As we do each week to get you prepared for the upcoming sport, our X-factor of the week. Generally, it’s a participant, unit, idea, or scheme. Right here’s our X-factor for Sunday’s regular-season opener in opposition to the Atlanta Falcons.
X-FACTOR: QB Justin Fields
At this level, it’ll be an upset if Justin Fields doesn’t begin this weekend. Russell Wilson can’t escape calf accidents, and the crew will probably be cautious to keep away from additional damage.
So, assume Fields will get the nod. There are many causes to be excited. A return to his residence state and what he can provide along with his legs that Wilson can’t. Learn choices, scramble drills, and different designed calls to pressure Atlanta to account for him within the run sport. It’s additional stress. Fields can flash a fairly deep ball and confirmed an awesome reference to WR George Pickens all through coaching camp.
However there will probably be challenges. The Falcons have revamped their protection, including EDGE Matthew Judon and S Justin Simmons as starters who ought to play a ton on this sport. What we identified in our scouting report and analysts like Dan Orlovsky have talked about is that the security duo of Simmons and Jessie Bates can “lie” to Fields. Even within the preseason with backups, Atlanta routinely introduced a special post-snap image. Present two-high earlier than the snap, however rotate and spin all the way down to one-high. That’s an adjustment the receivers should make for his or her routes, however Justin Fields has to know the place to go along with the ball.
They’re issues Fields has seen earlier than, however given his turnover historical past, enjoying within the first sport of the yr in opposition to a brand new teaching workers, and never having all of the beginning reps throughout the week.
Fields ought to and can have the prospect to make large performs, however he’s nonetheless gotta defend the soccer. That’s mission No. 1. Whether or not that’s having the ability to learn the protection, defending the soccer on a sack, shedding the turnover battle is often a misplaced sport for the Steelers.
Pittsburgh’s plan was to shelve the Fields’ period till who is aware of when. Prepared or not, it appears like he’s going to be the man. Fields’ character, as he talked about throughout a Friday assembly with the reporters, is one in all a gradual heartbeat. Nothing appears to get to him, and he’s even-keeled by and thru. He’ll must play that approach and keep away from getting knocked off stability by all of the appears and disguises the Falcons will problem him with. If he can do this, play properly, and win the sport, he may not give the beginning job again.
