Tag: steelers 2024 season

How Steelers will utilize backup QB Justin Fields ‘is not news’ to defensive coordinators

Pittsburgh Steelers offensive coordinator Arthur Smith has some specialized packages in the playbook for backup quarterback Justin Fields.

Now that Russell Wilson has officially been named the starting quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers and the quarterback competition that was never a competition is over, what do they do with the talented Justin Fields?

In June, ESPN’s Jeremy Fowler reported that teams around the league fully expect Pittsburgh to use Fields in goal-line situations.

“I’ve talked to multiple teams who expect the Steelers to utilize Justin Fields as a runner and passer in the goal line; think eight yards and in,” Fowler said on NFL Live. “Arthur Smith, the new OC, used Derrick Henry as a quarterback/passer when he was in Tennessee calling plays, so why couldn’t you use a guy like Fields with his big-time ability?”

The Athletic’s Dianna Russini echoed that statement this summer. “We’ll start with the idea of Justin Fields having some packages for him in this offense,” she said. “100 percent that is the plan; they’ve already worked on it. It’s in the playbook.”

Whether it’ll be effective to be seen. Just like when Matt Canada put x on the field in 2023, signaling a jet-sweep, defenses will key in on Fields.

“You’re going to see that in an Arthur Smith offense, and defensive coordinators around the league are all prepared for that. That is not news to them at all.”

For specialized packages to work, Smith must dial up some creative plays to keep defenses guessing.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

NFL insider leaks Steelers starting quarterback for 2024 season

Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has named Russell Wilson the starting quarterback for the 2024 NFL season.

In the most obvious move of the preseason, head coach Mike Tomlin has named Russell Wilson the Pittsburgh Steelers’ starting quarterback, according to Fox reporter Jay Glazer.

Wilson’s first summer in Pittsburgh didn’t go as planned. He was relegated to coaching up QB Justin Fields and the receivers after suffering a calf strain while pushing a blocking sled before the opening session of training camp in July. Wilson saw limited work during the waning days in Latrobe.

Preseason games didn’t yield much for Wilson, either. After sitting out the preseason opener, Wilson threw for 37 yards on 10 completions. His two completions on as many attempts for 26 yards showed Tomlin all he needed to see.

With the 35-year-old Wilson past his prime, his biggest contribution could come as a mentor to Fields, who could be the future of the franchise.

While Fields’ athleticism and mobility offer Steelers fans a more thrilling game-day option, Wilson’s experience trumps all for Tomlin.

How the Steelers utilize Fields this season will be something to watch.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

It’s time for Steelers fans to start showing Van Jefferson love

Pittsburgh Steelers wide receiver Van Jefferson has shown this preseason that he’s capable of being the Robin to George Pickens’ Batman.

What a welcome to Pittsburgh it must’ve been for Van Jefferson. He often heard the words, “The Steelers need a top-tier receiver,” as Steelers fans clamored for Brandon Aiyuk. We’re not gonna lie; that’d be really nice, but Jefferson has shown so far this preseason that he’s capable of being the Robin to George Pickens‘ Batman.

Through two games, Jefferson’s been targeted six times for four receptions, two for first downs, and logged 39 yards. He would’ve had 59 if Mike Tomlin had challenged the play called out of bounds on a deep ball pass from Fields for 20 yards.

Steelers fans were only treated to a peep of what Jefferson could do. He’s a silky-smooth, detailed route runner known as a first-down treasure trove (80 in career).

With Roman Wilson’s outlook to start the season bleak, Jefferson will be all the more critical to the success of the Steelers offense.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers QB Russell Wilson on what it takes to be great, win in the NFL

Steelers QB Russell Wilson knows that his new team has exactly what it takes to be great and win in the NFL.

The Pittsburgh Steelers have been winning in the NFL for a long time. They even won games despite their quarterback shuffling over the past two seasons and Matt Canada‘s abysmal play-calling.

Fast forward to now, and it’s a new era in Pittsburgh. Mitch Trubisky, Kenny Pickett, and Mason Rudolph are out; Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are in.

Though Wilson is entering his 13th season, he’s been with the Steelers only since March. But he knows that his new team has exactly what it takes to be great and win in the NFL.

Our toughness, our mental fortitude… We had six practices in a row. It’s not normal in the National Football League anymore. I think it’s what it takes to be great. It’s what it takes to win.

Will Omar Khan‘s restocking of the quarterback room be the difference in how far Pittsburgh can go in the 2024 postseason? We’re counting on it. This one-and-done routine is getting pretty old.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Mike Tomlin: Important that Steelers don’t ‘ooze to a finish’

Much to the delight of Mike Tomlin, slime was non-existent during Steelers’ 2024 training camp. 

Much to the delight of Mike Tomlin, slime was non-existent during Pittsburgh Steelers’ 2024 training camp.

As summer practices came to a bittersweet close for the 57th year in Latrobe, Tomlin praised not only employees who’ve served the Steelers during their stay but also his 90-man training camp squad.

“Good work out here today,” Tomlin said of his players in his final press conference from Latrobe. “Finished with an exclamation point, liked the energy and enthusiasm.”

“It’s important that we don’t ooze to a finish in anything that we do, whether it’s a play or a drive, a half, a game, training camp,” said Tomlin. “We just try to make it a point to finish everything we do with an exclamation point. I like the spirit that they brought today. I thought it was reflective in the energy that they had.”

Pittsburgh’s seasons have oozed to a finish recently, but hopes are that changes with talent at quarterback.

The Steelers ended camp with a joint practice against the Buffalo Bills, the visiting team for Pittsburgh’s final home game of the 2024 preseason. The team travels to Detroit to take on the Lions for its Aug. 24 preseason finale.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers could be in a world of hurt with Russell Wilson’s calf injury

Should Russell Wilson’s injury linger or further limit him as summer bleeds into the regular season, the Steelers could be in trouble.

When you hit 30, simple things like sneezing or reaching for the remote can throw our backs out. And while athletes are far more conditioned than most anyone reading this, injuries still take time to heal.

Like groin injuries (ask Cam Heyward), calf injuries tend to linger. Russell Wilson and his 35-year-old calf having to ramp up for a long 17-game season (in which he’s expected to be mobile) isn’t a good mix.

There’s no question the Steelers trainers will accordingly prepare Wilson, who, per Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, has been participating in a limited capacity.

And, of course, Mike Tomlin will use an abundance of caution (and repeat the phrase abundantly) while monitoring his quarterback. But should the injury linger or further limit Wilson as summer bleeds into the regular season, the Steelers could be in trouble.

Should Wilson’s calf become a real problem, Justin Fields needing to start the 2024 regular season would be less than ideal. Then again, what better way for the Steelers to truly see what they have in Fields than during live game action?

Wilson is a veteran, it’s true. This isn’t his first rodeo, nor his first team or offense change. But that still doesn’t diminish the fact that he still needs meaningful reps and practice under Arthur Smith and company in the six weeks leading up to the start of the regular season. Hopefully, that process begins in earnest this week as Wilson is expected to start practicing in a fuller capacity.

As most teams do, the Steelers start the reason with plenty of rust to shake off. Russell Wilson must be the least rusty to make the transition more seamless.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers tank in ESPN’s offensive playmakers ranking

ESPN’s Bill Barnwell doesn’t give the Steelers a chance this season for big plays on offense.

In 2022, ESPN’s Bill Barnwell ranked the Pittsburgh Steelers offensive playmakers as 12th-best in the NFL. In 2023, they were 13th. Barnwell put out his 2024 rankings and we hate to break it to you but the Steelers have tanked and dropped all the way down to No. 27.

Barnwell notes in his breakdown that Pickens is essentially the only real playmaker the Steelers have and in 2023 the most consistent threat was probably backup running back Jaylen Warren.

I’m still optimistic about Pickens — even amid the real-life specter of coordinator Arthur Smith deciding to build the offense around Cordarrelle Patterson and MyCole Pruitt — but I’m wondering how he will evolve. We know he can run away from defensive backs, but is his game going to continue to revolve around low-probability contested catches on the sideline? Can his route-running command more than 10 targets in a game, something he failed to do in Year 2 with Roman Wilson and Van Jefferson as the primary wideouts behind him and Pat Freiermuth topping 50 yards in a game just once last season, it sure looks and feels like Pickens-or-bust for the Pittsburgh passing game.

Barnwell paints a fairly gloomy picture about the Steelers offense this season. There’s no doubt this offense will be plodding and methodical but we are hopeful that Freiermuth and Warren can provide a little bit of punch to the offense outside of Pickens.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]

Steelers QB Justin Fields named ‘player to root for’ by NFL Network

Will Justin Fields get a fair shot at the starting quarterback job in Pittsburgh?

For some reason, the Pittsburgh Steelers decided to trade for former Chicago Bears quarterback Justin Fields after signing quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson is a borderline Hall of Famer and did not come to the Steelers to be the backup to anyone.

This means we really don’t know if there will be a legitimate quarterback battle in training camp or not, but according to NFL writer Tom Blair is still rooting for Fields this year.

I almost made it through this entire file without naming a quarterback, but this one’s kind of unavoidable. Fields is at a career crossroads basically because he is not a clear-cut generational talent, and Chicago had an opportunity to draft someone who could be. The Bears are moving on with Caleb Williams, and more power to them. There still appears to be, uh, “meat left on that bone” in terms of what the dynamic Fields can offer, though, and I wouldn’t mind seeing another QB castoff follow the Baker Mayfield trajectory (formerly known as the Ryan Tannehill trajectory?) by re-establishing himself as a viable starter. (Don’t take this as anti-Russell Wilson sentiment, though. I root against no one.)

It’s hard to imagine the Steelers didn’t have conversations with Fields about some sort of role this season or else why would he have asked to be traded to Pittsburgh? We don’t know what that role is, but we’ve already talked about how making Fields a gadget quarterback isn’t in his best long-term interest.

[lawrence-auto-related count=3]