Reported: Russell Wilson to Start Against the Jets

[stillwright]

send me some of what you’re smoking. At best we are a step better at QB with a 4-2 Fields. Everyone seems to forget that KP was 7-3 in his starts.

I will take a wild guess that he is banking on Russ as the reason we are better.

 

[Litos]

The running TD must be accounted for when looking at Fields stats, the guy is a double threat in the red zone.

 

[Lloyd]

send me some of what you’re smoking. At best we are a step better at QB with a 4-2 Fields. Everyone seems to forget that KP was 7-3 in his starts.

Or that we set a new record for the lowest TD % in the history of the NFL. In all of recorded history, NO ONE has set a lower TD %, never.

 

[TimesAreChanged]

The running TD must be accounted for when looking at Fields stats, the guy is a double threat in the red zone.

Running TD don't count, Litos..you know this.

Wait I take it back, they only don't count for Lamar Jackson

 

[NoKap#7]

I want one that can do both, if needed...

Well we know six games in that JF is not both.

 

[SteelerFan448]

send me some of what you’re smoking. At best we are a step better at QB with a 4-2 Fields. Everyone seems to forget that KP was 7-3 in his starts.

Pickett was 7-5. I can't get behind the better record in games he started and finished to artificially inflate the winning %. At no point did the offense go out and win those games, the defense had to play lights out. Fields isn't great, but has the offense a little more entertaining to watch. I get why they are switching to Wilson, especially after reading and watching the throws Fields isn't hitting.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

The only reason to stick with Fields is to try to develop him for the future. He's had moments but overall, he is not good. The 4 wins are defensive wins. Probably would have won those 4 with Kyle Allen or Kenny Pickett.

They want to see the offense run properly. Wilson can do that. He's not perfect but he reads defenses much better than Fields.

I think it's a good move to use Rus at least for a few weeks. We need to see this offense properly run before making any impulsive trades. It could help Fields too. Let him see Rus go through progression and not look for the big play each time and see how it makes the offense run better.

Everything is connected in Smith's offense. Start completing more on time passes and it will make it easier to run.

The other factor is that there's no unbeatable team in the NFL now. With the way the defense is playing, if they get above the line QB play, as crazy as it sounds, this Steeler team does have a shot this year to make a run in the playoffs. Look at what happened with Flacco and the Browns last year. Flacco is not great but he's solid. He makes the right reads and gets the ball out on time.

 

[JMM]

Stick with the guy who won 4/6 games so far and whose last game was a win. Last week should have been the time after 2 consecutive losses but what do I know. I do know that Fields is liable to shut down if he's taken out with a winning record while working with 1 qualified WR and a patchwork line.

He'd be totally justified to go off as such:

 

[SteelerFan448]

The only reason to stick with Fields is to try to develop him for the future. He's had moments but overall, he is not good. The 4 wins are defensive wins. Probably would have won those 4 with Kyle Allen or Kenny Pickett.

They want to see the offense run properly. Wilson can do that. He's not perfect but he reads defenses much better than Fields.

I think it's a good move to use Rus at least for a few weeks. We need to see this offense properly run before making any impulsive trades. It could help Fields too. Let him see Rus go through progression and not look for the big play each time and see how it makes the offense run better.

Everything is connected in Smith's offense. Start completing more on time passes and it will make it easier to run.

The other factor is that there's no unbeatable team in the NFL now. With the way the defense is playing, if they get above the line QB play, as crazy as it sounds, this Steeler team does have a shot this year to make a run in the playoffs. Look at what happened with Flacco and the Browns last year. Flacco is not great but he's solid. He makes the right reads and gets the ball out on time.

Based on what we've seen, Russ will need to be the QB to have a chance to not finish as a borderline AFC playoff team and have a chance to win a playoff game. Looking to the future, it's really murky for the Steelers.

I've seen enough from Fields I wouldn't mind bringing him back but for backup money and not as a the guaranteed starter. If Russ does really well, they could re-sign him as the starter, but soon to be 36 years old, how much will he have left in the tank? The wheels could fall off at any point. They also won't be in position to draft a QB high and I'm still not sold on this year's QB class.

 

[topseed]

I don't begrudge you your opinion but don't try to pass off your cognitive biases as fact.

"building confidence" at pro level is BS that exists in your head. A pro QB learns the playbook & executes or doesn't.

"Protecting the psyche" of a professional is more shut that exists only in your head. You can't qualify or quantify it and that's why you don't try.

You're right, clown. Starting NFL quarterbacks don't need to have confidence. Being mentally strong is overrated. Great point.

"Above average" passer rating. Congratulations. Your passer rating is better than 30 other professional QB on 31 different teams using 31 different playbooks with 31 different rosters.

I pointed out his passer rating in response to someone who said that Fields has been "terrible" as a passer. It's simply not true. And the rest of what you wrote here is unintelligible. Not surprising.

Wilson had a leg injury. How is this relevant? Explain yourself

It's relevant because Wilson is going to be pressured a great deal behind a porous offensive line, he is not going to be anywhere near as mobile as Fields was back there, and returning after a calf injury is not going to help. Do I need to type slower for you?

Fields "building confidence" - I'll wait while you bungle all over yourself trying to quantify that.

You can't understand that starting, playing well, and winning with the Steelers hasn't helped build his confidence? After all the negative publicity he's endured with the Bears? Can't grasp that simple concept?

Raiders v Cowboys - relevance? Are you implying that this game indicates something about Fields performance, ability, future? Explain yourself

Again, I had responded to another poster who said that every other team who played the Cowboys "gashed" their defense. Try to follow along. I know it must be difficult for you.

So before you run that **** holster underneath your nose and make an idiot of yourself, come with more facts and less ad hominem.

Fields is a clipboard holder and I hope he continues to "build confidence" during practice so that his fragile psyche isn't negatively affected by performance based evaluation and subsequent demotion.

How did you like my summary?

Your summary indicates some difficulty with reading comprehension. I've explained at length why referring to my entire post as "9 cubic yards of nonsense" was stupid. Nothing has changed.

 

[topseed]

If you're correct about Fields, he will sign a big contract and start somewhere next season. Mark your calendar so we can revisit.

If he isn't signed to start somewhere for starter money, you're wrong...again.

Whatever contract Fields signs next year has little bearing on the current situation. But I wouldn't expect you to understand the mechanics of that.

What a bold prediction

It's so hard to believe that you have no idea how to detect sarcasm, either.

 

[topseed]

He has NOT played “well”. He has 2 decent games, 2 mediocre games and 2 games less than desirable. Is this all Fields’ fault HE!! NO. The “living in their fears” play t not lose Patented Tomlin offense is largely to blame, but Fields does share some of the blame for his play. I do think he looks like they should try and resign him, while drafting a QB early to compete , while adding in Allen to the mix.

I always thought Cowher should have kept Stewart in the slash role and got a better QB, and Stewart was a better QB than Fields is right now. When I was younger and played, the coach ALWAYS made the younger QB’s play a year as WR/RB. He believed that learning the opposite skill helped them become better QB’s.

Fields has had a passer rating of 91.9 or higher in every game except the last one. And in that game he ran for 59 yards while scoring 2 out his 5 rushing touchdowns. He's responsible for 10 touchdowns with only one INT and one fumble lost. Given the handicaps imposed on him by Tomlin, which you just admitted above, that's playing well.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

I'm not sold on the QB class either.

I want no part of the Shedeur circus. Their offense is set up for big QB numbers. He seems to read defenses fairly well but his arm is average and he's not a great runner. He has mobility but isn't an open field runner. He reminds me of Deshaun Watson. Even if I though he was great, I would want no part of Deion taking to social media to criticize the offense every week.

Beck. He's OK but he plays with so much talent around him.

Milroe. He does seem to be improving as a pocket passer but may be a project like Hurts was. Hurts had 1 big year when the RPO run game was crushing it for the Eagles, but other than that, he's struggled a bit from the pocket. He'll probably be a top 5 pick anyway with his upside.

Drew Allar. Call me a homer but I think he has huge upside. He reads defense well, has a a great arm and can make all the throws. He dropped weight for this year and now has good pocket mobility. He's not Justin Fields, but he can move like Big Ben when he was young. Penn State's lack of top notch WRs means Allar makes a lot more tight window throws than most college QBs. Will he stay another year in college? Maybe he will if he's projected to be a late 1st rounder.

Who else?


That's part of why I'm still hoping Fields can develop. He's still a better prospect than any QB the steelers could likely get in the 25 draft. I hope they can sign him to a reasonable long term deal. Even if he doesn't develop, he's a great #2 until you find the right guy.

 

[tapeANaspirin2it]

Fields has had a passer rating of 91.9 or higher in every game except the last one. And in that game he ran for 59 yards while scoring 2 out his 5 rushing touchdowns. He's responsible for 10 touchdowns with only one INT and one fumble lost. Given the handicaps imposed on him by Tomlin, which you just admitted above, that's playing well.

That rating is based on passes thrown. When he does throw the ball, his stats look great. The problem is the throws he doesn't make. There are way too many missed opportunities. Kind of like Pickett except Fields can take off running to move the chains.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

What about this guy? Connor Bazelak

https://www.sports-reference.com/cfb/players/connor-bazelak-1.html

I just went looking around the mac, messing around.

 

[slashsteel]

Well, let's see.

1) The Steelers did in fact score 32 points, beat the Raiders by 19, and had the ball in field goal range at the end of the game. Not nonsense.
2) Half of the teams that have played the Cowboys have not gashed their defense. Not nonsense.
3) Fields has not been terrible as a passer; he ranks in the top half of the NFL in passer rating, ahead of a guy who just signed a $220 million contract. Not nonsense.
4) Russ is almost 36 years old and coming off a leg injury, and the OL is in disarray. Not nonsense.
5) Along with his above average passer rating, Fields has made numerous plays on the ground, including five touchdowns. Not nonsense.
6) Fields was building confidence as the Steelers' starting quarterback, and benching him now is not going to help with that process going forward. Not nonsense.
If you can't acknowledge that protecting the psyche of a starting QB in the NFL is important, especially in this case, then you're being nonsensical.

So, in summation, it is you who is full of that 9 cubic yards of shlt.

You can’t bench what was never named the starter. His last two games Fields accuracy left a lot to be desired. I look at is his performance good enough if they would encounter the playoffs.

As you add his passing TDs into the equation and there is some concerns there.

Wilson was signed to be the starter so I feel you have to at least look at him and see what he can do. If he isn’t up to the task you can easily go back to Fields.

O-line for sure has had its share of concerns but I think that great depth they had initially has helped the unit not be horrible. We can talk about Russ’ age but the guy was mobile enough last season he wasn’t a Manning, Brady end of career statue in there.

As far as Fields confidence I am sure he knows he has improved from his Chicago ways. He also himself acknowledged that if his play was better there would be no who is the starter debates. So the vibe I get from him is he will just keep grinding trying to improve. A little controversy sometimes can be a plus not always a detriment. Perhaps he focuses in and continues to improve. If he is that fragile to have that drink shaken he isn’t the man for the job.

 

[MT~Forged]

Fields has had a passer rating of 91.9 or higher in every game except the last one. And in that game he ran for 59 yards while scoring 2 out his 5 rushing touchdowns. He's responsible for 10 touchdowns with only one INT and one fumble lost. Given the handicaps imposed on him by Tomlin, which you just admitted above, that's playing well.

We obviously have different opinions on what is “Well”. In MY OPINION, he has played somewhat less than “Well” for a STARTING QB in the NFL. I said the same about Lamar Jackson the first few years. I don’t happen to think a RB playing QB is what this team needs to be successful. The 5 rushing TD’s are nice, but the actual QB play is lacking. Sure he also seems to be playing the hand he is dealt, and just maybe with a different O philosophy, we would see different results. At this point he is just slightly better than KP was.

 

[TimesAreChanged]

Whatever contract Fields signs next year has little bearing on the current situation. But I wouldn't expect you to understand the mechanics of that.

It's so hard to believe that you have no idea how to detect sarcasm, either.

You sit behind that keyboard not knowing what a complete idiot you are, your lack of language skills, inability to reason, cognitive biases, name calling as a poor substitute for substantive arguments... It's comedy

You are the dumbest person here. Congratulations for putting all of this in writing.

And I'm still waiting for you to quantify this myth of confidence. Stop projecting your shortcomings onto a professional athlete.

 

[stillwright]

Higher than Fields….
Obviously.

Well obviously. I was just curious if you deemed Russ top 15? Top 10? Dare I say top 5?

Also I find off you believe over a third of the league doesn't have a QB starting for them that you deem as starter material.

 

[slashsteel]

You confuse name calling with substance. It may work in high school but not in the adult world.

For you to put your inadequacies on display by projecting them into a professional QB is sheer comedy. Confidence boost?

I understand you why think in terms of lack of confidence. YOU need your confidence boosted. A professional athlete is chomping at the bit to prove the world wrong.

I ask you one thing only in my previous post - quantify the mythical confidence boost theory

Instead, you put on an impressive display of name calling and diarrhea of the mouth. Is anyone fooled

I asked you to prove the "confidence" theory you read somewhere and adopted as your own. I'll wait for your proof.

Name calling works in elementary school. Which is where your intellectual growth stopped. I understand that.

I did well on a standardized test for reading comprehension before I attended law school. Would you like to take a single section of the test to get an idea of your true RC aptitude?

I understand you won't want to do this because it will destroy your confidence but I assure you professional QBs don't have your mental and emotional handicaps. They are chomping at the bit to prove their detectors wrong.

You're a sensitive little Internet tough guy, I assure you professional athletes are tough as nails mentally and emotionally.

“You sit behind that keyboard not knowing what a complete idiot you are, your lack of language skills, inability to reason, cognitive biases... It's comedy

You are the dumbest person here. Congratulations for putting all of this in writing“

You called him out for name calling right after you flamed him yourself.

I return you to your E beef…

 

[Troglodyte]

Remember there is the difference between a 4th and a 6th rounder if Justin plays 51% of the snaps. I believe that was the terms. Anyone think that comes into play here ?

I seriously doubt that Tomlin would intentionally hurt the Steelers chances of winning to prevent sending the Bears a 4th rounder instead of a 6th rounder six months from now.

 

[Drink IRON City]

Or that we set a new record for the lowest TD % in the history of the NFL. In all of recorded history, NO ONE has set a lower TD %, never.

You come very close with post % success…………



Salute the nation

 

[TDX27]

I would love for Fields to end up being our QB1 in coming years. If the Steelers are even remotely thinking that way, they should already be making sure there is a darn good QB coach/trainer working with Fields now (if allowed during the season) and immediately when the season ends. This should carry through to future offseasons as well. He has the talent. He still needs to focus it. He has 10 TD's this year and I believe only 5 are through the air. He needs to switch those numbers to be only 2 on the ground. Of course, throwing more will also lead to more turnovers but that's OK if the O can put points on the board early and often.

Speaking of early, one of the chats on the PG showed the Steelers 1st quarter points per game scored going back 5 years so Ben was included. The numbers are terrible every year. You can't blame this on players or the OC. This is all on Tomlin living in his fears.

 

[Drink IRON City]

I seriously doubt that Tomlin would intentionally hurt the Steelers chances of winning to prevent sending the Bears a 4th rounder instead of a 6th rounder six months from now.

Especially if the “non-losing” season was in play……………………...


Salute the nation

 

[steel dino]

Well obviously. I was just curious if you deemed Russ top 15? Top 10? Dare I say top 5?

Also I find off you believe over a third of the league doesn't have a QB starting for them that you deem as starter material.

Fair ..
Based on his past performances, current stage of career, other immeasurable variables, etc, etc..I would put him at top 15 in league right now.
And yes, there are always QBs starting in the NFL that I would consider lower tier performers…. Every year.