Justin Fields has accounted for eight touchdowns – five passing and three rushing – in the Steelers' first five games.
But with opponents now loading the box to stop the running game, he'd like to create more splash plays to make things easier on the team's offense as a whole.
The Steelers ran into a stacked box – eight or more defenders – well over 40 percent of the time in last week's 20-17 loss to the Dallas Cowboys. The result was running back Najee Harris finishing the game with 14 carries for 42 yards, as Dallas just sold out to stop the run anytime Harris was on the field.
Fields and the passing game tried to take advantage of the Cowboys' taking those chances, particularly taking some shots early in the game, but he finished with no completions in six attempts of passes or 20 or more yards downfield, missing some of those throws by inches.
"(We) definitely need to create explosives," Fields said Thursday at the UPMC Rooney Sports Complex. "But I think we had a chance, and the first one to Connor (Heyward) was, six inches, maybe a foot out too far in front of (him) to where he had to dive.
"Art (offensive coordinator Arthur Smith) is going to make sure we get our shot plays in and, you know, try to create some of those explosives, but it's really just connecting downfield. And of course that starts up front with protection and stuff like that, but usually, once we do that, you know, it just becomes pitch and catch."
It's no secret the Steelers want to be a run-first team. Five games into the season, they're running the ball 52.2 percent of the time. Only three teams – the Commanders, Chargers and Ravens – have run it more frequently.
But opposing defenses also have figured that out and are stacking the box accordinging.
There are few things that back a defense off the line of scrimmage quite like hitting some big plays in the passing game.
"I think so," said Fields, who is averaging 5.9 yards per pass attempt. "The defense might start getting into shell and stuff like that, really just depending on who you play. But, every game you want a good number of explosive plays. You know, that's just going to get the offense in a rhythm, and just kind of get the whole team rolling."
Getting top wideout George Pickens involved in that aspect of the game also could help.
Pickens is drawing a lot of attention from opposing defenses, but Fields knows he also has to take his shots to the Steelers' top receiving threat.
He just doesn't want to force those opportunities.
"I think you have to let it come to you," Fields said. "You really don't want to force it because it kind of messes up your flow as a quarterback. At the same time, as a quarterback, you want to give one of your best playmakers the ball and have the ball in his hands because he's great with it. He can make plays down the field. So really just finding a balance and not necessarily forcing the ball, but when he is open and when there's a chance to get into the ball, definitely feed him for sure."
Pickens displayed some frustration in Sunday's loss when he was limited to three receptions for 26 yards on a team-high seven targets.
Fields, who was teammates with Pickens on a 7-on-7 team when both were in high school, is accustomed to dealing with Pickens when he's frustrated. He leans on that experience to deal with his teammate.
"It's tough," Fields admitted. "You've definitely got to feel for him. He's just passionate about the game, and he knows how great of a player he is and it's tough. So I think just talking to him, I try to talk to him on the sideline, keep him up. I think that's the biggest thing, keeping him going and just trying to talk to him throughout the whole game and just stay in his ear and say, 'We're going to need you to make a big play soon and when that happens, we're going to need you.'
"So the biggest thing is just being patient and him waiting for the ball to come his way because at the end of the day, defenses know that we're trying to give him the ball so they're going to game plan and do what they can to try to stop that."
• Dale Lolley is co-host of "SNR Drive" on Steelers Nation Radio. Subscribe to the podcast here: Apple Podcast | iHeart Podcast
Wilson trending up: Veteran Russell Wilson made it through his second consecutive day of full practice on Thursday as he works to come back from a calf issue that has plagued him since early in training camp.
Wilson, who missed two weeks of training camp before aggravating the injury just a few days before the Steelers' regular season opener in which he was slated to start, said the calf has responded well to the additional workload this week.
"I was able to do a lot more this week," the 13-year veteran said Thursday. "It was exciting to get back out there this week so far and be a full participant and do everything, all the reps and everything else, so that was great and we just got better from the first day to today it felt even better, so that was a good thing."
Fields has been taking starter reps this week with Wilson still working his way back into the lineup. But Wilson has taken second-team snaps and said he has moved about in the pocket and done the things he feels he needs to do to cross the next step for him, which is to be active on game day. He's served as the No. 3 emergency quarterback thus far this season.
The final decision regarding his status for Sunday's game against the Raiders will fall to head coach Mike Tomlin and the team's training staff along with Wilson.
"I feel confident that I'd be ready to play and play at a high level, and I think we're being really smart too and trying to understand exactly how I feel," Wilson said. "It's my first week really back out there with the guys and playing and all that stuff, so I feel really confident about that and the ball's spinning, and that's a good thing."
