PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – How to use Justin Fields going forward? It’s an interesting question. Will the dynamic back-up quarterback get more carries? Less? Be used at all? Throw it more?
Fields got the most work he’s had since he started on Thursday. He was involved in seven plays, three he ran himself and one incomplete pass. What we don’t know coming up against Cincinnati is how much he will be used going forward.
“Those plans are formulated week to week based on the opponent,” said Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin on Tuesday. “I don’t know if this week will be reflective of what you saw last week, to be quite honest with you. Just know that it is certainly a component of what we do and a component of every plan.”
It took a while to see him back on the field. You could argue if things were where the Steelers wanted them to be, we wouldn’t see him at all. The first couple of weeks under Russell Wilson, Fields just watched and the Steelers won those first three games.
Tomlin said that was in part because Fields suffered a hamstring injury after the last practice before the bye, even though he never missed work. The Steelers head coach said he remains in the rotation to play.
“It’s a component of what we do. I’ve been pretty clear about that,” Tomlin said. “Once Justin got healthy, he’s a viable and capable dude, and it’s something that our opponents have to be aware of. When we use it and how much we utilize it will be dependent on plans week to week.”
It’s not just Tomlin making the call, he gives full authority to offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to bring Fields in for a play or series or whatever he may want.
Tomlin said he could call for Fields as well. Players don’t really know when exactly Fields could come into a game. Most likely it’s short yardage or red zone, but it doesn’t have to be.
“You never know,” said Steelers tackle Broderick Jones. “It’s all based on down and distance and however Art is feeling. You have to be ready when that time comes.”
What about the potential that it disrupts the offense more than it helps? That isn’t the feeling you get from a couple of the starting offensive linemen.
“I ain’t got no say-so in that,” Jones said. “If I can’t control it, it doesn’t make any difference because at the end of the day I have to block the man in front of me and protect whoever is behind me, even if that is Coach T behind me. For me, it really doesn’t make a difference. You just have to be prepared.”
“I think it’s cool,” said Steelers guard Mason McCormick. “Justin is a really, really good player. However we can get him on the field, I’m cool with. It’s a good problem to have to have two really good quarterbacks like we have.”
To any potential issues for the Steelers offensive personnel, Tomlin flips it another way.
“We’re more excited about the challenges that it presents the opposing unit,” Tomlin said. “I think that’s reflective of our general attitude. We live in our hope as opposed to our fears.”
Make no mistake, it’s not going away.
“There is a strategic component that I won’t get into detailing, but certainly we feel comfortable about how we infuse it and when we infuse it certainly,” Tomlin said.