Steelers should make Justin Fields red zone quarterback

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The Steelers have an obvious advantage with Fields in the red zone

The Pittsburgh Steelers finally broke out the Justin Fields package against the Ravens, and it proved to be pivotal as the young quarterback helped ice the wins for the Steelers on the final drive. He finished the day with 17 yards on two carries, including a carry that set up third and very short, followed by a play where the Ravens bit hard on attacking Fields who gave the ball to Najee Harris for a game-sealing first down. Fields talked about his performance after the game.

“It was kind of tough keeping the legs warm throughout the whole game, not really knowing when you’re gonna get in,” Fields said. “But I’m glad I was able to get in for a few plays and help my team out.”

And while the Steelers won their fourth straight game, what has become very evident since Russell Wilson took over as the team’s starter is their inability to finish in the red zone. Pittsburgh got the ball inside the 20 on three occasions vs. the Ravens, but failed to score a touchdown. As Alan Saunders of Steelers Now pointed out in a recent deep dive (which everyone should go read), the Steelers’ success in the red zone with Fields at quarterback vs. with Wilson at quarterback have been night and day.

Per Saunders, both quarterbacks have led 11 red zone drives. The Steelers scored touchdowns on eight of 11 drives with Fields, but only four of 11 drives with Wilson. The added element of Fields’ ability to run certainly helped the Steelers in the first half of the season, especially when they got close to the red zone. All five of Fields’ rushing scores have come from inside the red zone, and it’s clear that, even in a 4-0 streak with Wilson, they miss the dual-threat abilities of Fields when they get close to the end zone. With that said, it’s time the Steelers fully adapt Fields’ abilities and make him the red zone quarterback.

For all the reasons that were just pointed out, this makes sense. It would be foolish to keep Fields on the sideline when he clearly is a difference maker when he has the ball in his hands. And even if the Steelers would want to just make the switch when they get inside the 10 yard-line, that would be something that would keep defenses guessing, especially on read option and RPO type plays. For as well as Wilson has played, Fields is the superior quarterback at this point when it comes to punching the ball into the end zone from in close. Making him the “closer,” if you will after a great seven-inning start of a drive would be an outside-the-box idea that could pay dividends for the Steelers.