Don’t Let Camp Trick You Into Buying A QB Controversy
Credit: Charles LeClaire-USA TODAY Sports
As we near the opening of the Pittsburgh Steelers’ training camp, Mike Tomlin and Omar Khan are at the helm of one of the league’s most unique quarterback conversations. In fact, had the Atlanta Falcons not said, “Hold my beer” and drafted Michael Penix after giving Kirk Cousins the bag, Pittsburgh might have the most discussed quarterback room in the NFL heading into training camp.
Everyone loves a QB controversy, and the possibilities and hot takes have been running wild since the team brought in Russell Wilson, then made a surprise move to acquire Justin Fields. Both men provide such a great combination of upside and mystery that the speculation about the Steelers’ plans under center has been the topic of the off-season. Despite Tomlin’s insistence that Wilson is in the “pole position,” that speculation will likely also dominate camp.
No doubt the quarterback controversy flames will be stoked with every practice dart thrown by Fields. And sure, it’s fun to imagine that the former stud could make good on his pre-draft potential. But be warned to not let yourself fall prey to any preseason narratives. There isn’t a quarterback controversy, there won’t be one developing during training camp, and there shouldn’t be.
Russell Wilson is the guy.
In addition to Wilson clearly being the superior talent at this moment, the Steelers present the perfect combination of circumstances for someone like Wilson to go all-in and find the form that should get him to the Hall of Fame. There is no way this stable franchise, which has a long history of respecting (and sometimes over-respecting) veterans. is going to pass on giving Wilson every single opportunity to seize the top job, and then some.
The Tomlin Effect
Tomlin is far and away the premier “player’s coach” in the NFL. He has found a way to demand the best out of his guys while getting their full respect. Virtually every veteran to come through Pittsburgh has lauded Tomlin’s leadership and approach. Wilson should thrive in this scenario.
Yes, the former Seahawk has had a pretty bad last couple of seasons and, given the reports of his behavior, he certainly deserves his share of criticism. But this team is not run by an old veteran coach who is sick of Wilson’s antics and inner circle, like Pete Carroll was. It’s not led by a first-year head coach in over his head like Nathaniel Hackett, or a stubborn old man who never wanted Wilson in the first place, like Sean Peyton.
The Steelers didn’t trade the whole universe for Wilson, and the dynamic between him and Tomlin is surely to be his healthiest in years.
Wilson will not have his own special meeting room or some massive impact on what the organization does, as he did in Denver. He will have to be completely immersed in Tomlin and the Steeler Way to succeed, and Wilson knows it.
Tomlin’s long history of demanding respect and getting the best out of difficult personalities gives Wilson his best chance to elevate past what we’ve seen over the last few seasons. It’s a much easier promise to fulfill than building something that may never have been there in the first place with Fields.
Wilson’s Chip
The motivation for Wilson has to be extreme. He isn’t just in a position to prove his financial worth for the rest of his career, but he’s out to prove that everyone back in Denver and Seattle was wrong. That is no small feat when you are talking about the opinions of two future Hall of Fame head coaches.
The opportunity provided to do so is so juicy and ripe for upside. Wilson surely understands this and should be plenty motivated given what he’s looking at.
This is a team that is a lock to finish above .500 with Tomlin. They were on the cusp of being a very good defense and then added Patrick Queen. They have the best offensive line they’ve had since the days of the Pouncey brothers. They have a new offensive coordinator who might actually understand how to use the running backs.
For Wilson to prove himself, the standard is so low. Last year, Pittsburgh’s passing offense had the fifth-fewest yards in the NFL (3,247) and only put up 13 passing touchdowns. A small amount of improvement at the quarterback position could make a meteoric difference. A motivated Wilson could very easily end the Steelers’ win drought in the postseason, and that alone would crush the narratives that have taken down his reputation over the past two seasons.
It’s all right in front of Russ, and all he has to do is grab it. Make no mistake, the Steelers are going to give him an unending leash to do just that, regardless of what else you may read in camp.
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