All indicators level to the Pittsburgh Steelers pivoting to QB Russell Wilson to start out Sunday evening’s sport towards the New York Jets. Heck, WR George Pickens got here out and mentioned it on Friday after observe. So regardless of being 4-2 because the starter for the Steelers, Justin Fields is headed to the bench. And nobody is saying that Fields has been excellent by any stretch of the creativeness.
However who is asking the pictures right here? Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has been adamant all alongside that that is head coach Mike Tomlin’s resolution, not his. And it doesn’t take a complete lot of studying between the strains to see that Smith has drastically appreciated what Fields has executed each in observe and on sport day.
So is there bother brewing in Pittsburgh? When the Steelers employed Smith, he spoke glowingly about working with Tomlin. However how does he really feel now?
“It looks like Mike Tomlin, like guarantees had been made to Russell Wilson,” mentioned Colin Cowherd on Friday’s episode of the Herd. “It looks like Mike Tomlin is form of usurping the ability of Arthur Smith. I don’t know that, however it feels prefer it. Arthur Smith already publicly backed Justin Fields. He had a very good second half towards the Colts. They’re 4-2, they’re not 2-4. There’s no motive to panic. But it surely looks like a promise was made to Russell Wilson and Mike Tomlin’s a person of his phrase. So when you’ve two very so-so quarterbacks, you’ve a divided room, a divided workers, and divided selections.”
Individuals have actually appeared sideways at this example due to the truth that the Steelers are switching quarterbacks regardless of being 4-2. Comparable strikes have occurred earlier than, even right here in Pittsburgh. The Steelers benched Joe Gilliam at 4-1-1 in 1974 for Terry Bradshaw. The Steelers went on to win the Tremendous Bowl that 12 months and have become a dynasty.
Now nobody is anticipating that Russell Wilson goes to have the identical impact that Terry Bradshaw did. But it surely’s not utterly unprecedented. It’s simply not one thing that happens with any regularity.
And that’s a part of why Cowherd is suggesting that Tomlin is doing this due to a promise made to Wilson. However there are causes to fathom such a transfer, too. The Steelers are averaging 20.7 factors per sport, twenty first within the league. That comes after scoring 32 factors towards the Las Vegas Raiders final Sunday. The Steelers’ mark of 5 passing touchdowns ranks twenty seventh within the league.
However whether or not that is the fitting transfer or not isn’t on the coronary heart of what Cowherd is saying. It’s who’s making the transfer. It’s who’s for it and who’s towards it.
Is Arthur Smith on board with Russell Wilson because the beginning quarterback? Or is Mike Tomlin ignoring his hand-picked offensive coordinator and unilaterally making this transfer? And in that case, may this result in a fractured teaching workers and locker room?
Now, as head coach of the Steelers, Tomlin ought to have the ultimate say. He has the authority within the locker room and on the sector. However he employed Smith. He shouldn’t have if he didn’t worth and respect his enter and soccer acumen. Good leaders rent good folks and take heed to them. Is he right here?
To Justin Fields’ credit score, he’s saying all the fitting issues and taking accountability for the shortage of high-end offensive manufacturing. And the remainder of the Steelers gamers publicly are saying the fitting issues, too. However how is the locker room dealing with it? Are there gamers who’re standing behind Fields? And are there gamers who’ve been stumping for Wilson as quickly as he was wholesome?
As for Smith, I’ve little question that he’s going about all the things professionally and designing one of the best sport plan he can for Wilson to beat the Jets. But when he looks like his enter is being neglected, that his authority on the offensive facet of the ball is being “usurped,” that’s going to be a long-term drawback.
The Steelers’ quarterback scenario has been below a microscope since Russell Wilson signed this offseason. However on Sunday evening, it would simply be below an electron microscope. So will Mike Tomlin, Russell Wilson, and Arthur Smith.
Will we see cracks and fissures below the brilliant lights? Or will the Steelers come collectively? Solely time will inform.