Fields believes explosive-play ability ‘is how our offense is built’
Only seven NFL teams had a lower yards-per-play average last season than the Pittsburgh Steelers. Only five had fewer passing plays of at least 20 yards.
One of the team’s new quarterbacks believes that will change in 2024.
“That’s just how our offense is built, to be honest with you,” Justin Fields said of explosive-play ability. “But our job is to create explosiveness and push the ball down the field. So anytime we get those opportunities, you definitely want to capitalize on those.”
The Steelers averaged 5.0 yards per snap and had 41 passing plays go for at least 20 yards in 2023. Each of those figures was well below league average.
Fields and Russell Wilson, though, had 23 completions each on balls thrown at least 20 yards down the field, according to Pro Football Focus, ranking among the top 15 in the league. For sake of comparison, Kenny Pickett had nine completions that long among his 12 starts for the Steelers in 2023.
Wilson (six) and Fields (eight) had 14 touchdown passes on such deep throws and Pickett just two.
Fields referenced some of the Steelers receivers who have big-play résumés and/or potential — Quez Watkins, Calvin Austin III and Van Jefferson — in addition to the long runs the Steelers new quarterbacks can contribute.
Fields had 26 rushes that gained at least 10 yards last season, and Wilson had 13. Wilson has 158 runs of 10plus yards and 29 rushing touchdowns in his career. Fields has 73 career rushes of at least 10 yards and 14 rushing touchdowns over only three pro seasons.
“I think we have fast guys, guys that can get down the field with speed,” Fields said before a minicamp practice Wednesday. “Guys like Quez, Calvin, Scotty, Van, me and Russ. We’ve had a lot of success and a lot of explosive plays in the past.”
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