raiders team with help from Justin Fields' fourth and fifth rushing touchdowns of the season, the quarterback was inconsistent and inaccurate in his sixth start. Fields completed 14 of 24 passes for 145 yards to go with 11 carries for 59 yards. But he had a bad interception negated by a roughing the passer penalty and a series of off-target throws in the first half that halted a promising drive.

He's got to get the start next week, at the very least. I wonder how much of this media narrative matches at all with the Steelers' front-office, if at all.

It's an interesting question.

On one hand - the whole don't change a horse midstream.

But the Steelers have been winning games with flat out BAD QB play (worse than Fields) for literally YEARS now. They don't keep trotting out the Bad QB.

When your Defense plays games like the 85 Bears (13 or less points a game) - You are gonna win Many more of those than you lose in today's NFL (Steelers Zero wins when they give up more than 13 points in the a game this year)

Justin Fields has a Fumble a game - MOST recovered by the Steelers mind you - but Coaches KNOW thats a crap shoot - they don't want players that don't get Fumbles recovered - they want Players that DONT Fumble (period).

You throw a bad INT and get bailed out by a call (that didn't effect the play)(unless its an offsides call - that's a different beast there) - Stats might look nice - but you can guarantee Coaches see it.

Right now Steelers have a Defense that is playing at a Contending level.

The Offense has NOT hampered them winning games. It also hasn't really contributed much to the winning either.

So I wouldn't say the Record thing alone is gonna keep Fields in the job - IF they think Wilson could be better for them come Playoffs

[RichH55]

I don't understand why folks are tying in Fields / Mooney performance and acting like it's some revelation that he's doing good in Atlanta. His best season was with JF1 as his QB in 2021. His yardage is directly related to his targets.. What happened after 2021 wasn't a QB that couldn't throw the ball well enough, if you look at Fields yardage it increased in 2022 and 2023 from the 2021 season where, again, he was the QB throwing to Mooney during his best season. So if the QB didn't change, but the results changed dramatically, what happened? Pretty simple.

We change OC's + Mooney missed a bunch of games from injury + DJ Moore came to town. That combo is what changed his stats, not the QB - again the QB didn't change. What did change? Nagy went out and Getsy came in, and Mooney's targets plummeted from 140 to 61!!!! A lot due to scheme, a lot due to injury, and in the last year Mooney was hurt and DJ came in and commanded the lions share of targets. DJ got 136 targets and had 1,364 yards and his QB was, again, Fields.

We are seeing Mooney play well now and, no surprise, he's already at 40 targets just 5 weeks in to the season. Cousins threw the ball 58 times last week. Luke Getsy's offense threw the ball 17 times last week. Cousins is a really good at spreading the ball around. This is basic math folks, and trying to shoehorn this in to a dig on Fields is just non sensical - he was the QB when folks point to Mooney being good.

Folks were saying Crazy things about Mooney last year (not all - but some). He's terrible, never open, etc etc (Basically alot of its Not Fields fault)

The problem simply wasn't Mooney - Feels like people should acknowledge that

[RichH55]

I don't understand why folks are tying in Fields / Mooney performance and acting like it's some revelation that he's doing good in Atlanta. His best season was with JF1 as his QB in 2021. His yardage is directly related to his targets.. What happened after 2021 wasn't a QB that couldn't throw the ball well enough, if you look at Fields yardage it increased in 2022 and 2023 from the 2021 season where, again, he was the QB throwing to Mooney during his best season. So if the QB didn't change, but the results changed dramatically, what happened? Pretty simple.

We change OC's + Mooney missed a bunch of games from injury + DJ Moore came to town. That combo is what changed his stats, not the QB - again the QB didn't change. What did change? Nagy went out and Getsy came in, and Mooney's targets plummeted from 140 to 61!!!! A lot due to scheme, a lot due to injury, and in the last year Mooney was hurt and DJ came in and commanded the lions share of targets. DJ got 136 targets and had 1,364 yards and his QB was, again, Fields.

We are seeing Mooney play well now and, no surprise, he's already at 40 targets just 5 weeks in to the season. Cousins threw the ball 58 times last week. Luke Getsy's offense threw the ball 17 times last week. Cousins is a really good at spreading the ball around. This is basic math folks, and trying to shoehorn this in to a dig on Fields is just non sensical - he was the QB when folks point to Mooney being good.

Folks were saying Crazy things about Mooney last year (not all - but some). He's terrible, never open, etc etc (Basically alot of its Not Fields fault)

The problem simply wasn't Mooney - Feels like people should acknowledge that

Went back to make sure I was getting folks Mooney takes correct - and yeah He's a good WR (not a Legit #1, but certainly a #2) just cast with a bad QB and play calling looks like Pure revisionist history

"Mooney sucks bro "

"WTF happened to Mooney". "

"For reference: Green Bay has 5 WRs better than Mooney at getting open"

"Mooney can’t catch"

"I hate Mooney and want him gone."

(Most of them - all over the map in terms of which week we are talking follow something like: "If the people around Justin Fields do their jobs we win that
game - this point has no rebuttal, it's a simple fact.").

"And Mooney can fuck all the way off out of Chicago, and not because of the hail Mary drop (which was also pathetic but would have been lucky)."

The discourse on Mooney this last year - was less helpful and reasonable than one might remember...

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

This thread is not “Mooney-talk”.

The facts are :
Fields is starting for Pittsburgh.
Fields is winning more games at Pittsburgh than he did at Chicago
Fields looks like he’s better at reading defenses at Pittsburgh.

[dplank]

This thread is not “Mooney-talk”.

The facts are :
Fields is starting for Pittsburgh.
Fields is winning more games at Pittsburgh than he did at Chicago
Fields looks like he’s better at reading defenses at Pittsburgh.

Actually - Fields went 5-2 his last 7 here. He turned the corner after his injury IMO. That said, Caleb is already a better player so I’m happy with how this worked out and looks like we will get a 4th after all!

[Arkansasbear]

Pittsburgh rolls behind Fields again! No way they change, no friggin way

Yet this is the first thing I saw when I went to ESPN: NFL Week 6: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game

Will Russell Wilson start in Week 7? Though the Steelers beat a short-handed Raiders team with help from Justin Fields' fourth and fifth rushing touchdowns of the season, the quarterback was inconsistent and inaccurate in his sixth start. Fields completed 14 of 24 passes for 145 yards to go with 11 carries for 59 yards. But he had a bad interception negated by a roughing the passer penalty and a series of off-target throws in the first half that halted a promising drive.

He's got to get the start next week, at the very least. I wonder how much of this media narrative matches at all with the Steelers' front-office, if at all.

I think he starts next week without a question about it. If he is anywhere between great and meh he gets the following week. If he’s bad it becomes a pick ‘em. If he’s awful Russ likely gets the call.

[Arkansasbear]

Pittsburgh rolls behind Fields again! No way they change, no friggin way

Yet this is the first thing I saw when I went to ESPN: NFL Week 6: Biggest questions, takeaways for every game

Will Russell Wilson start in Week 7? Though the Steelers beat a short-handed Raiders team with help from Justin Fields' fourth and fifth rushing touchdowns of the season, the quarterback was inconsistent and inaccurate in his sixth start. Fields completed 14 of 24 passes for 145 yards to go with 11 carries for 59 yards. But he had a bad interception negated by a roughing the passer penalty and a series of off-target throws in the first half that halted a promising drive.

He's got to get the start next week, at the very least. I wonder how much of this media narrative matches at all with the Steelers' front-office, if at all.

I think he starts next week without a question about it. If he is anywhere between great and meh he gets the following week. If he’s bad it becomes a pick ‘em. If he’s awful Russ likely gets the call.

[dplank]

Given Tomlin's style, I really have a hard time seeing them changing. Justin has been excellent at protecting the ball with just 2 turnovers in 6 games, he has a 5:1 TD/TO ratio with 10 total TD's against 1 INT + 1 Lost Fumble. His team is doing well at 4-2, and as he did here he has the total support of the locker room - players genuinely love playing with him, it's not just lip service. Tomlin is a conservative coach, he brought in Arthur Smith to run a smash mouth brand of football, running game and strong defense and winning the turnover battle - sounds a lot like Flus in that regard. Fields is delivering on that, and I really think it's just sports writers and stats nerds that are squawking about shifting to Russ. But time will tell, anything is possible.

Over Justin's last 13 games since his injury last year he is 9-4. He has played smart football and taken care of the ball. He's not going to be a superstar player as we all had hoped back when we drafted him, but I think he's settling in to a middling type NFL starting QB that you can win with. His passing stats will baffle some nerds tho and leave enough room for his detractors to hate on him.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Steelers plan to give Russell Wilson first-team reps in preparation to start vs. Jets over Justin Fields

Russell Wilson could be taking the first step toward seeing action in 2024.

The Pittsburgh Steelers plan to give Wilson first-team reps in practice this week, putting him in line to make his season debut and start Sunday night against the New York Jets, NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported, per sources informed of the situation.
...

Head coach Mike Tomlin said Tuesday that Wilson and Fields will practice this week but didn't tip his hand.

"[Russell Wilson] is in consideration this week. We'll see where that leads us," he said.

Tomlin later added: "I'll acknowledge that Russ proved his health last week, and we're looking hard at him this week. It is up for consideration."
...

"Justin has been really good, and we've been good at times, but not to be confused with great," Tomlin told reporters on Tuesday when asked why Fields had not done enough to be named starter despite a 4-2 record.

"This is a competitive league, man. We're trying to position ourselves to be that team, and we've got a player with talent, who hadn't have an opportunity to play, so we're going to explore those things. Sometimes it doesn't have anything to do with what Justin has done or has not done. Justin has been an asset to us. Last week, for example, his ability to utilize his legs by design and by ad lib was a significant component of that game. He rushed for 50-plus yards and two touchdowns. … We're appreciative of that. We're appreciative of how he's taken care of the ball. But we're just looking at all of the people at our disposal. The same way we do at any position."
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-plan- ... tin-fields

[LacertineForest]

Very interesting. Also, nice choice of gif, @HisRoyalSweetness.

[Rakshir]

I wonder if they're showing the rest of the league that Wilson is healthy before they trade him ?

[dplank]

Who knows man. I tell you, it would be a ballsy move by Tomlin. Changing to Russ and losing would be a HUGE black eye for him.

[o-pus #40 in B major]

I wonder if they're showing the rest of the league that Wilson is healthy before they trade him ?

I have to believe that Tomlin will play the guy he thinks they can with at this dynamic point in the seasonal narrative.

[Arkansasbear]

I like the new title of this thread.

[Grizzled]

Tomlin has to supercharge the Pitt passing game if they're to have any chance of going deep into the playoffs. Justin has to play 11 more quarters for the Bears to get that 4th.

[dplank]

Tomlin has to supercharge the Pitt passing game if they're to have any chance of going deep into the playoffs. Justin has to play 11 more quarters for the Bears to get that 4th.

8 quarters + 1 snap! But who is counting?

[Arkansasbear]

Tomlin has to supercharge the Pitt passing game if they're to have any chance of going deep into the playoffs. Justin has to play 11 more quarters for the Bears to get that 4th.

8 quarters + 1 snap! But who is counting?

Not getting into some games will have more snaps than others, that still wouldn’t do it. That would give him 8 games and 1 snap vs 8 games and all but 1 snap in another.

Basing it in quarters he needs 10 more quarters “plus on snap.” That gives him 8.5 games plus a snap vs 8.25 quarters plus all but one snap of a quarter.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Justin Fields on Steelers' potential QB switch to Russell Wilson: 'I don't think I played good enough'

Justin Fields' potential demotion in favor of Russell Wilson comes as a surprise to most everyone -- except Fields.

The quarterback was brutally honest in his self-assessment Thursday when speaking with reporters leading up to the team's Week 7 matchup with the Jets, ahead of which Pittsburgh has given Wilson first-team reps as he gears up for possibly his first start as a Steeler.

"I don't think I played good enough, if I'm being real with you," Fields said, via ESPN's Brooke Pryor. "If I'm being real with myself, I think if I did play well enough, I don't think there would be any sort of who should be playing, who should not."
...

"I think first of all, Justin has done a great job," Wilson told reporters on Thursday. "I think Justin's a tremendous quarterback. I've gone against him over the years. He's a tremendous football player and a great teammate. I think more importantly for us as we continue to go on through the season, we want to get better and continue to grow. That's always the goal every year."
...

For those watching the Steelers each week, two truths emerged: Their defense was good enough to give them a chance to win every game, and despite a lack of weapons, Fields was doing an adequate-or-better job as their quarterback. He certainly wasn't a problem.

Still, Fields isn't satisfied with what he showed in his six starts.

"Not really. I mean, I want to be 6-0 right now, but it was a great opportunity for me," Fields said. "Of course, I'm grateful for the opportunity. I did get those first six weeks, and we'll just see what happens."
...

The younger signal-caller is preparing for all outcomes and is willing to support Wilson as best as he can.

"I'm just doing the same thing I was doing," Fields said. "I just do my job at the end of the day and whether that's playing, it's helping the guys out on the sideline, tell him what I see, helping the rest out if he's out there. So just small stuff like that."

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/justin-fields- ... ood-enough

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

8 quarters + 1 snap! But who is counting?

Not getting into some games will have more snaps than others, that still wouldn’t do it. That would give him 8 games and 1 snap vs 8 games and all but 1 snap in another.

Basing it in quarters he needs 10 more quarters “plus on snap.” That gives him 8.5 games plus a snap vs 8.25 quarters plus all but one snap of a quarter.

so 3 more games

Love the pedantry guys

[dplank]

8 quarters + 1 snap! But who is counting?

Not getting into some games will have more snaps than others, that still wouldn’t do it. That would give him 8 games and 1 snap vs 8 games and all but 1 snap in another.

Basing it in quarters he needs 10 more quarters “plus on snap.” That gives him 8.5 games plus a snap vs 8.25 quarters plus all but one snap of a quarter.

Oh shit yea you're right

[HisRoyalSweetness]

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to keep starting QB decision 'in-house' ahead of Jets game

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin knows his starting quarterback for Sunday night's matchup against the New York Jets but isn't letting the cat out of the bag quite yet.

"I am [ready to name a starter], but I'm just gonna, you know, keep that in-house," Tomlin said Friday. "I thought (Russell Wilson) has sharp. I thought Justin (Fields) was sharp as well. I thought we had a highly productive week from both guys and from the unit as a whole."
...

Given Fields' dynamic running ability, the Steelers could use both signal-callers to give the defense a change-up. Tomlin said it's "certainly" possible that each quarterback could play Sunday versus Gang Green.

While Tomlin remained mum, receiver George Pickens could have revealed the team's plans -- or at least offered his own expectation -- telling reporters he's been putting in extra work with Wilson after practices "because this is his first start."
...

Tomlin said that the resolution on the starter would be his.

"I wear the decisions," he said when asked how much input offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has on the decision.
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-mike- ... son-fields

It certainly sounds like Wilson is going to start with Fields perhaps getting a few snaps in a Taysom Hill type role.

[wab]

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin to keep starting QB decision 'in-house' ahead of Jets game

Pittsburgh Steelers coach Mike Tomlin knows his starting quarterback for Sunday night's matchup against the New York Jets but isn't letting the cat out of the bag quite yet.

"I am [ready to name a starter], but I'm just gonna, you know, keep that in-house," Tomlin said Friday. "I thought (Russell Wilson) has sharp. I thought Justin (Fields) was sharp as well. I thought we had a highly productive week from both guys and from the unit as a whole."
...

Given Fields' dynamic running ability, the Steelers could use both signal-callers to give the defense a change-up. Tomlin said it's "certainly" possible that each quarterback could play Sunday versus Gang Green.

While Tomlin remained mum, receiver George Pickens could have revealed the team's plans -- or at least offered his own expectation -- telling reporters he's been putting in extra work with Wilson after practices "because this is his first start."
...

Tomlin said that the resolution on the starter would be his.

"I wear the decisions," he said when asked how much input offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has on the decision.
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-mike- ... son-fields

It certainly sounds like Wilson is going to start with Fields perhaps getting a few snaps in a Taysom Hill type role.

That usually works so well too.

[HisRoyalSweetness]

All but confirmed...

Steelers plan to start Russell Wilson over Justin Fields on Sunday night vs. Jets

Six games and four wins into the season, the Pittsburgh Steelers are making a switch at quarterback.

Russell Wilson is being planned to start on Sunday night against the New York Jets over Justin Fields, who had started each of Pittsburgh's previous games this season, NFL Network Insider Ian Rapoport reported Saturday.

NFL Network Insider Tom Pelissero reported the impending switch on Tuesday, but head coach Mike Tomlin said he still had a decision to make. Pittsburgh is coming to the conclusion that was reported, going with a now-healthy Wilson, though it's still mighty confounding for many.

Rapoport added that while Wilson is expected to play a bulk of the snaps on Sunday, Fields is also expected to play at some capacity.

The move will mark the first time in the Super Bowl era that an uninjured starting quarterback has led his team to a 4-2 record or better and has not started his team's seventh game, per NFL Research.
...

Full article: https://www.nfl.com/news/steelers-plan- ... ht-vs-jets

[dplank]

Snippet from the Athletic, who are absolutely roasting Tomlin over this

What the hell is Mike Tomlin doing? That’s the question being asked around the league — even in the Pittsburgh Steelers’ own building. Tomlin is set to make a curious quarterback change for Sunday night.
Tomlin has earned the benefit of the doubt. He’s one of the best coaches in the NFL, and he has tons of credibility in league circles and in locker rooms in Pittsburgh and beyond. It’s hard to question him, but this one is a puzzler.
The Steelers are sitting at 4-2 with Justin Fields as the starter, and now Fields is being benched for Russell Wilson, deemed healthy after a training camp calf injury. Over the last six weeks, Fields has been playing with confidence and has the support of his teammates. Tomlin noted that Fields’ ability with his legs helps this offense get out of trouble time and time again, which is why the Steelers will have a package for Fields — I expect to see him at some point on Sunday.

What made this last week bizarre is that it seemed like every current and former Steeler was raving about Fields (Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger both said publicly the team should stick with him). Yet, Tomlin went the other way. He’s in charge, but on this one, he may be on an island.

[Xee]

I mean, Justin himself wasn't playing as good as he should be. Maybe Tomlin sees the same thing.

[Ditka’s dictaphone]

Maybe he wants to look at Wilson and possibly trade him before the deadline?

[G08]

Makes you wonder if this is a political thing (Wilson and his camp pissing and moaning?)

Regardless... I'm glad we have Caleb Williams