Justin Fields case for QB1

[Voice of Reason]

Shame on Bill Cowher for not Benching Ben his rookie year once Tommy Maddox was able to play , Maddox was older , more experienced , had won the job in training camp , and likely at that stage of his career could read defenses better yet for whatever reason Cowher stayed with the future and current hot hand ... geeze what was he thinking

Exactly.

[Voice of Reason]

Shouldn’t Wilson be fired?

I heard something about too many years between playoff wins means you need to get fired.

I heard something about years between playoff wins means nothing as long as your players like to play for you and the reporters will eventually elect you to the Hall of Fame.

[Steeler-in-west]

I’m only trying to understand what you’ve been trying to say.

Every post you cite different sets of stats with no data points or links. Hard to follow.

I googled “completed air yards per completion “ and didn’t find anything.

Can you link to what you’re looking at?

Like I said, I’m genuinely interested in how you’re getting to where you’re getting. But I’m too confused to follow. Anything you can do to clarify is appreciated.

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...g_advanced.htm

Just fyi for the above. Majority of stats have Wilson ahead of Fields last year. Stats show he doesnt get rattled, hes got his high comeback percentage. His production is still good (Yds and TD’s) and he can make the simple play (on tgt percent). This is all based on last year. I realize a guy his age could fall off a cliff in terms of ability pretty quickly, but if our goal is a playoff run id still like to see what he’s got. Maybe Fields is the answer but not this year, its too soon for him to outdo guys like Mahomes and Allen, to say nothing of Stroud and LJ. If Fields continues to improve of course you re evaluate and roll with him for the rest of the year. I’d like to start seeing him push the ball downfield more and maybe run a little less.

[El Kabong]

Glad you are not running the team

this isnt about hey wonder what this would look like , the game is football and their business is winning per Tomlin

Tomlins winning percentage is 634

with Fields as his starter its 750

It's not like I'm lobbying for some bum we've never heard of. Given Russ's resume is it really so hard to understand why I might want to see him play, why I might think it's possible he could be the better QB than Fields right now?

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I'm all for playing the best QB we can find. If Terry Bradshaw, Trent Dilfer, or Brad Johnson can QB the Steelers right now better than anyone else we could get, then by all means sign them. I find it unlikely, though, that Bradshaw, Dilfer, or Johnson would be a better QB for us now than Wilson would, so I am going to continue to want to see Wilson.

And why are people comparing Wilson to guys who are too old or never were good? There is no one on this board that can prove that Wilson isn't our best QB right now.

[El Kabong]

Shouldn’t Wilson be fired?

I heard something about too many years between playoff wins means you need to get fired.

It will be 5 years this playoffs since Wilson last won a playoff game.

Also Roethlisberger has more recently started a playoff game than Wilson.

Maybe just call Ben?

I'm sorry, could you provide Justin Fields's playoff record?

Thanks.

[DesertSteel]

I'm sorry, could you provide Justin Fields's playoff record?

Thanks.

Fields has won exactly the same number of playoff games Wilson has won the past 5 years: zero.

[Mojouw]

Anyone want to guess Wilson’s most recent playoff game completion percentage?


40.7.


Mason Rudolph last season against the Bills?

52.9%


Think Wilson has gotten better in 4 years?

[Mojouw]

https://www.pro-football-reference.c...g_advanced.htm

Just fyi for the above. Majority of stats have Wilson ahead of Fields last year. Stats show he doesnt get rattled, hes got his high comeback percentage. His production is still good (Yds and TD’s) and he can make the simple play (on tgt percent). This is all based on last year. I realize a guy his age could fall off a cliff in terms of ability pretty quickly, but if our goal is a playoff run id still like to see what he’s got. Maybe Fields is the answer but not this year, its too soon for him to outdo guys like Mahomes and Allen, to say nothing of Stroud and LJ. If Fields continues to improve of course you re evaluate and roll with him for the rest of the year. I’d like to start seeing him push the ball downfield more and maybe run a little less.

Weird. They call their stats the same names but use totally different ways of doing the math than Next Gen. Hence the confusion. The internet is dumb sometimes.

And to top it off...the two sources (PFR and Next Gen) are calling things the same name(s) and posting totally different numbers. Makes comparison between the sites almost impossible...which I suppose is the point. Keep everyone locked in to one site or the other.

Anyways....I do not think that Wilson would be playing any better right now than Fields currently is. I honestly think that Wilson is cooked and everyone knows it but him.

[Voice of Reason]

I'm sorry, could you provide Justin Fields's playoff record?

So playoff records are important now?

[Dwinsgames]

Fields has won exactly the same number of playoff games Wilson has won the past 5 years: zero.

.................................................. .................................................. .................................................. ...........................................

actually though if the number is 5 years then , Fields has won ....

• 1st in Ohio State history in total offense in a bowl game: 427 yards (2021 Sugar Bowl vs. Clemson)
• 1st in Ohio State history in completions in a bowl game: 30 completions (2019 Fiesta Bowl vs. Clemson)
• 1st in Ohio State history in passing yards in a bowl game: 385 yards (2021 Sugar Bowl vs. Clemson)
• 1st in Ohio State history in touchdown passes in a bowl game: Six touchdowns (2021 Sugar Bowl vs. Clemson)
• 1st in Ohio State history in completion percentage in a season: 70.2 percent (2020)
• 1st in Ohio State history in passing efficiency in a season: 181.4 (2019)
• T-1st in Ohio State history in consecutive completions: 16 completions
• 2nd in Ohio State history in completion percentage in a game (min. 10 completions): 95.2 percent
• 2nd in Ohio State history in career completion percentage: 68.4 percent
• 2nd in Ohio State history in touchdown passes in a season: 41 touchdowns (2019)
• 2nd in Ohio State history in career touchdown passes: 63 touchdowns
• 2nd in Ohio State history in career passing yards per game: 244.2 yards
• 3rd in FBS history in career passing efficiency rating among players with 400-499 completions: 178.8
• 3rd in Ohio State history in passing yards in a season: 3,273 yards (2019)
• 3rd in Ohio State history in passing yards per game in a season: 262.5 yards (2020)
• 3rd in Ohio State history in career 200-yard passing games: 15 games
• T-3rd in Ohio State history in consecutive 100-yard passing games: 14 games
• T-8th in Ohio State history in passing yards in a game: 385 yards
• 10th in Ohio State history in career passing yards: 5,373 yards
• 21st in FBS history in a passing efficiency rating in a season (min. 15 attempts per game): 181.4

if he was in the 2025 NFL draft he would be the 1st over all pick

[Steeler-in-west]

Wilson and fields have not been on good teams the last 4 years. Are the Steelers a playoff team with a good Qb? And a healthy line? I think so. Lets see if one of them can win a playoff game this year. Wilson was brought here to do that. Fields was brought to back him up. I still think theyre going to put Wilson in there as soon as he can go unless Fields turns into Steve Young.

that being said, Young had multiple concussions throughout his career and i think thats the problem with running Qb’s. Injuries - and missing games. Vick, cunningham, young, they have 2-3 good seasons then they start missing alot games because the wear and tear was like that of a running back

[DesertSteel]

To his credit, I don’t think Fields has ever had a concussion. Some guys are just more prone to them (Tua).

[Born2Steel]

To his credit, I don’t think Fields has ever had a concussion. Some guys are just more prone to them (Tua).

Once you have had one, you become more prone to them.

[Hawkman]

Once you have had one, you become more prone to them.

Agreed. If Tua has one more….after this one, my recommendation would be to retire. I don’t care how much money he will lose out on, it’s not worth having your brain scrambled for the rest of his life. No telling how many older former players had multiple concussions, and players who would go back into the game concussed. Concussion protocol is only a relatively recent mandate.

[El Kabong]

Yeah, I'm trying to imagine the meeting between Rooney, Khan, and Tomlin when they're discussing whether to sign Russell Wilson.

What? He hasn't been in the playoffs in five years? In his last playoff game he only completed 42% of his passes? He's clearly only deteriorated since his last playoff appearance? Let's sign him!

The Steelers wouldn't have signed Wilson if they thought he was a bum. They signed Wilson because they have plans of making a playoff run, and they thought he's the one who can lead it. And so far we've seen nothing to contradict that.

We're judging Wilson by his performance on previous teams, but we're not still judging Fields based on his performance with the Bears. Fields is playing better with the Steelers, maybe Wilson would too.

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So playoff records are important now?

It's always mattered to me. And yes, I know you're talking about Tomlin.

[Mojouw]

Russell Wilson was also the least expensive QB they could sign on the open market.

That likely played a massive role in the discussion and planning.

[El Kabong]

Russell Wilson was also the least expensive QB they could sign on the open market.

That likely played a massive role in the discussion and planning.

Sure, but I doubt they say "Russell Wilson sucks, but he's cheap, so let's sign him."

[Mojouw]

Sure, but I doubt they say "Russell Wilson sucks, but he's cheap, so let's sign him."

Probably not.

But Wilson at $25 million a year and you gotta rejigger your entire salary cap - that’s a highly possible nor,

Wilson for less than you pay your punter - that’s probably not even a long meeting. You can’t lose. Even if he doesn’t play.

[Steeler-in-west]

And Wilson and his cost spelled the end of Mason’s career in Pittsburgh.

Fields cost was about the same btw

[Mojouw]

And Wilson and his cost spelled the end of Mason’s career in Pittsburgh.

Fields cost was about the same btw

I don’t follow.

Because Mason would’ve been more expensive?

[Steeler-in-west]

I don’t follow.

Because Mason would’ve been more expensive?

yes, they were looking for competition for KP right? They probably thought Mason would get interest and be able to double or triple his salary. Wilson came cheaper with the HOF pedigree and playoff success background, like you guys were saying at the time; “it was a no brainer”

MR is making 3 million this year, which is less than we thought he’d get but hes still making the same as both our Qb’s combined

[86WARD]

Or maybe they just realized like most of the league that Mason is an average back up…at his best.

[Steeler-in-west]

Or maybe they just realized like most of the league that Mason is an average back up…at his best.

and they thought Wilson was a better option than both Mason and KP

[Rotorhead]

Fields is not the QB of the future, period. Dak showed what a real QB does, drives the field to win the game.

[Steeler-in-west]

They can plan to draft their next Qb now

[that1guy]

They can plan to draft their next Qb now

This. The Steelers signed 2 QBs left by the side of a dumpster, "They are who we thought they were"

[DesertSteel]

Time for all the sky is falling posts.

[Mach1]

I think it's safe to say Fields isn't the guy.

[Steeler-in-west]

Time for all the sky is falling posts.

No, but it is time to get Wilson out there

[Steeldude]

Is the absurd Fields experiment over now?