PHILADELPHIA (93.7 The Fan) – Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin only said he wanted to see more when asked if Dwayne Haskins now needs work with the first team to show what he can do. In his second preseason game with the team, Haskins, coming in after Mason Rudolph, led the Steelers to 24 points going 16 of 22 for 161 yards and a touchdown pass against Philadelphia Thursday night.
We know Haskins won’t be the starter against Detroit on August 21, though, as Tomlin said Ben Roethlisberger will play.
“As a competitor, you want to get with the guys that make the plays,” Haskins said when asked about the importance of getting first-team work. “I do a great job of listening to Ben and having conversations with the starting receivers. Getting to know what they like and how they see the field.”
“If that happens, I want to be ready for it. I do some off-the-field stuff with guys as well. I feel like I have a great chemistry with all of the receivers, but if I get the opportunity. I want to make the most of it.”
He made the most of his opportunity against the Eagles, along with his personal stats. The team was 9 of 11 on third down during his time on the field.
“Coach Sullivan (Steelers QB Coach) came up to me and said be like a jazz player,” Haskins said. “Be smooth. That’s kind of what I was trying to do today, be smooth and allow the plays to come to me. Trust in what I saw and let me eyes and feet tell me where to go with the ball.”
“I really thought he was in command tonight,” said an impressed head coach Mike Tomlin. “He did a great job of communicating with people, going through progressions. He had a third down play, 3rd and 8, I saw him go through three or four reads and throw the ball over the middle of the field and convert for us. That was just a snapshot of the night he had tonight. I thought he was in command of his play.”
Tomlin said they won’t come to any quick conclusions, that it will sort itself out. They need to see more.
In his third season in the NFL, the 24-year-old former Washington number one pick and Ohio State star enjoyed getting into the rhythm of a game again.
“It was great,” Haskins said. “It was probably the most fun I’ve had since I came here, probably since I came in the league really. The energy, the fans in the stadium. Guys gravitating towards me. A lot of fun to be out there. Get some points on the board and get a win.”
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