Former Minnesota Vikings head coach Mike Zimmer threw a jab at Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Justin Fields in an interview before the season when discussing his rocky relationship with general manager Ricky Spielman. Spielman supposedly wanted to trade up for Fields in the 2021 NFL Draft.
“The first round, [Spielman] tried to trade up for Justin Fields, who hasn’t done anything,” Zimmer said in an interview with The Minnesota Star Tribune.
Justin Fields was selected at 11th overall by the Chicago Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft, while the Minnesota Viking stayed at No. 23 at picked offensive tackle Christian Darrisaw.
Zimmer is now the defensive coordinator with the Dallas Cowboys, who just happen to play Justin Fields and the Pittsburgh Steelers on Sunday Night Football tonight.
At the time of Zimmer’s statement, Russell Wilson was the starting quarterback for the Steelers. He has yet to play in a game this year due to a calf injury, however. Fields has led the Steelers to a 3-1 start and has played rather well. He’s completed 70.6% of his passes for 830 yards, three touchdowns, one interception, and a quarterback rating of 98.0.
Fields finished with 312 yards passing and one touchdown with a 104.0 quarterback rating in last Sunday’s 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. He also rushed for 55 yards yards and two touchdowns.
It’s been a far cry from “hasn’t done anything” for Fields this season.
“I thought in that second half, it was cool to watch as a coach and a play caller, when somebody gets that kind of flow, he damn near took the game over,” Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith said. “And when that happens and you feel it with a player, it didn’t matter what I called, you felt him rolling. So that’s what was such a bitter pill to swallow, how the game ended.”
Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin said on Tuesday that he didn’t feel “any blink” in Fields when down two scores in the fourth quarter.
“We were down multiple scores in the fourth quarter, man, but I didn’t feel any blink. In particular, I didn’t feel any blink in Justin,” Tomlin said. “We’ve talked about his steady demeanor in recent weeks. In terms of the things that I’ve grown to know and understand about him, I think it’s really on display in moments like that. You really get an opportunity to develop a relationship in the midst of adversity and competition. I’m not trying to microwave our relationship, if you will. And so being in circumstances, it’s an opportunity for him to get to know me, me to get to know him and to fight and fight together, but not only for him but a lot of new guys.”
Fields definitely didn’t live up to the 11th overall selection by the Chicago Bears in the 2021 NFL Draft. However, it was a tumultuous situation in Chicago. He had two head coaches and three different offensive coordinators in his three years in the Windy City. Fields is now showing what he’s capable of in a stable environment.
Zimmer’s defense has been below the line this season, ranking 26th in run defense (145.8) and 27th in points allowed (26.0). They’ve significantly declined from last year when Dan Quinn was the DC. It will be interesting to see if Fields makes Zimmer eat his words on Sunday night.
Former NFL head coach Rex Ryan thinks the Steelers need to dehydrate the run with Justin Fields.
“Zimmer’s gonna change the scheme to run blitzes and things like that, even though you ought to be living in it. My only concern with Pittsburgh is Arthur Smith on the other side, that offensive coordinator. Don’t be so dang stubborn that you don’t study the tape. Steal quarterback running plays off the Ravens. You’ve got the blueprint right in front of you. Dehydrate your quarterback today,” Ryan said on ESPN’s Sunday NFL Countdown.
Cowboys All-Pro edge rusher Micah Parsons, who will be out for Sunday night’s game with a high ankle sprain, thinks Fields earned the right to be the starter in Pittsburgh.
“I think Justin won the team over,” Parsons said on his podcast this week. “Right now, Justin’s 3-1. He almost had a complete comeback against the Indianapolis Colts. … I’m glad that the Steelers and Mike Tomlin have been able to get his confidence back. Because the Bears probably stripped him of it.”