Justin Fields and his Steelers

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
understand what they are doing, they hired Art Smith, and they are pounding the rock, they got QBs who can execute that
Fields to return kicks was a joke, and likely a test which JF did not pass,

completely baseless theory. Actually makes no sense if you just step back and think about it in conjunction with his and the team's circumstances.

The team didn't send Jaylen Warren out to spread a rumor on a podcast to test Fields in an elaborate scheme to test Fields loyalty. Being told he was being traded for to be a backup would suffice.

I think it originated with special teams, the coach saying he would like him in that capacity, that's more a nod to saying this guy is athletic, more than a serious suggestion..

regardless, the intent, doesn't matter, the reality does. the reality is he could have been a team first guy saying put me wherever coach. he chose not to do that, predictable. that's who he is.. this is a guy who pointed the finger at 'coaching' as the reason for his Bear struggles, while a Bear..

happy to eat crow if he's fielding kicks in meaningful games, i just don't see it happening

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
I think it originated with special teams, the coach saying he would like him in that capacity, that's more a nod to saying this guy is athletic, more than a serious suggestion..

regardless, the intent, doesn't matter, the reality does. the reality is he could have been a team first guy saying put me wherever coach. he chose not to do that, predictable. that's who he is.. this is a guy who pointed the finger at 'coaching' as the reason for his Bear struggles, while a Bear..

happy to eat crow if he's fielding kicks in meaningful games, i just don't see it happening

As relayed by Warren on a podcast. It makes sense that coaches are wondering how they can utilize his actual talent.

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:
As relayed by Warren on a podcast. It makes sense that coaches are wondering how they can utilize his actual talent.

yeah at QB, that's how
a QB who runs, it's gonna be some Tebow style football this season in PIT
that's their intent, and it probably won't be pretty, but maybe they will rack up some rush yds if he gets into games
Russ is pretty cooked, and DEN paid a staggering price just to get rid of him

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
yeah at QB, that's how
a QB who runs, it's gonna be some Tebow style football this season in PIT
that's their intent, and it probably won't be pretty, but maybe they will rack up some rush yds if he gets into games
Russ is pretty cooked, and DEN paid a staggering price just to get rid of him

Yea, nothing helps the run game more than QB's who can't pass and defenses who don't have to worry about a pass game. Fields is definitely following Tebow's career path in a lot of ways.

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:
Yea, nothing helps the run game more than QB's who can't pass and defenses who don't have to worry about a pass game. Fields is definitely following Tebow's career path in a lot of ways.

CHI led the NFL in rush yds with Fields, in 2022. ATL was 1 in rush attempts in 2022 and #3 last season. it's a run OC with a run QB. sometimes it's pretty straight forward what is going on. I suspect if Art has any pull, we will see JF as he runs better than old Russ. If you are an OC who wants to run 40 times a game, JF becomes a lot more appealing. that's who their OC is.

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
CHI led the NFL in rush yds with Fields, in 2022. ATL was 1 in rush attempts in 2022 and #3 last season. it's a run OC with a run QB. sometimes it's pretty straight forward what is going on. I suspect if Art has any pull, we will see JF as he runs better than old Russ. If you are an OC who wants to run 40 times a game, JF becomes a lot more appealing. that's who their OC is.

He is not appealing as a QB at all, lol. Chicago's offense has been one of the worst in the NFL during Fields time. Atlanta's offense was one of the worst in the NFL under Smith with QB's who couldn't pass the ball. You get empty rush yards because the QB runs instead of passing the ball on passing plays.

Arthur Smith's offense has only looked good with a competent game manager at QB. Guess which one of Pittsburgh's QB's has shown that ability.

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
CHI led the NFL in rush yds with Fields, in 2022. ATL was 1 in rush attempts in 2022 and #3 last season. it's a run OC with a run QB. sometimes it's pretty straight forward what is going on. I suspect if Art has any pull, we will see JF as he runs better than old Russ. If you are an OC who wants to run 40 times a game, JF becomes a lot more appealing. that's who their OC is.

He is not appealing as a QB at all, lol. Chicago's offense has been one of the worst in the NFL during Fields time. Atlanta's offense was one of the worst in the NFL under Smith with QB's who couldn't pass the ball. You get empty rush yards because the QB runs instead of passing the ball on passing plays.

Arthur Smith's offense has only looked good with a competent game manager at QB. Guess which one of Pittsburgh's QB's has shown that ability.

Understand, I am not calling it appealing. I don't think it is appealing. I am saying it's appealing to Art Smith. I wouldn't want Art Smith as my OC. But I understand with him in the bldg, the moves they are making. It's not hire Justin, to take over return duties. that ain't it chief. He's insurance if Russ is as cooked as he seems. And maybe some upside. Along with being a scheme fit, for an OC who doesn't much believe in the forward pass.

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
Understand, I am not calling it appealing. I don't think it is appealing. I am saying it's appealing to Art Smith. I wouldn't want Art Smith as my OC. But I understand with him in the bldg, the moves they are making. It's not hire Justin, to take over return duties. that ain't it chief. He's insurance if Russ is as cooked as he seems. And maybe some upside. Along with being a scheme fit, for an OC who doesn't much believe in the forward pass.

I'm not saying they are going to make him a returner. I'm saying the coaches are thinking about ways they can use his talent outside of sitting on the bench as a backup. KR/PR, WR, gadget QB… as I mentioned above.

It makes perfect sense the coaches are wondering aloud if they can use this extremely explosive athlete in positions where athleticism is useful. That's all that's actually happened here.

He's not a scheme fit for any pro offense that wants to be successful at this time. If Wilson bottoms out they'll probably give him a look. In the meantime, he has actual talent that's worth exploring elsewhere.

Keep in mind what I responded to Faithful. Your theory that this idea was simply a loyalty test. That makes no actual sense considering he was traded for a bottom draft pick and told he would be a backup. It's built in.

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:
Keep in mind what I responded to Faithful. Your theory that this idea was simply a loyalty test. That makes no actual sense considering he was traded for a bottom draft pick and told he would be a backup. It's built in.

I don't think it's a serious suggestion for him to return kicks, we will see in games, and happy to eat crow if he's doing that..

if it's a test or not is irrelevant, it revealed info on who he is, regardless. you after all believe it's reasonable to deploy him in a number of fashions, like return man, and notice the player himself disagrees with you. how would you interpret as a PIT coach if you want to explore other roles and the guy is shooting that down, in a that's not my job fashion?

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
I don't think it's a serious suggestion for him to return kicks, we will see in games, and happy to eat crow if he's doing that..

if it's a test or not is irrelevant, it revealed info on who he is, regardless. you after all believe it's reasonable to deploy him in a number of fashions, like return man, and notice the player himself disagrees with you. how would you interpret as a PIT coach if you want to explore other roles and the guy is shooting that down, in a that's not my job fashion?

I think it's reasonable to explore the possibility, seeing as he is a great athlete. That's what the coach was effectively doing, according to Warren.

I couldn't care less what Fields says now. He's geared up to try and win a chance at being a starting QB, as he should be. It's not surprising or a negative that he said he wasn't there to be a kick returner. It says nothing other than he still wants to be a QB.

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:
I think it's reasonable to explore the possibility, seeing as he is a great athlete. That's what the coach was effectively doing, according to Warren.

I couldn't care less what Fields says now. He's geared up to try and win a chance at being a starting QB, as he should be. It's not surprising or a negative that he said he wasn't there to be a kick returner. It says nothing other than he still wants to be a QB.

I think Art wants him on the field at QB. Even if it means taking starter Russ off the field. I don't see him at WR or return man.

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
I think Art wants him on the field at QB. Even if it means taking starter Russ off the field. I don't see him at WR or return man.

Situationally, as a gadget QB, for sure. I included that. Why wouldn't that be a consideration when you don't have an established player at the position? There's no reason to think Fields couldn't be useful in certain packages. There's a lot of reasons to believe he shouldn't be a starter.

I think you're confusing a lack of belief in the forward pass with a lack of having QB's on the roster who can execute them. Look at what Smith did with a competent game manager in Tannehill. Even his first year with Matt Ryan there was decent production at the position. Of course a coach's pass game is going to struggle if the QB is Mariota, Ridder, or Justin Fields.

Originally posted by SmokeyJoe:
Situationally, as a gadget QB, for sure. I included that. Why wouldn't that be a consideration when you don't have an established player at the position? There's no reason to think Fields couldn't be useful in certain packages. There's a lot of reasons to believe he shouldn't be a starter.

I think you're confusing a lack of belief in the forward pass with a lack of having QB's on the roster who can execute them. Look at what Smith did with a competent game manager in Tannehill. Even his first year with Matt Ryan there was decent production at the position. Of course a coach's pass game is going to struggle if the QB is Mariota, Ridder, or Justin Fields.

if he wants a game manger or drop back passer, why did they acquire Justin in the first place? doesn't line up with the reality of what they did.

for me it was pretty obvious what was going on. he went out and got mobile QBs in ATL and a very mobile QB in JF. he wants to be at or near the league lead in rushing. that's his MO. Fields can in fact help here. But his poor attitude has me skeptical on if he will ever turn any corner as a passer. I don't see a coachable player here. He's a brat.

Originally posted by 49erFaithful6:
if he wants a game manger or drop back passer, why did they acquire Justin in the first place? doesn't line up with the reality of what they did.

for me it was pretty obvious what was going on. he went out and got mobile QBs in ATL and a very mobile QB in JF. he wants to be at or near the league lead in rushing. that's his MO. Fields can in fact help here. But his poor attitude has me skeptical on if he will ever turn any corner as a passer. I don't see a coachable player here. He's a brat.

He wants an elite QB just like every other coach. He can run a successful pass game with a game manager level QB. Russell Wilson has shown he has been capable of that in the past and they got him for nothing. Fields is an explosive runner who can potentially be utilized in more than one way and they also got him for nothing. Neither are long term investments or indicators of what Smith (the OC, not HC or GM) ideally wants at the position.

You might be right about Fields being uncoachable. Who knows. You're putting an awful lot of weight in two comments he's made in his career, one of which isn't remotely negative. It's also odd coming from someone who was critical of his coaches in Chicago, lol. Coachable or not, he's in the conversation for worst starting QB in the league being kind.