The Pittsburgh Steelers have completely revamped their quarterback lineup for 2023. Kenny Pickett was traded, Mason Rudolph left in free agency, and Mitch Trubisky was released. These three quarterbacks combined for just 13 passing touchdowns and nine interceptions during the 2023 season.
Pittsburgh Post-Gazette
Former Steelers quarterbacks Kenny Pickett, Mason Rudolph, and Mitch Trubisky wait for a drill to start during a practice in the summer of 2022.
It was a challenging year offensively for the Steelers. Despite this, they still managed to make the playoffs and achieve another winning season. However, frustrations were high in the Steel City due to yet another year without a playoff win. After the season ended, the Steelers made significant moves, bringing in former Super Bowl champion Russell Wilson and trading for Justin Fields.
When the Steelers acquired Fields, it was clear that Wilson would start in pole position. Fields will have the opportunity to compete for the job, something he is eager and confident about. Pundits have been debating who the better option is all offseason. Former NFL GM and current analyst Bill Barnwell believes that Fields would thrive in the Steelers' new offensive system under offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
“Who will start at quarterback? Russell Wilson heads into camp as the favorite, but Smith's offenses have worked best when he has had a mobile quarterback such as Ryan Tannehill and Marcus Mariota to help create numbers advantages in the run game. That would point more toward Justin Fields being the better option.”
Smith struggled during his head coaching tenure, but he first made his name as an elite offensive coordinator. He resurrected Ryan Tannehill's career when he took over as the offensive coordinator, and star running back Derrick Henry also had career years under Smith's guidance. Smith comes to Pittsburgh hoping to instill his play-action system, which features a healthy dose of heavy rush attacks.
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Former Titans OC Arthur Smith celebrates with RB Derrick Henry during a game.
In two seasons with Smith as his offensive coordinator, Tannehill started 26 games and passed for 6,561 yards with 55 touchdowns, 13 interceptions, and a 110.6 passer rating while completing 67.3 percent of his passes. He went from a struggling quarterback to a respectable one under Smith's tutelage. Because of the success that Tannehill had, Barnwell believes that a more mobile quarterback like Fields would be better suited for this Steelers offense.
Some would argue that even at this stage in his career, Wilson is a more mobile quarterback than Tannehill was. Wilson, now 35 and a veteran in the league, is still a mobile threat, though not as quick and effective on the ground as he once was.
However, few are better on the ground than Fields. In 38 games, Fields carried the ball 356 times for 2,220 rushing yards and scored 14 touchdowns. While Fields is a formidable rushing threat, he has struggled as a passer, throwing 40 touchdowns but also 30 interceptions.
Steelers' Justin Fields May Have Been Failed By The Chicago Bears Organization
It's hard to get a true read on Fields because his three seasons with the Chicago Bears were marked by coaching changes and a poor offensive system. The Steelers have also had offensive struggles, but with Smith in town, that is likely to change. Wilson is the favorite to start, but pundits like Barnwell believe it may be more beneficial for the Steelers to start Fields in 2024.
AP
Quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson warming up at the 2024 Pittsburgh Steelers' OTAs.
The Steelers' quarterback room is set for healthy competition, with Fields and Wilson pushing each other to claim the starting spot. This competition should lead to significantly improved quarterback play during the 2024 season. Pairing an improved offense with an already strong defense could make the Steelers a sleeper contender for the upcoming season. There's a lot of excitement in the Steel City, and Steelers fans can't wait to see which quarterback will lead them in 2024.
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