Steelers' Justin Fields Provides An Advantage For Pittsburgh's Defense In 2024

The Pittsburgh Steelers, despite placing Russell Wilson in "pole position" to be the team's starting quarterback, find themselves in the midst of a true quarterback competition in the second week of training camp. Justin Fields enters into Pittsburgh after a tough first three seasons with the Chicago Bears, looking for an opportunity to rebound his career. With Wilson still nursing a calf injury, Fields is giving the team a taste of what he can do.

Fields is considered a dual threat quarterback, meaning a guy who is equally dangerous running the ball as he is throwing it. He's the type of dynamic playmaker that the Steelers have been more concerned about playing against recently, rather than having themselves on offense. As one of the league's best defenses gets an opportunity to work against him, they also get an opportunity to see how he elevates an offense that has struggled in recent years.

In a media scrum following Wednesday's practice, linebacker Elandon Roberts provided insight on the impact Fields is having already in Latrobe.

"It's not the first year I've seen Justin Fields, outside the pocket, this guy's a problem. Inside the pocket, he's a problem. You've seen the type of throws he's capable of making. The other dynamic of him running, he's the type of guy that's always going to keep you on your toes."

Inside the pocket, Fields has a 40-30 touchdown to interception ratio as a pro. With a career completion rating of 60.3% and 6,674 passing yards, he is the most enterprising quarterback the Steelers have had since Ben Roethlisberger. Outside the pocket, he's just as dangerous. In three seasons, Fields has over 2,000 rushing yards and 14 career touchdowns. Dating back to his time in college between Georgia and Ohio State, he posted over 1,000 rushing yards and 19 touchdowns. If there is one thing Fields knows how to do it's add an element to an offense.

Justin Fields Provides The Steelers Defense With A Boost

The benefit of having a player like Fields extends well beyond his impact offensively. It provides the defense with a unique challenge to contain and defend against during practice. In a conference like the AFC that has it's share of dynamic playmakers, having one to practice against is a positive in the back pocket of the Steelers. 

In 2024, the Steelers will play one of the toughest schedules in the NFL. They will play against teams like the Colts, Chiefs, and Chargers, as well as the rest of the teams in the north all with dynamic quarterbacks. In the past, the team has struggled containing quarterback scrambles, and keeping the player in the pocket. Thanks to Fields, the team has become more prepared for mobile quarterbacks.

"It helps us a lot. You've got Lamar (Jackson), Deshaun (Watson) can still run. We playing Jalen Hurts this year. We got Dak Prescott... It gets us prepared for that element on our defense."

Most teams have a quarterback they can use during practice that simulates what an opposing quarterback may do. Sometimes that's audibles and play designs, other times it's skill sets and size. What makes Fields unique for the Steelers that they don't have already is the natural athleticism. It's impossible to truly simulate what players like Jackson and Hurts can do, but with Fields you can come close. It may frustrate the team, but being able to practice going up against somebody with that clear ability is undeniably helpful. 

It's unclear to this point who will win the starting job in Pittsburgh. With every day that Wilson doesn't practice, it brings the gap ever closer between the two. Fields has looked good thus far during camp, and as evident by the scrum occurring at the end of Wednesday's practice, the team has begun to rally around him. Clearly this team is loving Fields, now it's up to him to not only win himself the job, but to earn a contract extension to play in Pittsburgh beyond 2024.

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