The Steelers have cooled off after their hot start and coach Mike Tomlin has a decision to make at QB

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Justin Fields paused, trying to think of the right words. When they didn’t come, the Pittsburgh Steelers Quarterback shrugged.

“I don’t think we’re one of those teams looking for an identity,” Fields said afterwards a 20-17 loss to Dallas that brought the Steelers to 3-2. “We know who we are.”

After another narrow loss that ended early Monday, it’s fair to wonder whether that’s true, perhaps because Fields’ boss has spent the last few weeks fending off questions about the sport’s most important position.

Steelers coach Mike Tomlin has gone out of his way to avoid making any statements about who the team’s starting quarterback is, repeatedly calling this a “hypothetical” time Russell Wilson – Who deserves the appearance after the training camp – is slowly recovering from a calf injury suffered a few days before the start of the season.

This mindset has put Fields in a difficult position. He made significant strides in each of Pittsburgh’s first five games, evolving from game manager to dynamic playmaker. Although Tomlin has praised Fields’ play, he has repeatedly shied away from naming Fields the full-time starter, regardless of Wilson’s status.

That decision may be a wise one in an era when few quarterbacks make all 17 starts, especially in Pittsburgh, which has had a QB1 play start-to-start since 2018. But it’s also forced Fields to walk a tightrope, making every week feel like a kind of tryout.

Although he recently demurred when asked if there was more pressure than usual before the Dallas game because Wilson seemed close to returning, Fields took a significant step back against the Cowboys, completing just 15 of 27 passes for 131 yards.

While Fields threw two touchdowns – including a 6-yard shovel pass Pat Freiermuth gave the Steelers the lead with 4:56 left – he also ensured another listless first half that forced Pittsburgh into catch-up mode. He missed a few shots down the field in the first quarter and struggled to find rhythm with wide receiver George Pickens, who caught just three of the seven passes thrown his way.

Tomlin is increasingly unsettled by his team’s slow start. It cost them in Indianapolis – the team took a 17-0 lead – and should have cost them more than it actually cost against Dallas. Only two turnovers in the red zone by Cowboys quarterback Dak Prescott prevented the Steelers from trailing by several points before halftime.

Things were a little better in the second half, but Pittsburgh managed 226 yards of total offense against a Dallas defense that was missing stars Micah Parsons and DeMarcus Lawrence. This can no longer be the norm in the future.

Which leads back to identity. Tomlin’s decision not to choose one quarterback over the other has created a sense of indecision. The Steelers don’t have a particular identity in part because Tomlin didn’t give them one. He has two very different quarterbacks with two very different skill sets at two very different points in their careers.

The sooner Tomlin lands on a QB, the sooner Pittsburgh can certainly move forward and potentially build a foundation that feels more solid than the one Fields currently stands on.

What works

Let TJ Watt do TJ Watt things. The All-Pro outside linebacker became the second-fastest player to reach 100 sacks in his career when he scored 1 1/2 against Dallas, including combining with Nick Herbig for a strip sack that ended a Cowboys drive in the broke off in the first half.

Even though Pittsburgh’s defense wasn’t at its best early on the night it gave up 445 yards, Watt remains the rare type of defender who can change the course of a game, and possibly a season, with a single snap.

What needs help

Whoever the quarterback is, the focus is on the running game. Still, yards were difficult to come by in the first five games. The Steelers are very dedicated to running it. They’re just not dedicated to running it effectively. Najee Harris is averaging just 3.3 yards per carry, in part because the young offensive line in front of him has repeatedly struggled to create enough space for Harris to get going.

Stock up

Cornerback Joey Porter Jr. is desperate to be known as one of the league’s shutdown corners. He’s making significant strides in his second season. He helped keep Dallas star CeeDee Lamb relatively at bay and caught an interception in the fourth quarter that set up a late go-ahead touchdown.

Inventory reduced

Pickens is one of the most physically talented receivers in the league. While Tomlin believes the third-year pro has matured, there were signs late Sunday that Pickens is still a work in progress both on and off the field.

After Fields brought him down in the fourth quarter as part of a drive that ended in a punt, Pickens left the field and threw his helmet to the ground so hard that he jumped over one of the benches on the Pittsburgh sideline.

Cameras caught Dallas cornerback Jourdan Lewis calls Pickens “weak” after the game. It might be time for Pickens to show some of the mental toughness that Tomlin has publicly said Pickens has developed.

Injuries

Herbig, who was electrifying in his second season, could be out for a while after suffering a right hamstring injury in the third quarter. DeMarvin Leal, who works as a hybrid defensive end/outside linebacker, left with a stinger. The Steelers are already without outside linebacker Alex Highsmith, who missed two games with a groin injury.

Key number

1 – The number of players who reached 100 career sacks faster than Watt. Hall of Famer Reggie White needed just 96 games to reach the century mark.

Next Steps

Find out who the starting quarterback will be – and stick with him – before visiting Las Vegas to take on the reeling Raiders on Sunday.

___

AP NFL: https://apnews.com/NFL