Russell Wilson Turns the Steelers Into A True Contender

[.Kodiak]

Wilson did a lot of good things, probably most importantly that he took SMART risks. Fields played scared of turning the ball over, most likely because he has a history of turning the ball over.

I said Wilson would probably need 2-3 games to shake the rust off. Many people said that's why he shouldn't start, but the reality is the longer you wait, the rustier he gets. I don't think it was a tough or "brave" decision from Tomlin, at all. The only surprising thing was, for maybe the first time, he seemed to prioritize being a contender over NHALS.

But Wilson was off on a lot of his throws. Although PIckens seems to win an insane amount of those balls (should be automatic any time he is 1-on-1), you can't expect guys on both sides of the field making circus catches all over the place. If instead of a +5 in crazy catches you have the occasional +2 in drops, they definitely lose that game.

I do think Wilson turns them into a contender. But we all know the more descriptive turn is "pretender" until Tomlin proves he can actually coach his way out of a paper bag in the playoffs.

[.Kodiak]

If JF could learn to throw with touch he would have done it by now. Do you think he likes throwing line drives all the time? Some people just really struggle in this area.

Fields had been improving, but over his first 3 years he hovered around 60% completions. He's just never shown NFL franschise-QB level accuracy, and you could see that in college if you watched him. I called "bust" when Chicago drafted him.

Guys can improve that, and there are examples. Even Brady got much better on his deep ball over the years. But it's a short list of guys that improve their throwing. For every Josh Allen there are 20 guys who went backwards trying to make mechanical adjustments.

Expecting Fields to develop into a franchise QB after 3+ years is beyond rose-colored glasses optimism. But it's not impossible, merely improbable.

[Steeldrama]

If JF could learn to throw with touch he would have done it by now. Do you think he likes throwing line drives all the time? Some people just really struggle in this area.

I called "bust" when Chicago drafted him.

You also called for Ben to retire….4 years before he actually retired. So there’s that

[.Kodiak]

If JF could learn to throw with touch he would have done it by now. Do you think he likes throwing line drives all the time? Some people just really struggle in this area.

I called "bust" when Chicago drafted him.

You also called for Ben to retire….4 years before he actually retired. So there’s that

What would you say about a QB afraid to run PA or a sneak? If it was anyone other than Ben you know damn well you'd be calling for that guy to go. Because - and here's what you are unable to comprehend - it's not winning football.

4th and a foot, afraid to run the sneak. Pass incomplete. Game basically over. You can't leave gimmees on the field like that and expect to have any hope of winning a championship.

You can keep trolling me, and I'll keep calling out when the rose colored glasses make you say stupid things.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

Ben really wasn't good after 2018 and even the 2020 COVID year miracle 11-0 quickly went south when exposed.

[W&M_Steeler]

Ben really wasn't good after 2018 and even the 2020 COVID year miracle 11-0 quickly went south when exposed.

Ben only played one game in 2019. I wouldn't say Ben was bad in 2020-2021, but he was clearly in decline. Part of that was due to Fichtner / Canada, as Ben looked better in 4th quarters those years than he did the first three. In retrospect, the Steelers should have drafted Lamar Jackson instead of Terrell Edmunds in the 2018 draft, but no one knew that Ben would blow out his elbow in game 2 of 2019, and Jackson has been better than expected.

[.Kodiak]

Ben really wasn't good after 2018 and even the 2020 COVID year miracle 11-0 quickly went south when exposed.

Oh, he could still throw the football, entertain and be productive.

He just wasn't winning shit.

Drama doesn't get that. And I was one of the biggest Ben defenders on this site. But I call it like I see it. Drama just let his man-crush cloud what he was actually seeing.

[Dan Smith--BYU]

"Ben looked better in 4th quarters those years than he did the first three. In retrospect, the Steelers should have drafted Lamar Jackson instead of Terrell Edmunds in the 2018 draft, but no one knew that Ben would blow out his elbow in game 2 of 2019"

you should always be looking to draft a QB when your QB hits mid-30s no matter how good they are...Green Bay for example

[drmalba]

Given Tomlin's history, now that everyone is praising him and calling the Steelers a contender, the Steelers will take the Giants lightly and lose another trap game to a bad team.

Literally all the Giants have going for them this year is a pass rush. That said, it's a good one. I wouldn't expect the fireworks we saw last week, but we shouldn't need them given how utterly anemic this Giants offense is. In that sense, it feels more like it's going to be the TOP, run heavy, conservative type of game we've been accustomed to in the first four weeks.

I'm still worried about Wilson's mobility and accuracy, and though a good bit could simply be rust, and no doubt he has the experience to run this offense more proficiently, count me in the camp of wait and see as we make our way into the meat of the schedule and all those division games.

[stillthere]

RW looked pretty good on Sunday, but Steelers O can't rely on moon balls to GP (even thou he is very good at it). Hope they can get another WR to compliment GP. If the Steelers can get another WR they can be dangerous. The one team who is built to stop Ratbirds are the Steelers. Cincy (No D) and Clowns are terrible. They could end up 11-6 or 12-5.

Not sure if it's relying on the moon ball to GP so much as it's taking what the D is giving you. If Pickens is 1 on 1 with a CB downfield, throw the ball to him.

I agree. If Pickens is 1 on 1, then throw him the ball. He can make contested catches.

Sometimes the most important thing is to not make things complicated.

[stillthere]

If Roman Wilson can make any kind of contribution then look the fuck out.

Placed on some form of IR today