The Pittsburgh Steelers had a gameplan after they traveled to Atlanta to tackle the Falcons in Week 1. Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith needed QB Justin Fields to keep away from the center of the sphere so the Falcons’ defensive playmakers within the secondary wouldn’t wreck the sport like Steelers OLB T.J. Watt did.
And the Steelers gained, 18-10. Fields did what he wanted to on offense to assist the Steelers win, however the offense failed to search out the endzone. Is that sustainable? Former NFL QB Cam Newton thinks it is likely to be.
“I noticed Justin Fields throw 17 of 23, not a whole lot of yards,” Newton stated on Thursday’s episode of 4th&1 with Cam Newton. “He didn’t want a whole lot of yards… Had no turnovers and 57 speeding yards. See, that’s the factor after I’m speaking about profitable formulation. A man like Justin Fields don’t must throw the ball 40-plus instances a recreation. Preserve him clear.”
It was an efficient formulation if not thrilling. Fields solely threw for 156 yards, however he prevented the large mistake. He accomplished nearly 74 % of his passes and didn’t throw an interception. He made the performs wanted to maintain drives alive and arrange AFC Particular Groups Participant of the Week Ok Chris Boswell. One of many largest performs Fields made got here within the dying seconds of the primary half. He rolled left earlier than coming again to his proper to search out WR George Pickens for a 41-yard acquire to arrange a Boswell subject purpose.
Fields’ efficiency was not dominant, nevertheless it’s all of the Steelers wanted to win their season opener on the street. Preserve the ball on offense and let T.J. Watt and the remainder of the protection wreck the Falcons’ offensive recreation plan. It’s the proper recipe for a street win.
And an enormous a part of why it labored was Fields’ athleticism. He averaged 4.1 yards per rush with 14 carries for 57 yards. He transformed an enormous third down together with his legs, too. Newton thinks Fields’ athleticism is ideal for large moments.
“In some very contentious conditions the place we bought to place the sport away, now you bought the entire playbook,” Newton stated. “Play motion, get the quarterback out on the sting, let him dish and distribute… That’s a really arduous place to be in as a defensive play-caller since you don’t know what the f*** the rattling crew can rattling do.”
Floral language apart, Newton has a great level. Defensive coordinators can’t afford to disregard Fields’ athleticism in necessary conditions late within the recreation. He can preserve the ball, transfer round to purchase time, or throw it from the pocket. The extra choices an offense has, the more serious time the protection has.
Would Steelers followers like to see Fields have a 300-plus passing yard day with a number of passing touchdowns? Completely. And I’m certain the Steelers teaching workers would like to see it, too. Nonetheless, the Steelers usually are not in a scenario the place they should play that recreation to win.
The overarching query is whether or not Fields can have that form of day. As a result of there’ll come a time when the Steelers want to attain greater than 18 factors to win a recreation. One have a look at the schedule will inform you that.
However the Steelers proved that not less than for Week 1, it’s a profitable formulation. And hopefully, for Fields and the Steelers, the touchdowns will come. If that occurs over the following two weeks when the Steelers are reportedly planning to begin Fields, he could show that he’s the beginning quarterback of the current and the long run in Pittsburgh.
