PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – We haven't had the opportunity to talk with Justin Fields since he was replaced as the Steelers starting quarterback. What his position coach said of how he took the decision and how he did when given a chance.
Fields led the Steelers to a 4-2 start. They were coming off the most points of the season, he rushed for a pair of touchdowns in a road win over the Raiders. While not overwhelming stats, Fields completed 66% of his passes overall for 1,106 yards, five touchdowns and one interception with FIVE touchdowns as part of 231 yards rushing.
Yet once Russell Wilson was healthy, Fields starts didn't matter. It's been a productive decision through a pair of starts against New York teams scoring more points on average and gaining 400 yards in back-to-back games.
First-year Steelers quarterbacks coach Tom Arth said before the team left for a four-day, bye week break that Fields was disappointed. But what he has learned about the 25-year-old is that he's resilient and tough. He saw Fields respond to the initial news of not being named the starter and then being thrust into it for Week 1 after Wilson re-injured his calf. Then being told before playing the Jets he was being replaced.
"How he handled that," Arth said Wednesday. "Such a strong-minded person, such a good person, such a humble person to be able to take that news and own it."
Arth said from hearing the news in September and then being replaced six games later, Fields took it from the sense of what he can do better. He said right before the decision was made that he didn't play well enough. He could have made it impossible for Mike Tomlin to make a switch.
"If I get that opportunity again, how am I going to be better in those situations," Arth said of Fields response. "I think it says a lot about Justin, the person he is, what he's made of. For him to respond the way that he did and be so supportive and bought into our team and winning football games regardless of his role in that."
When evaluating how Fields played, Arth said 'Justin has played really well'. He said they've tried to focus on the things he's done at a really high level. Chief among them, with the exception of a couple of bobbled center-quarterback exchanges, is not turning it over.
"You look at those first six games of the year and the way that he took care of the football," Arth said. "His decision-making process was very positive. Continue to build on that, that's winning football."
Sounds like a quarterback you would retain as your starter. It's not the case. Arth said Fields is dealing with it but again used the word disappointed. If you saw him after the Giants game you could tell he really wanted a shot at playing even though he had been downgraded to the emergency quarterback because of an injury late in the week.
It's a motivator now for Fields. While accepting the back-up role, he's not satisfied. Arth said he will do what the team needs until his next opportunity.
"What's been really positive about this quarterback group, you have two extremely capable starters in this league," Arth said. "Two guys that have played this season at a very high level."
It's Russell Wilson's team. It was during OTAs, mini-camp, even training camp through his injury. Fields thought he had a chance, got a chance, but wasn't better than Wilson. Now he's back at work to again prove he's better than he was in Chicago.
He was in Pittsburgh, just not better than Russ.
