Mike Tomlin and the Pittsburgh Steelers have a approach of profitable video games and even making playoff appearances regardless of mediocre quarterback play. With the shell of Ben Roethlisberger to Kenny Pickett to Mason Rudolph within the final three seasons, they’ve gained 28 video games and made the playoffs twice. With out the draft capital to swing for the fences for one of many high quarterbacks on this yr’s draft class, Steelers normal supervisor Omar Khan double-dipped with a few low-risk strikes for 2 quarterbacks who signify totally different paths in a sport of choose-your-own journey.
The Steelers made two comparatively low-cost strikes, signing Russell Wilson for $1.5 million and buying and selling for Justin Fields for a conditional 2025 sixth-round decide that turns right into a fourth if Fields performs 51 p.c of snaps. Fields provides the Steelers the next ceiling whereas Wilson represents a baseline of play for a crew that’s going to run the ball and rely upon its protection, which is what he did for the Broncos final season. Wilson’s stats from final season are good on paper: 26 landing passes and eight interceptions. However on nearer examination, his type of play is unsustainable. Regardless of their off-the-field disputes, Sean Payton created the best ecosystem for Wilson to resuscitate his profession.
The “Cook dinner Index” is measured by “how steadily groups move the ball on first and second downs within the first 28 minutes of regulation, earlier than time remaining and rating differential affect run-pass tendencies.” Final season, the Broncos had the seventh-lowest prepare dinner fee within the league. Once they did move the ball, Wilson was a binary passer. If his first learn wasn’t open, he went to his checkdown straight away. The Broncos led the league in operating again receptions and receiving yardage final season. Wilson hardly ever tried to get deeper into his progressions.
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His job was to care for the ball in any respect prices, however on third downs he was allowed to create, and that’s after we noticed every now and then a few of that outdated Wilson magic. He misplaced some weight earlier than final season and it noticeably helped his mobility. He’ll by no means be the Wilson of outdated once more, however he was elusive sufficient to create performs at a extra constant stage. This formulation of operating the ball, a simplified passing sport with an emphasis on limiting turnovers and a sprinkle of Wilson magic labored for the Broncos offense to a level.
The Steelers hope they’ll take that formulation and amplify it with a good higher run sport led by Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren and a stronger protection. Final season, the Steelers completed final in prepare dinner fee — they didn’t belief Pickett to throw the ball. They seemingly gained’t pound their heads towards the wall to that excessive this season, however they’ll proceed to be one of many league’s most run-heavy groups regardless of who’s enjoying quarterback. Additionally, the Steelers completed sixth in defensive DVOA final season and already upgraded at linebacker and nook with the free-agent signing of Patrick Queen and commerce for Donte Jackson. Theoretically, they’ll proceed that formulation with Wilson or they’ll pivot to Fields, who provides their offense a way more explosive possibility.
Fields and Wilson share some similarities.
Each quarterbacks don’t assault the center of the sphere within the passing sport usually, and oddly, they’ll be enjoying in an Arthur Smith offense that wishes to assault the center of the sphere with play motion. Each quarterbacks depend on their athletic capability to supply. Fields appears to be like to scramble extra whereas Wilson appears to be like downfield when he breaks the pocket.
In contrast to Fields, Wilson was drafted into the best scenario as a rookie. The Seahawks had a robust operating sport led by Marshawn Lynch and the beginnings of the Legion of Growth on protection. Fields was drafted right into a dire scenario in Chicago. The offensive line was horrible, the Bears didn’t have playmakers, and Fields had play callers who didn’t know cater to his strengths. A part of why there wasn’t numerous commerce curiosity for Fields is that it’s important to decide to designing a singular offense for him, and never each offensive coordinator is prepared or has sufficient information about possibility offenses to do this.
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Greenberg: Steelers strive once more with one other Bears QB as Justin Fields heads to the ’Burgh
Former Bears offensive coordinator Luke Getsy was intent on forcing Fields to be a pocket passer early in his profession. Different cellular quarterbacks like Lamar Jackson and Jalen Hurts discovered success early in heavy possibility offenses as they developed as passers. Getsy was employed in Fields’ second season, however in 2022, it took him till Week 7 to decide to an possibility assault and name extra designed quarterback runs. When he did, the offense tremendously improved. From weeks 1 by 6, the offense averaged 1.5 factors per drive (ranked twenty seventh). In Fields’ remaining eight video games that season, with extra designed QB runs, the Bears averaged 2.01 factors per drive. Then to start out 2023, Getsy bought away from the choice once more, solely to have Fields and the offense wrestle earlier than returning to it.
Getsy and Fields have been simply an odd match. Getsy was a West Coast disciple, and his possibility bundle was by no means well-designed. With an athlete like Fields, the Bears’ possibility assault ought to have been extra strong and expansive. Within the final two seasons, solely 43 p.c of Fields’ speeding yards have been from designed runs and 57 p.c have been from scrambles. Most of Fields’ manufacturing on the bottom got here on passing performs. Smith has proven that he can design an efficient possibility assault. In his second season with the Falcons, they completed eighth in offensive DVOA with Marcus Mariota beginning and operating the choice for them.
The most important criticism of Fields’ sport is how lengthy he takes to throw the ball. Final season, Fields led the league in common time to throw whereas Wilson completed a detailed second. Shopping for time to run or create alternatives downfield is ok, however the place Fields has to get higher is processing and throwing with anticipation when the alternatives are there. There have been indicators of him enhancing later within the season, however he’ll must preserve getting higher whereas studying a brand new offense.
The Steelers didn’t have numerous avenues to enhance at quarterback after conceding that Pickett, a first-round decide in 2022, was not the reply. They’ve a crew that is able to compete. They made the playoffs final season regardless of having one of many worst quarterbacks within the league. Taking a shot at each Wilson and Fields provides the Steelers each the next ceiling and ground at quarterback.
Each quarterbacks are going to take a very long time to throw the ball. Neither assaults the center of the sphere. ESPN’s QBR is a metric that takes under consideration a quarterback’s passing and speeding manufacturing. Final season, Wilson completed twenty first in QBR and Fields was twenty third. Each are upgrades over Pickett — however by how a lot? Wilson is the starter for now. The Steelers’ brass seemingly promised him the job when he signed, however on the time, they won’t have foreseen buying and selling for Fields.
NFL Community’s Tom Pelissero reported that Pickett requested for a commerce after studying that Wilson was in “pole place” to start out, leaving a gap for the Steelers at backup quarterback. Khan pivoted, traded Pickett to the Eagles and traded for Fields. Although Tomlin reassured Wilson that he can be the starter, Fields ought to have a possibility to compete. If Wilson doesn’t play properly, Fields will get an opportunity. The politics of the acquisitions make the scenario a bit murky, however the reply ought to be clear. Fields is the youthful, extra explosive possibility and may finally be the starter in Pittsburgh.
(Prime photographs of Russell Wilson and Justin Fields: Jamie Schwaberow / Getty Photos; Michael Reaves / Getty Photos)