PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers quarterback Justin Fields says he doesn't watch national sports shows, so he hasn't heard anything speculated about the team or the quarterback position. Most of it nationally is flattering of Fields, but he said he's done what he's wanted to in training camp and exhibition games, 'most definitely'.
"Just the growth, coming in, everybody, new offense and learning," Fields said Tuesday after practice. "Everybody is growing with the offense and we've been getting better each and every week. It's been good."
Fields kept his answers to we and not me when he came to the offense. He said they are more comfortable with the offense, especially with not only the practice, but the in-game reps. He said the offense is more fluid and all have a better feel for it now.
The fourth-year quarterback led most of the rest of the first-team on a 34-yard touchdown drive following the Nick Herbig forced turnover against Detroit. On the day he was 3-4 for 40 yards with no rushing yards for the only time in a game this preseason. Combined in the first two preseason games, Fields was 16-23 for 159 yards with no touchdowns or turnovers and rushed 11 times for 44 yards.
Botched snap reasoning
On the shotgun snap that went off his hand Saturday, Fields explained he had changed the protection, left guard Spencer Anderson he heard him, but center Zach Frazier didn't not. Anderson wanted to make sure Frazier understood what the change was, so he tapped Frazier. The rookie center thought that was an indicator to snap the ball.
"Just something that would happen one percent of the time," Fields said. "Glad it happened in the preseason."
It was all praise for the West Virginia All-American as he's taken over the starting center spot after the injury to Nate Herbig.
"Zach has been great," Fields said. "He's one of the hardest workers we have. He's humble, hard-working and smart too. When you have all of those intangibles in a rookie, especially in an important position like center. It's great to see. I'm excited to see what he does this season. I know he's going to impress."
