Calvin Austin III Credits Arthur Smith for One Big Change on Offense

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields revealed after Sunday’s 20-10 win over the Los Angeles Chargers that he feels cool, calm and collected in Pittsburgh. Steelers wide receiver Calvin Austin III told Mike Florio of Pro Football Talk that not having panic is the biggest difference from this year’s offense compared to last year’s under former offensive coordinator Matt Canada and quarterback Kenny Pickett. Austin credits new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith for the big change.

“Calvin Austin told me that the offense is better this year for one reason. There’s no panic. And he attributes that to new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who has settled everything down, and we’ve seen the results,” Florio said on Football Night in America.

Fields threw a game-sealing 55-yard touchdown to Austin in the fourth quarter of Sunday’s win over L.A. Overall, he completed 25 of 32 passes (78.1 percent) for 245 yards, with one touchdown, one interception, and a rating of 96.0. He also had a 5-yard rushing touchdown.

“Huge play,” Fields said of the 55-yard touchdown to Austin. “They were in the zone, quarters. And you’re really high-lowing that hook defender. The hook defender took (George Pickens) underneath and Calvin was right behind him. Great play call in that situation.”

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields during a game against the Los Angeles Chargers on Sept. 22, 2024. — Ed Thompson / Steelers Now

Austin said the Steelers ran the same concept earlier in the game on the 55-yard touchdown but it didn’t work.

“Just a concept. Get GP (George Pickens) on a little corner route, me wrapping around him. GP garnering the attention he deserves,” Austin said. “They went down and Justin threw it right behind his head. It was basically the same concept that we threw to Cordarrelle (Patterson) earlier in the game but the safety was a little more center field, driving down. So he broke it up on that one. But it definitely was the same concept.”

Fields feels like being calm is his biggest improvement compared to his first three seasons in Chicago.

“Just overall seeing the field. I feel like I’m just very calm out there,” Fields said. “Cool, calm and collected on the field and really just that sense of peace out there on the field and not really rushing things internally in my brain. Just staying calm in the pocket and making plays when I can and just doing my job.”

Fields had a tumultuous three-year tenure with the Bears. The environment was toxic on many levels. Fields had two head coaches and three different offensive coordinators in his three years in the Windy City. How can a young quarterback develop and grow in a situation like that?

It just shows what a stable organization and coaching can do. For the first time in his career, Fields has won three consecutive games.

“It means a lot, but at the end of the day, it’s not just me winning games. It’s the whole team,” Fields said of the 3-0 start. “We definitely look forward to keeping it going next week versus Indy.”

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Alan Saunders provided reporting from Pittsburgh.