PITTSBURGH — Justin Fields, return man?
Perhaps if Pittsburgh Steelers particular groups coordinator Danny Smith has his approach.
In a dwell recording of Cam Heyward’s “Not Simply Soccer” podcast from the Steelers’ draft occasion over the weekend, working again Jaylen Warren mentioned Smith advised that Fields, whom the Steelers acquired in a March commerce with the Chicago Bears, may return kickoffs with the rule change stopping gamers from transferring till the returner touches the ball.
“I feel it is fairly good,” Warren instructed Heyward, when requested how he felt concerning the new kickoff guidelines. “As quickly as you contact the ball, that is when all the things begins to occur.
“Our particular groups coordinator was speaking about Justin Fields being again there. We’re like, ‘Maintain up, maintain up.’ We checked out him like, ‘Justin Fields is about to be again there?’ I do not know. I feel it is cool.”
Smith, who has been the Steelers’ particular groups coordinator since 2013, is thought for being an modern thoughts, however that is extra out-of-the-box than regular.
A cellular quarterback who ran a 4.45 40-yard sprint on the NFL mix in 2021, Fields could be a enjoyable if non-traditional choice as a returner. It is unlikely, although, that Fields would truly return kicks, not solely as a result of the Steelers signed return specialist Cordarrelle Patterson earlier this offseason but in addition as a result of a backup quarterback collaborating in a kickoff return is a high-risk transfer, even with guidelines adopted to make the play safer.
It is also unclear whether or not particular groups snaps would depend towards the playing-time clause within the commerce with the Bears. If Fields performs 51% or extra of the offensive snaps, the 2025 sixth-round decide the Steelers gave up for Fields turns into a fourth-rounder.
Fields’ prowess as a special-teamer stays to be seen, however Warren did praise his management as a quarterback.
“It is a night-and-day distinction with their management,” Warren mentioned of getting Fields and Russell Wilson within the constructing. “They convey quite a bit. They assist out. They inform us run the route. They’re actually on it when you do not run it a sure approach. They’re large on particulars, form of what we preach, and it helps quite a bit.”
Warren was additionally complimentary of recent offensive coordinator Arthur Smith.
“His greatest distinction is he is very interactive within the conferences,” Warren mentioned. “You need to concentrate as a result of he is gonna name you out when you’re not paying consideration. That is occurred a pair occasions. I feel his strategy to being the OC is admittedly good.”