“I think we have an identity, I just don’t know what it is”: Justin Fields on the Steelers’ offense

The Pittsburgh Steelers definitely had an intended identity in mind heading into the 2024 season. As Mike Tomlin said, after the Steelers drafted three offensive linemen with their first five picks of the NFL Draft, “they just want to roll guys.” While there are signs that plan is coming to fruition, the Steelers currently look like they're going for two Consecutive defeats are like an offensive without identity. Even Justin Fields seems confused about what identity actually is.

After the game, he was asked if he felt like they had an identity on offense or if it was still being developed.

“No, I think we have our identity,” Fields said in a video on the Steelers’ YouTube page.

He was then pressed on what exactly that identity was. Like her identity, his answer was unclear.

“What possibilities for identity are there in football? I've never heard of a team that has an identity. I think we have an identity. I just don't know what it is. I never necessarily heard an option for an identity,” Fields said. “I think we ran the ball well today. Like I said, I think we just made bad 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 where it's all about playing football and staying on schedule on the first and second downs and then performing on the third down, but we just couldn't do it.

“So I don’t know the words to necessarily label identity, but these are some intangibles and characteristics of who we are as a crime.”

He eventually came to an answer, but I think that's more what they do want and not what they actually are. This is an important difference. We all know the Steelers want to be a physical, run-first offense. They brought in Arthur Smith and two mobile quarterbacks. They have also strengthened their offensive line. It's been pretty obvious all along what her intended identity is. But thinking that you are one thing when you are something completely different is more of an identity crisis.

Last week, the Steelers gained 19 yards on 13 carries from their top running back in Najee Harris. This week was a little better, but 14 runs for 42 yards is still not good for a team that wants to make that its identity. In fact, the overall rushing performance was down from last week, with 26 carries for 92 yards as a team. And that was against one of the worst rushing defenses in the league, with Micah Parsons, DeMarcus Lawrence and other key parts of the defense missing due to injuries.

Blame it on injuries on offense or injuries in the running back room, but the intended identity just isn't doing the job. A few weeks ago it felt like the proverbial dam was breaking because of the Steelers' offense, but now the structural integrity of the dam appears to be more intact than ever.