Russell Wilson’s comments on the way the Steelers could use Justin Fields have been making the rounds in Pittsburgh.
Wilson, who is currently in a battle with Fields for the starting quarterback job, is apparently very open to the idea of the Steelers using Fields in certain play packages and utilizing his athleticism.
“Justin is obviously one of the most talented guys in the NFL,” Wilson said to the Trib. “You know all the things he can do. The player, the quarterback that he is. He’s dynamic. It’s all about us winning. That’s the focus. I think it would strike fear in some defenses, that’s for sure.”
Wilson entered the offseason as the projected starter for the team, but the Steelers have made clear that the keys are not guaranteed to him, that he will have to earn it.
Fields, meanwhile, has impressed in early showings, and could put up a very strong case that he should be leading the team when Week 1 rolls around.
Assuming, just for the sake of this conversation, that Wilson does win the job, should the Steelers use Fields in a “Slash” role?
The potential use for Fields is being named “Slash” after former Steelers quarterback Kordell Stewart, an ultimate athlete who really did it all for the Steelers. “Slash” became Stewart’s nickname as he acted as a wide receiver, running back, and even as an occasional punter in addition to his eventual quarterback role.
Tragically for Stewart, he played in an NFL that just wasn’t ready to fully embrace that kind of game. He would have thrived in today’s league and would be a marquee name for whoever he played for.
But back to Fields however, who has a similar athletic prowess that could be wasting away on the bench if Wilson wins the starter’s job. Could Fields be used as an option in some plays, particularly as a runner?
Depending on how you look at it, Fields’ tendency to run is a usable strength or an immense weakness. He either bails from the pocket way too early, or can extend plays and gain yards with his legs.
Last season in 13 games, Fields took off 124 times for 657 yards, averaging 5.3 yards per attempt. He scored 4 touchdowns that way and crossed the first down marker 43 times.
In 2022, when he played a career high 15 games, he ran 160 times for 1,143 yards. Fields actually led the NFL in yards per attempt that year, with 7.1, but he also led the league in fumbles, with 16.
Ball security has often been an issue for him, but last year that fumble number dropped from 16 to 10, albeit in a few less games.
Fields has worked in ball security drills with the Steelers this season, and while that is typical for many players on the offensive side for Pittsburgh, it wouldn’t surprise me if they work Fields into more drills that are usually designed for running backs.
We’ve seen the highlights reels, we know the kind of electrifying runs Fields can rip off. He is definitely a threat in the run game. If it doesn’t work, it doesn’t work, but given Fields’ abilities, the Steelers should absolutely be open to the idea.
It’s been floated out there as an idea for the Steelers to install Fields on certain plays in a drive, or for a full drive/series in an effort to use his skills and throw off the defense.
He may end up being Pittsburgh’s version of Taysom Hill from New Orleans, where he can throw or be a designed runner depending on the play or the game circumstance.
The Steelers’ offense should not be under the direct reign of Wilson, but him being an advocate for the Fields idea is helpful to potentially get it off the ground.
It should be very interesting to see how the Steelers choose to go about this. I personally would love to see the team try Fields out in other spots, assuming Wilson wins the quarterback job. I think his athleticism is too great to ignore, and in a modern NFL that is increasingly adopting wild and wacky plays, it’s time for the Steelers to try a few out themselves.
As for Fields himself, he said he is willing to help the team in any capacity. “When my name is called, I’ll be ready. In whatever capacity. Exactly.”
(Featured photo by Michael Reaves/Getty Images)
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