Justin Fields draws a blank when asked to name the Steelers' offensive identity
Every successful offense in professional football, or any level of football for that matter has an identity. Maybe it's explosive plays, play action passing, power running or zone concepts. Regardless, these offenses have something that they can hang their hats on. But for the Pittsburgh Steelers, they currently don't know what or who they are, […]
Every successful offense in professional football, or any level of football for that matter has an identity.
Maybe it's explosive plays, play action passing, power running or zone concepts.
Regardless, these offenses have something that they can hang their hats on. But for the Pittsburgh Steelers, they currently don't know what or who they are, and Justin Fields' answer about the team proves as much:
Steelers offense in an identity crisis?
After saying that he believed the team has an offensive identity, Fields was pressed further, and asked specifically what that identity is, saying:
"What are the identity options in football? I've never heard of a team having an identity. I think we have an identity. I just don't know what it is, I never heard necessarily an option for an identity," Fields said. "I think we ran the ball well today. Like I said, I think we just missed shots and shot ourselves in the foot again. So I don't think we're one of those teams looking for an identity. I think we know who we are. We're a team that is predicated on running the football and staying on schedule on first and second down and then executing on third down but we just didn't get the job done…
"…So I don't know the words to necessarily label the identity, but those are some intangibles and characteristics of who we are as an offense."
While I don't necessarily disagree with the point that Fields is trying to make, the delivery is what's going to be questioned by some, especially after a performance that saw Pittsburgh allocate 150 yards in the air and 92 yards on the ground via four different ball carriers.
What is clear, is that Pittsburgh desperately needs another option alongside George Pickens. Pickens' actions on Sunday proved as much, and the recent trade rumors that involve WR Davante Adams need to come to fruition if Pittsburgh is going to find an offensive identity.
Because other than a late attempt at a comeback against the Indianapolis Colts last week, the team has yet to resemble any sort of intimidating presence in terms of scoring.
T.J. Watt inadvertently blames Steelers fans for communication problems on defense
Watt caught himself quickly.
