Steelers Analysis
Reading Between the Lines: What Mike Tomlin Did, Didn’t Say about Steelers QB Situation
What head coach Mike Tomlin did and didn’t say about the Steelers starting quarterback battle between Justin Fields and Russell Wilson.
PITTSBURGH โ NFL Network has reported that the Pittsburgh Steelers are set to bench Justin Fields and start Russell Wilson at quarterback this week against the New York Jets, in a report timed exactly with the start of head coach Mike Tomlinโs press conference on Tuesday.
At said press conference, Mike Tomlin did not say that Russell Wilson will start this week. NFL Network is not typically wrong about such things. So what gives?
Letโs start with what Tomlin did say. Iโve highlighted eight things that he either said or very strongly implied.
1) Wilson is healthy. Not just healthy enough to play. But fully, completely healthy.
โHe proved his health last week,โ Tomlin said. โHe proved his ability to protect himself, to move appropriately within the pocket, to not be limited schematically in terms of some of the things we are capable of doing or wanted to do. Those things had to happen before we could seriously consider him and his talents and that happened a week ago.โ
The not being limited schematically part is key there. Remember that in the preseason, when Wilson played, he was asked not to run with the ball at all. That will need to be a part of the Steelers offense, no matter who the quarterback is.
That being said, 2) Wilson does not run like Fields does.
โNo, he does not,โ Tomlin said. โJustinโs legs are an x-factor. โฆ His ability to use his legs, by design and by ad-lib, was a significant component of that game. He rushed for 50-plus yards and two touchdowns in game. Weโre appreciative of that. Weโre appreciative of how heโs taking care of the ball. But weโre just looking at all of the people at our disposal the same way that we do at any position.โ
So what does that mean for the offense? Tomlin didnโt really say. Obviously, the Steelers canโt call all the same things for Wilson that they could for Fields. Fieldsโ running ability has been a significant part of the offense. So much that Tomlin 3) didnโt rule out the idea of playing both of them.
โCertainly thereโs a scenario,โ he said. โThere was a scenario where that could have occurred last week.โ
Heโs also hinting at something else there. Tomlin didnโt go into last week with a two quarterback plan, clearly. So heโs saying 4) there was a chance Fields could have been benched last week.
Fields 5) has not been particularly good as a thrower. Of all the quarterbacks that won their games this week, he had the fewest passing yards. Heโs currently 22nd in passing and 19th in adjusted net yards per attempt.
โWeโve been really good at times, but not to be confused with great,โ Tomlinโs said. โThis is a competitive league, man. Weโre trying to position ourselves to be that team. Weโve got a player with talent we havenโt had an opportunity to play, so weโre gonna potentially explore those things.โ
So what now? 6) Both quarterbacks are going to practice this week, and both will work with with the first team.
โBoth guys at the quarterback position are scheduled to work [Wednesday],โ Tomlin said. โWeโll just walk it day by day, all geared toward putting ourselves in best position to win the football game.โ
When will Tomlin make a decision? Rest assured, 7) heโs in no hurry. Tomlin clearly likes the idea of the Jets having to prepare for both players, calling the potential changes to his offense a โcute part of the discussion.โ
โI donโt know,โ he said when pressed on when heโll announce a starter. โCloser to game time.โ
Bet on Friday after practice. Also, no matter what he decides, 8) itโs not going to be some kind of permanent designation.
โNo, that would not be fair to say,โ he said when asked if the winner of the completion this week will remain the starter.
What about what went unsaid? Iโll try these on for size.
Justin Fields has not been good enough to secure the starting quarterback job. Heโs won games, but he has been a mediocre passer, and you canโt go into the postseason in an AFC loaded with quarterback talent and thinking running alone is going to get you there.ย
The Steelers also arenโt completely sure that Russell Wilson is going to be better. Thereโs no talk of a competition at outside linebacker this week as Alex Highsmith returns from injury to supplant Jeremiah Moon. There wonโt be any conversations about Tyler Matakevich taking over for Patrick Queen when he gets off the IR. If Russ was clearly better, or if he was clearly worse, there would be no competition. It would just be the way it is.
Mike Tomlin does not care about the future. These Steelers are not likely to win a Super Bowl, no matter who plays quarterback. You could make the argument that the best way for them to get in a place to do so in the near future is for Fields to develop into the kind of quarterback that can lead them there. If the future matters, itโs an easy choice. Go with Fields.
But thatโs not what Tomlin is doing. The Steelers have made it pretty clear that theyโre heard the noise from the fanbase, and theyโre trying hard to win a playoff game this year, whether or not they have any realistic chance of winning a Super Bowl. So Tomlin and company are all in on 2024.
Where does that leave us?
It seems likely that Wilson will start this week. It also seems plausible that Fields could have a package of plays, potentially work in the red zone, and that whoever starts will have a fairly tight leash.
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