Dan Orlovsky makes case for Steelers to start Justin Fields over Russell Wilson
Dan Orlovsky believes that Justin Fields should be the starting quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers over Russell Wilson. While appearing on the ESPN show Get Up, the former NFL QB and current ESPN NFL analyst explained why Fields should be QB1.
“Justin Fields should start for the Pittsburgh Steelers. Two preseason games in and two weeks until the season, I think it’s obvious that Justin brings more good than bad in comparison to Russ,” Orlovsky said. “The sacks, I would disagree that they’re all on the offensive line. Here’s my pushback and the tape is going to say you know Coach [Mike] Tomlin is going to say ‘That’s not how we operate.’ I think that’s the biggest issue right now. The Russ that we saw isn’t operating this offense. They’re certainly not contenders from the Russ that we saw this past week.”
Wilson made his Steelers debut this past week when the team took on the Buffalo Bills in a preseason game. He completed 11 of his 17 passes for 92 yards with a 78.6 QB rating and was sacked three times in five possessions. Fields came in after Wilson and went 8-of-10 for 47 yards. He also rushed for 42 yards on eight carries, but the Steelers only produced 219 yards of total offense for the night.
It’s an ‘incomplete study’ for Justin Fields and Russell Wilson
“It’s somewhat of an incomplete study because you just don’t get a chance to see them operate or us operate or us establish rhythm and personality when you’re not winning possession downs,” Tomlin said after the preseason game against the Bills. “And we weren’t. The first three or so series of the game, it was three and out, and you’re not going to get an opportunity to establish rhythm or play the way you’d like as an individual or a collective.”
Odds are Wilson will be the starter because of what he’s done in his career. But Fields brings the running element to the Steelers offense, which could be a key factor when Tomlin makes his decision. Before the game, Tomlin revealed how he would handle the announcement.
“If it’s done right, I don’t know how earth-shattering that announcement is. People watch play just like I watch play,” he said, per Steelers.com. “If it’s fair, and guys are given an opportunity to show what they’re capable of, I think very rarely is it the aftershock that people on the outside think it may be. When you’re working every day and you’re watching it, very rarely are you surprised by the decision-making.”