Regardless of throwing his first interception of the season on a tipped ball, Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields performed his greatest sport of the season in Week 3 in opposition to the Los Angeles Chargers. Fields was 25-of-32 for 245 yards and a passing and speeding landing, and former NFL security Devin McCourty stated it’s clear there’s development in Fields’ sport. He pinpointed a throw to Pat Freiermuth on the finish of the primary half and the landing move Fields threw to Calvin Austin III as examples.
“Particularly while you return and watch the tape, it’s not simply the yard, three performs, like Justin Fields, proper earlier than the half, he threw a ball to Freiermuth that Freiermuth dropped, however he threw it between two defenders proper in the midst of the sector that may’ve arrange a discipline purpose. And it was an unbelievable throw of anticipation, that throw proper there to Austin. He’s hitting his again foot, he’s delivering the ball. It’s what they have been hoping to see down the road from Justin Fields,” McCourty stated on Professional Soccer Speak Stay.
The throw to Freiermuth was a magnificence, and it’s a ball Freiermuth ought to’ve caught. Fields stood within the pocket and waited for Freiermuth to clear one defender and fired it within the seam, however Freiermuth dropped it, and the Steelers ended up settling for a 62-yard Chris Boswell field-goal try that was no good.
These are the throws a beginning quarterback within the NFL makes, and Fields has progressed so much this season by way of making the sensible learn and going by his progressions from his time with the Chicago Bears. He’s taking part in sensible soccer and never forcing the ball, staying affected person and hitting the test down if wanted.
As for the landing move to Austin, Fields once more stood tall within the pocket, waited for Austin to interrupt into house, and threw a superbly thrown ball that allowed Austin to make use of his velocity to interrupt away for the landing.
With the Steelers at 3-0 and Fields exhibiting marked enchancment as a passer, it’s going to be onerous to show away from him as Pittsburgh’s starter even when Russell Wilson is wholesome. He provides one other component along with his legs, and if he can sling the rock he did in opposition to the Chargers whereas additionally having the ability to create along with his legs, the Steelers’ offense goes to be powerful to cease.
The Steelers aren’t placing up gaudy numbers, however they’re controlling the ball and carrying out defenses, and it’s been a profitable formulation to this point. The run sport wasn’t working for a lot of the primary three quarters on Sunday, and in previous seasons, that may be a loss of life knell to Pittsburgh’s probabilities. However Fields stored them within the sport, taking part in sensible, situational soccer, and the Steelers have been capable of dominate within the second half and are available away with a win over the beforehand unbeaten Chargers. It was actually spectacular, and proper now, all indicators level to Fields being the man in Pittsburgh.
