**PITTSBURGH** — The Pittsburgh Steelers’ offense is still adapting to many new elements, and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is working to understand his personnel and environment. Consequently, the quarterbacks, including Justin Fields, are currently operating with some restrictions.
The extent of the freedom Smith allows Fields or Russell Wilson was unclear until Fields shared insights on Thursday regarding his ability to make changes at the line of scrimmage. While Fields can adjust routes and calls on passing plays based on defensive coverages, he expressed hesitation about making changes on running plays.
“It depends on the play call, but if we have a run play, we’re sticking with it. I have complete faith in Arthur to put us in the best position,” Fields stated on Thursday.
However, Fields isn’t entirely restricted at the line if they face unfavorable looks. He and Smith have pre-established situations where they can change the call and execute a secondary play. Although Fields has some flexibility, Smith primarily directs his decisions and strategies. This approach is common for quarterbacks who aren’t established franchise stars.
“There are certain plays where I can switch to a different play based on the coverage or look, but for most run plays, we have options depending on what we see,” Fields noted.
This indicates that Fields and the Steelers are already in sync. Fields and Smith have effectively collaborated, with Fields independently managing protections. As Smith continues to build trust in his quarterback, Fields can expect to gain more freedom moving forward.
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