We have a QB problem brewing.

["BuzzNuter"]

I believe we officially have a QB problem. Wilson is a full participant in practice. He wants to play.

Justin will probably start versus the Raiders. He was bad against the Cowboys. We are one of the worst 1st quarter offensive teams. What if we stink up Vegas in the first half?

Mike T is holding his cards close to the vest on the QB situation. Is that strategy or he's putting off making a decision because it's tough to do so?

George P is acting bad. Does he not have chemistry with Fields? Writing I am F****** open on your face does not give your QB any support going into a game.

It may get ugly in Vegas. I say if you don't want to start Wilson, leave him and George in Vegas and bring Adams home with us. If Fields goes bottom up, rebuild because this plan failed.

[WindyCitySteel]

Florio still thinks Wilson is starting this week.

https://steelersdepot.com/2024/10/mike-florio-predicts-russell-wilson-will-start-in-week-6-hes-starting-on-sunday/

If Fields starts and has a rebound game and the Steelers win, I don't think Russ and his camp keep quiet for much longer. If Fields has another bad game and they lose, easy decision, but then you really can't go back to him again unless Russ gets hurt again.

There's a fine line, if you will.

[hackjam]

I don't see how starting Russell Wilson gets you anything at this point. He's a known commodity and has very clearly regressed from his peak in Seattle. It's not like this team is winning a championship. Too many issues. You have to make a call on whether you keep Fields or move on at EOY. Might as well continue that evaluation process.

[Eich]

We've had a QB problem since the beginning of the off-season. We brought in 2 QBs that neither of their former teams wanted.

The plan was clearly to start Wilson, with him being in pole position. But then we had him blocking sleds and he was injured.

If the plan was to start Wilson, then what was the plan for Fields? And if you're not supposed to lose your job to injury, then you'd think Wilson gets the start when he's no longer injured.

The whole offense is one big problem. Not sure it's going to matter all that much, which of these 2 QBs is the leader of that mess. But I think it's time to see the original plan, when Wilson is 100%

Seeing Wilson in this offense, is part of the evaluation of Fields.

[Northern_Blitz]

We've had a QB problem since the beginning of the off-season. We brought in 2 QBs that neither of their former teams wanted.

The plan was clearly to start Wilson, with him being in pole position. But then we had him blocking sleds and he was injured.

If the plan was to start Wilson, then what was the plan for Fields? And if you're not supposed to lose your job to injury, then you'd think Wilson gets the start when he's no longer injured.

The whole offense is one big problem. Not sure it's going to matter all that much, which of these 2 QBs is the leader of that mess. But I think it's time to see the original plan, when Wilson is 100%

Seeing Wilson in this offense, is part of the evaluation of Fields.

1) I don't think we'll ever find out the truth here. But I wonder if "we had him blocking sleds", or if Wilson wanted to be "one of the guys" and chose to hit the blocking sleds.

2) I do think that it could be that the whole offense is one big problem.

But to be fair, that's what I thought before Mason came in last year. In that case, having an immobile QB who could find the open man and throw it to him made the offense look worlds different. Could Wilson do something similar? I don't know.

But I'd imaging that even "bad Wilson" coming out of Denver where he had an enormous salary was looked at as being better than Mason, might have literally been out of the league if we didn't bring him back after he found out that no one wanted him in the offseason before last year.

I'm worried that if we go to Wilson we'll lose the QB mobility that Fields brings. And that's probably been the most successful thing we've done on offense this year. But what if Wilson can play QB?

It doesn't look like we're going to start Wilson this week to me. But I think we will start him before the end of the year. Unless we just cut / trade him.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

I don't see how starting Russell Wilson gets you anything at this point. He's a known commodity and has very clearly regressed from his peak in Seattle. It's not like this team is winning a championship. Too many issues. You have to make a call on whether you keep Fields or move on at EOY. Might as well continue that evaluation process.

There is having a decision in which you have to choose between the better of two positives, and there is having a problem when you are choosing the lesser of two negatives. If and when the Steelers choose to start Wilson, it is not because of the positives of Wilson, but it is because they are done with the negatives of Fields. They can spin it however they wish when the time comes, but bringing in Wilson is pretty much saying that Fields has played his way out of any Pittsburgh future starting discussion.

[steeler_fan_in_t.o.]

But to be fair, that's what I thought before Mason came in last year. In that case, having an immobile QB who could find the open man and throw it to him made the offense look worlds different. Could Wilson do something similar? I don't know.

Given the 6 QBs the Steelers have used the last two years, given my choice I would prefer Mason right now. I did not like him at all from what we saw his early years right up until he entered the picture at the end of last season. It seems that he learned a lot by sitting and watching on the sidelines. I don't think he is the QB who leads his team to championships, but he is the type who plays steady football and allows a good team to get there. I think he has in him what guys like Darnold and Baker have finally shown (all three from the same draft) and that is that they have failed, and learned, and become better, and can look much better when surrounded by better.

[hackjam]

There is having a decision in which you have to choose between the better of two positives, and there is having a problem when you are choosing the lesser of two negatives. If and when the Steelers choose to start Wilson, it is not because of the positives of Wilson, but it is because they are done with the negatives of Fields. They can spin it however they wish when the time comes, but bringing in Wilson is pretty much saying that Fields has played his way out of any Pittsburgh future starting discussion.

Maybe so but that's awfully short sighted for a team without any semblance of a plan at the QB position.

At some point they just need to suck enough to pick in the top 10

[Northern_Blitz]

There is having a decision in which you have to choose between the better of two positives, and there is having a problem when you are choosing the lesser of two negatives. If and when the Steelers choose to start Wilson, it is not because of the positives of Wilson, but it is because they are done with the negatives of Fields. They can spin it however they wish when the time comes, but bringing in Wilson is pretty much saying that Fields has played his way out of any Pittsburgh future starting discussion.

This might be true, but I think there are some assumptions embedded in here as well.

My guess is that Wilson is a better passer. Particularly giving touch on short to intermediate passes.

Just because he's old and close to the end of his career doesn't mean that he doesn't offer advantages over Fields. There would be a clear loss in QB mobility though. Which I think has been the best thing about our offense to date (particularly re: consistency).

[Chucktownsteeler]

From an article on SD by Tony Dengy (see below) the Steelers D is in awe of Wilson in practice. Maybe he does have something left in the tank.

When your QB's best asset is his legs, you don't have a QB that can win in the playoffs.

https://steelersdepot.com/2024/10/dungy-steelers-1st-team-defense-shook-their-heads-shook-their-heads-in-admiration-facing-russell-wilson/

[Northern_Blitz]

Maybe so but that's awfully short sighted for a team without any semblance of a plan at the QB position.

At some point they just need to suck enough to pick in the top 10

I don't think we'll ever actively tank.

The time to do that would have been the year Ben got hurt. And instead of trying to lose games and accumulate picks, we traded our 1st for Minkah.

As long as there is a Roney running the team (which may not happen for the next generation because taxation will be a problem again), they aren't going to tank.

[Northern_Blitz]

From an article on SD by Tony Dengy (see below) the Steelers D is in awe of Wilson in practice. Maybe he does have something left in the tank.

When your QB's best asset is his legs, you don't have a QB that can win in the playoffs.

https://steelersdepot.com/2024/10/dungy-steelers-1st-team-defense-shook-their-heads-shook-their-heads-in-admiration-facing-russell-wilson/

I tend not to believe stuff like this that happens behind closed doors.

But I really hope it's true.

[Chucktownsteeler]

I tend not to believe stuff like this that happens behind closed doors.

But I really hope it's true.

I have the utmost respect for Tony Dungy. Top notch character all the way. That is what makes me believe. If Abititi had reported I would have taken it with a grain of salt.

[WindyCitySteel]

Another area where Fields has improved besides protecting the ball? 4th Quarter play. I only have the limited passer rating stat, but it matches the eye test.

Last year he rated 55.3 in the 4th. 2022 it was 61.3. 2021 it was 69.5.

This year? 110.7.

If the $140M defense could have gotten a 4th quarter stop the last two weeks, we'd be 5-0 and Fields would have two 4th quarter comebacks under his belt.

[Chucktownsteeler]

Another area where Fields has improved besides protecting the ball? 4th Quarter play. I only have the limited passer rating stat, but it matches the eye test.

Last year he rated 55.3 in the 4th. 2022 it was 61.3. 2021 it was 69.5.

This year? 110.7.

If the $140M defense could have gotten a 4th quarter stop the last two weeks, we'd be 5-0 and Fields would have two 4th quarter comebacks under his belt.

Fields scored too early and left too much time on the clock. Dak knew how to produce the game winning drive and kill the clock. Come on, man.