For the previous couple of weeks, ESPN’s Stephen A. Smith has railed in opposition to the Pittsburgh Steelers beneath head coach Mike Tomlin, voicing his frustrations concerning the Steelers’ offense and the play of quarterback Justin Fields, stating time and time once more that he’d put Russell Wilson within the lineup as soon as he’s wholesome.
However after Sunday’s efficiency in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers within the 20-10 win to maneuver to 3-0 on the season, Smith is singing a special tune.
Throughout an look Monday on ESPN’s “First Take,” Smith acknowledged that he’s modified his thoughts relating to the Steelers’ quarterback scenario and would preserve Fields within the lineup as a result of he “beloved” what he noticed from the fourth-year quarterback Sunday at Acrisure Stadium.
“I ain’t gonna take Justin Fields outta the lineup. Now, I do know that I mentioned earlier than I…wanna see Russell Wilson, however I’ve modified my thoughts. I ain’t taking them outta the lineup. Now, I beloved what I noticed from him yesterday,” Smith mentioned of Fields, in keeping with video by way of ESPN. “Initially, he accomplished his first 10 throws. And I do know they was quick and intermediate throws, and I get all of that. However his choice making, operating with the soccer as nicely, being that twin risk, a few of the throws that he was doing, I preferred what I noticed. Threw an interception, however for probably the most half, he protected the soccer, eliminating it when obligatory. Not taking sacks just like the 99 sacks during the last two years he took, coming into this season, he’s being nicely coached. Mike Tomlin, simply persevering with to indicate his greatness.”
“That is the fourth time they began up three and oh with him because the coach. The opposite 3 times have been 2007, 2010, 2020, and so they made the playoffs every time. I get all of that, a kind of years they went to the Tremendous Bowl, if I keep in mind appropriately. I imply, I’m simply taking a look at them proper now. I’m proud of what I’m seeing.”
Sitting at 3-0, the Steelers are feeling good concerning the begin to the season, and observers must be fairly proud of what they’re seeing, particularly popping out of Sunday’s win over the Chargers.
Going into that matchup in opposition to the Chargers, the Steelers had rather a lot to show in opposition to a bodily opponent, one which had been dominating opponents early within the season. The Chargers have been very a lot the bullies coming into the sport, however the Steelers proved to be the true bullies.
They did that, too, due to the play from Fields beneath middle. Fields threw for 245 yards and a landing and added a dashing landing. His success by means of the air opened up the run sport late for operating backs Najee Harris and Cordarrelle Patterson, who hammered away in opposition to the Chargers’ defensive entrance, sporting them down late.
Inside that play, Fields is actually settling into the scheme beneath Arthur Smith, taking what’s there by means of the air, studying the sphere nicely, making the sensible throws and avoiding the turnovers. He’s not taking sacks, both, which is essential.
That model of play offensively is enjoying proper into the fingers of the Steelers’ protection, too, which took over the sport Sunday and suffocated Los Angeles within the second half.
“So I’m wanting on the protection and what have you ever, and I do know that they bought the items round him offensively. It was nearly that quarterback place and Justin Fields yesterday in opposition to a Chargers protection that was solely giving up like six and a half factors, once more coming into the sport for crying out loud, I imply, to see him be capable of do what he did when it counted in opposition to that protection. Can’t say sufficient about him,” Smith mentioned of Fields. “Very impressed with him. And I’d concede, I’m not taking him out of the lineup, however once we ask how harmful are they within the AFC, it’s one factor for him to not mess up and to indicate the development that he’s proven.
“I simply nonetheless must see some offensive firepower from this staff. I firmly consider within the protection. I must see some offensive firepower from this staff if I’m going to consider that they’re going to be that massive bonafide harmful risk within the AFC.”
Issues are going very nicely for the Steelers proper now.
They’re dominating the time of possession, operating the ball comparatively nicely, avoiding the killer errors and are simply taking the whole lot attainable away from opposing offenses with a star-studded protection.
That may not be a real recipe for rivalry in immediately’s NFL, at the least proper now. However the Steelers are dealing with enterprise nicely by means of the primary three weeks of the common season and are stacking wins. Exhausting to argue in opposition to that, or try and make any type of modifications.
