Everything is sunshine and rainbows in Atlanta right now. The Falcons just acquired Matthew Judon and Justin Simmons, joining Kirk Cousins and a trio of top 10 picks. Raheem Morris is beaming with confidence, and fans are starting to believe again. That isn’t the case with the Steelers and their fans, who are getting their first taste of Arthur Smith.
Russell Wilson got his first preseason action with Pittsburgh after sitting out last week, but the results were the same. The offense struggled. Wilson finished 8-of-10 for 47 yards, but many of those yards came on third-and-long and finished short of the sticks.
Wilson took a pair of sacks as well, a problem that plagued him in Denver. In his first four drives, the Steelers had 12 net yards, one first down, four punts and didn’t get past their own 34-yard line.
Justin Fields led a drive that ended in a field goal, the Steelers only points of the game, but much of that came from his feet. Fields finished the exhibition contest 11-of-17 for 92 yards with 42 yards rushing on five drives.
Wilson struggled, and Fields looked exactly the same as he has since entering the league with the Bears. He fumbled a couple of snaps, moved the offense with his feet and missed some open receivers, including one in the end zone.
With Wilson, it looked a lot like last season with the Broncos, checking down early and often, taking sacks, and throwing short of the first-down markers.
The quarterbacks were part of the issue, but Steelers fans are pointing the finger at Arthur Smith. Hell, there are already articles about Pittsburgh fans calling for the former Falcons head coach’s job as Steelers offensive coordinator.
Steelers fans shouldn’t expect much from Russell Wilson or Justin Fields. However, Arthur Smith has proven capable of coordinating a productive offense, as he showed with the Titans. He still needs to show it, though.
Falcons fans can sit and watch it all play out.
—
Photographer: Jeff Robinson/Icon Sportswire
You must log in to post a comment.