Steelers Fans Should "Ignore What The Coaches Are Saying" And Listen To The Players On Surprising QB Controversy

Pittsburgh Steelers Head Coach Mike Tomlin seemed to be attempting to start off the drama of a quarterback controversy this past offseason by saying that Russell Wilson would start. He called it "pole position" over Justin Fields. Wilson, who won a Super Bowl with the Seattle Seahawks, is older and more successful than the younger Fields. 

However, avoiding controversy was not meant to be. Wilson reportedly suffered from tightness in his calf muscle, which meant Fields got the opportunity to take the initial reps with the first team offense. While he wasn't initially perfect, Fields was electric the past few practices. After several days, Wilson came in and took some reps, but continued to divide time with Fields. 

Both quarterbacks are coming into Steel City with a chip on their shoulder and have something to prove. Now, with Fields, outstanding performance, the media is speculating about what Tomlin will do. On a recent episode of The Herd with Colin Cowherd, Bucky Brooks and Colin Cowherd debated how this will play out in Pittsburgh. 

Brooks believes Fields' unexpected success has created a conundrum for the coaches. He advises that fans might want to listen to what the players say.   

"Ignore what the coaches are saying, listen to what the players are saying," insists Brooks. "Russell has to find a way to close that off. The offense has to look different when he's in there. If not, there are gonna be guys that look towards Justin and say, 'Hey Coach, we might as well give the young guy the ball.' We may need to run it more, it may look different, but there's something he has done to catch the eyes of the defense. Players always tell you the truth about what they think because players don't have an agenda. They want the best player, and when the defense talks about Justin the way they have, you don't just glow over somebody just to make him feel good; there's something that he's doing in practice that makes them feel like if he was playing, they would have a shot to win."

He reminds Cowherd that it wasn't just the offensive players singing Fields' praises; it was the defense. Defensive Coordinator Teryl Austin shared that Fields is helping them prepare for other mobile quarterbacks, like Lamar Jackson. Brooks said that while no one is saying Fields is at the same level as the two-time MVP, he has challenged the Steelers' defense enough to win their accolades. 

New linebacker acquisition, Patrick Queen also complimented Fields' athleticism. Brooks said that the defense wouldn't say nice things about Fields to say them; he is clearly showing those skills in practice that have their attention.  

Cowherd believes Fields is also winning the team over off the field as well. He said that two well-respected coaches gave up on Wilson, and Tomlin is giving him this last shot. Tomlin is well known as a player's coach, and Cowherd said that means he has his players' backs. Fields was well-loved by his teammates in Chicago. The current offense is young, with some new draft picks potentially playing this year. In his mind, he can see a situation where Fields wins over that young offense. We already saw them jump to his defense in camp. 

Steelers' George Pickens Building A Connection With Justin Fields

Fields isn't just getting attention from the defense; he is also earning the respect of the offense. During practice the second week of camp, there was obvious chemistry between Fields and Pickens. The two have known each other for a long time and seem to be matching up well. 

Pickens was called "elite" by Fields after camp. He shared with the media that balls that would be 50/50 catches for most receivers are 90/10 catches for Pickens. Of course, this isn't news to Steelers fans who have been marveling at his ability to reel in contested catches since he joined the team. 

How much credence do you pay what the players are saying about Fields? Click to comment below. 

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