The Pittsburgh Steelers start off the 2024 season with a bit of a revenge tour on the road. They face the Atlanta Falcons in Atlanta Week 1 and the two teams have many ties. New Steelers Offensive Coordinator, Arthur Smith, used to be the Falcons' head coach, and those who know Smith feel that he has something to prove. The Falcons' new Head Coach, Raheem Morris, is an old friend of Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin.
Gary A. Vasquez / USA Today Sports
Steelers' George Pickens (14) talks with Raheem Morris after a game in 2023.
The two worked together coaching the Tampa Bay Buccaneers from 2002-2005, even winning a Super Bowl at the end of the 2002 season. They are both considered defensive masterminds and spent much time working together. It was no surprise to hear that the two hold each other in high regard and consider each other friends.
But none of that will matter when they take the field at Mercedes-Benz Stadium on Sunday. Instead, the two will likely try to use the knowledge of the other to give them an edge. According to Morris, Tomlin already started with his comments regarding the "weaponizing of Justin Fields."
Morris jokes that Mike Tomlin "told me to prepare for Justin Fields, so we did. " #Falcons
— Marc Raimondi (@marcraimondi) September 4, 2024
Since Tomlin announced that Russell Wilson will start for the Steelers, it seems logical that Fields will be stuck in a backup role unless Wilson gets injured or is benched for performance. That led to suppositions that Fields might get used in gadget-type plays. In speaking with the press on Wednesday, according to posts from ESPN reporter Marc Raimondi, Morris told the media that he wasn't surprised by Tomlin's comments.
"Morris jokes that Mike Tomlin, 'Told me to prepare for Justin Fields, so we did,'" posted Raimondi. "Morris added on his friend Tomlin: 'That's a nice way to make me waste my time. He's the master at it. And he's conducting a masterclass -- or he's not. And Fields is gonna show up.'"
While many think that using Fields in specific plays makes a lot of sense, the media closest to the franchise don't think it is all that likely. Fields got more of a shot as the starting quarterback than anyone expected when Wilson suffered a calf injury. That increased interest in utilizing Fields and his incredible mobility, apparently even winning over many of his teammates who advocated for him.
Matt Freed / ap photo
Steelers' Justin Fields avoids a pass rusher as he throws the football.
Steelers' Russell Wilson Will Get His Own Revenge Game
Smith isn't the only Steelers member getting a bit of a revenge game this season. Wilson will be facing his old team, the Denver Broncos, Week 2 in the Mile High City. The Broncos brought Wilson in to be the Broncos' savior in 2022. Unfortunately, in 2023, they chose to hire a new head coach, Sean Payton. Payton saw things differently than Nathaniel Hackett, the prior head coach, and almost immediately had issues with Wilson.
The two were apparently just oil and water. While Wilson might have been brought in to save the franchise, they needed an offensive mastermind to pull the struggling offense up, and Payton was able to do that. But rumors that Payton wouldn't collaborate with Wilson were as rampant as those that said Wilson was a selfish diva.
Payton seemed unwilling to work with Wilson from the start and was even seen berating him on the sideline. In the end, Payton drove Wilson out of town, paying him a fortune just to go away, even though Wilson had a solid season statistically.
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Steelers' Russell Wilson.
Wilson could have just walked away from football at that point. At the age of 35, no one would blame him. But Wilson wasn't ready, feeling that he still has gas left in the tank. The Steelers are giving him a chance to prove that while the Broncos foot the majority of the bill.
Do you think Tomlin will use Fields in any special packages in Week 1 or at all this season? Click to comment below.
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