Steelers preseason: Has Justin Fields gained ground on Russell Wilson? Is Beanie Bishop in trouble?

it's Monday here on the Northshore Drive podcast from the Pittsburgh Post cazette I'm your host Chris Carter we're joined by Ray F aado and we're breaking down the things that we saw in the final Steelers preseason game what did we see that would contribute to 53m roster projection how does the quarterback situation that that look look right now all that and more answered on today's Northshore Drive podcast from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette let's get into it you are now listening to the Northshore Drive podcast a show on all things Pittsburgh sports from the writers of the Pittsburgh Post Gazette hosted by Christopher [Music] Carter hello and welcome to the Northshore Drive podcast from the Pittsburgh Post cazette I'm your host Chris Carter joined today by one of our great Steelers beat Riders that's Ray filero and as always you can find the show on your favorite podcasting apps and on YouTube like this video If you enjoyed subscribe to this YouTube channel to get of our Monday Wednesday Friday episodes of the Northshore Drive podcast as well as the daily content that comes out from all of our Sports writers here at the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Ray another preseason game down while the Steelers did lose in the final score I'd say that they saw a lot of what they wanted to see particularly in the first team offense scoring two touchdowns one with Russell Wilson one with Justin Fields pretty smooth how both move down the field in those situations Russell Wilson going two for two for 26 Justin Fields going three or four for 40 neither throwing a touchdown but both setting their team up uh for chances to uh score uh on the ground there I want to talk about this quarterback situation and just a kind of a final evaluation of where it is going into the week before week one because there's still now two weeks for the Steelers take on the Falcons in Atlanta for the for their their season opener but Ray I think that for many out there there there has been like you know for you and me we've talked about it we've said Russell Wilson is QB run Russell Wilson is QB W this has been a foregone conclusion something drastic would happen to happen to change that and I I think that if any if anything Saturday's game and how it played out just further cemented that Russell Wilson doesn't really skip a beat he does what he's supposed to do he comes in scores a touchdown is yanked out immediately afterwards here I I I get the sense that Russell Wilson did enough here but is this something that you think might still get Revisited throughout the season uh you know even without injury between these two yeah I mean I Chris that depends on how Russell Wilson plays but you know I'm not surprised by this and you know Mike tomman saying he's not going to name the starter until the end of the week a lot of people especially in the National media might read into that it means nothing Russell Wilson was the starter when he agreed to terms back in March and he's going to be the starter um September 8th in Atlanta um he's got to get off to a good start though if you look at the first half of the schedule Chris it's you know I know there's a lot of road games mixed in there but um you know the the competition I I think there there are some winnable ball games for this Steelers in there so you know if Russell Wilson gets off to a good start I think um you know that that won't be Revisited for for quite sometime but listen if he gets off to a bad start you know they're one and three after four games or something like that and the Steelers are staring down the barrel with that you know that stretch in the second half with all those division games the Eagles and the Chiefs then yeah certainly Mike Tomlin could look for a spark but um this was never really a competition to begin with but the injury played into that Mike Tomlin being wishy-washy played into that um so Russell Wilson will be named the starter probably on Wednesday the final day of practice this week and then the seers will go from there I I I think that's yeah that's kind of the conclusion that we're at now I just I think that there's some out there that still feel like this this isn't finished even though it is finished for week one pretty much for the most part um Justin Fields look I'll say again I'll say this it is not a knock on him that what you know what he did in training camp I think he took significant steps forward and he put the situation where I think Russ did have to prove in the end that he was that he was definitely qb1 and granted the Steelers were seeing in practice all the time his professionalism his consistency that has been there I think that everyone panicked a little bit after a first preseason game not us of course um but um you know people some people were reacting really harshly saying you know National media oh he's done this is definitely Justin fields's time and it's like okay let's take a step back here let's let's let's note a few things him not playing most of training camp and Justin Fields getting a lot of that time but again to Justin fields's credit I think that he there's at least promise there where there was a question of that promise when training camp was beginning you and I were looking at like Kyle Allen's making some better throws here uh in the first couple days of Camp yeah I mean listen everyone knew about Justin Fields running ability before he got to the Steelers that's only been confirmed since he's been here he's a really good athlete with the ball in his hands whether that's on design runs or escaping the pocket um I think where he he made a nice little little jump this summer was his ability we saw it with that Michael puit catch you know everything was on time there nice little y ball down the seam and you know he gets it done um so the accuracy improved this summer I thought still like to see the decision making get a little bit better don't take as many sacks I think that's that's an issue and let's face it he and Russell Wilson and Kyle Allen for that matter played behind an offensive line that wasn't really holding a firm pocket um if I had one criticism of Justin Fields though ball was on the ground an awful lot when he was in the game and I don't know you know yesterday that Zack Frasier snapped it before Justin was ready um you know we'll have to find out this week whose fault that was you know seemed to be going on the silent count you know did just to know what the silent count was did Zach know we we really don't know what that is at this point but even before that he had issues with Nate herbig in the first game and um you know it's it's been an ongoing issue even in in training camp practices so um he's got to Shore that up um if he does get into a game relieving Russell Wilson they're not gonna want him turning the ball over but I think overall yeah I was pleasantly surprised with Justin fields's growth as a passer and think you know there's reason to be optimistic if he does have to play here early in the season certainly it's I think that the Steelers are in a better spot understanding where their quarterbacks are I also think that now we've seen Arthur Smith get a chance to experiment a little bit more you know we you know he talked to us about how he's not calling plays to win in preseason game he's calling plays to experiment to test to see where certain guys are and at least in this sec in this final preseason game this third preseason game I think we I think he got a better hold of where it was I also think like you talked about the pass to Michael puit a lot of play action to set things up in in on this team and this is still on an offensive line we'll get to the offensive line later in the show this is still not an offensive line that per se is dominant or going to be dominant at the start of the Season they're going to need to learn how to win while they're sort of figuring it out there's a lot of young guys but I do think this offense at least has the direction of a team that can move the ball through the air balance it on the ground and do enough to be an efficient group that doesn't put the the defense really behind the eightball uh day in and day out yeah they blocked up that 31 yard Cordo Patterson run really well Zack Frasier had a nice block as did Isaac sealo so um you know that was a positive now you know the one thing about Arthur Smith if there's one criticism um that I would have of him during these preseason games and I I know what you said about being Vanella and not game planning but uh you know he talked about playing clean football and staying on schedule they were on that first drive Chris they were second and five and he throws a pass behind the line of scrimmage to George Pickins and I'm not knocking the play call but we've seen throughout training camp and these preseason games those sideways pass sideways passes are not working um that one resulted in a five or six yard loss um you know they were fortunate that that Russ converted that to George pickings on third down or there would be a completely different storyline that we're talking about here today if they go three and out on that first series so um you know small sample size with with Arthur Smith I think largely his play calling is going to change during the regular season but I I've seen enough of those sideway passes and those short passes open it up push the ball down the field you got one of the best deep passers in the game in Russell Wilson he can play action too so take advantage of his strengths I say absolutely I want to talk to Ray about his 53 man roster projection because I think there's one in particular part of the team that is one of the trickier parts to figure out in that 53 man roster projection we'll talk about that next year on The Northshore Drive podcast on the Pittsburgh Post cazette Chris Carter raay F apalo stick with us we'll be right [Music] back we're back here on the North Shore dry podcast from the Pittsburgh Post cazette Chris Carter Ray F aado breaking things down on the Steelers after their final preseason game uh Ray looking at this defense I think there's a lot of certainties with certain starters uh you know you know Patrick Queen you know elen Roberts you know make a Fitzpatrick Deshawn Elliott uh cam Hayward TJ W Al like there's a lot of things you know kind of solidified but the one position that I think that we thought might have been solidified two weeks ago that isn't right now is slot Corner because through most the training camp we saw beanie Bishop taking over there and I thought looking pretty decent at the at the spot at least not being a a really bad liability in the defense and being solid in his position but uh throughout the rest of uh um of this of this other in this final preseason game we didn't see him play in the second preseason game he had an injury um and then we saw him uh playing with the second and third stringers um on on on Saturday in the final preseason game and it was Thomas Graham Jr who played who who who played with the first team but they play the same amount of snaps Ray if this is a battle right now for the top slot Corner position who wins it in your eyes and do they keep both of them to have options at slot corner so I wouldn't read too much into Thomas Graham running with the starters in Detroit uh I think if you factor in beanie's injury and the fact that they got a good long look at him um in that first preseason game and really throughout the first two or three weeks of practice when he was with the ones they they they have a pretty good idea of who he is and I I think with Thomas Graham they kind of wanted to get more more comfortable with who he is so right um you know in terms of who who's going to win the starting job I don't know that either of them are going to be the starting slot Corner um you know come September 8th in Atlanta I think Omar Khan could make a trade I I think they could look to the waiver wire to address that position but if I had to pick between one or the other right now and that's assuming beanie's injury is behind him I'll go with beanie Bishop um he's smaller he has speed the only thing I don't like about his game and we saw this kind of exposed a little bit during train Camp practices he's not a great tackler in space he's a willing tackler right the line of scrimmage he'll stick his nose in there he's not great in space so um you know I think the seor coaches maybe saw that here in the second half of Camp there's probably some reservations about that you know I don't think Graham was won the job or was outstanding or anything against Lions so that's definitely a position to watch here you know 4M Tuesday is cut down from 90 to 53 every other team has to do it too Chris there's going to be a lot of good football players out there available via the wire or trade before 4M so sit back I think it's going to be interesting for Omar Khan here over the next 48 hours or so that's gonna be tricky you know and Mike tomman said this in his Q&A on steelers.com you know he said one team's trash going be another team's treasure and I think that's the situation that the Steelers are in right now because you know slot corner is not in answered position wide receiver to maybe not in an answered position maybe they're out there scoping for guys who can slide in it slot corner I mean last year they they took Shannon Sullivan and he was the guy that worked with there the year before that it was Arthur uh uh Arthur M Mallette so they've kind of plugged and played with guys so I I think it's been very interesting to see how that's how how that's been something that's ERS have done over the years and I don't I don't know for sure if that means that they're going to be shopping and you know in The Bargain Bin and in free agency for that slot cornerback answer instead of going with one of the two guys or both of the guys uh that they've kept through Camp yeah listen we I'll be the first to point out just because you grab somebody on the waiver wire doesn't mean it's G to work out I mean we saw that last year with Desmond King you know when he was acquired early in the season a lot of people thought okay he's got a track record he's going to be the slot he'll beat out chanon Sullivan and it didn't work out that way he got one defensive snap in the first month of the season and the Steelers cut him so um a lot of it is about fit um the type of player you are the Steelers have a very specific type of slot Corner um in mind a lot of times I think that's why beanie Bishop was always compared to Mike Hilton you know um you know Channon Sullivan was a little bit different you know if they go back and let's say they resigned Patrick Peterson Patrick Peterson obviously would be a different type of a player but you know the similarities between beanie bishop and Mike Hilton and um Arthur mullette some of the other slot Corners that um have been through here um it's not by accident I mean they they have a type that they like to insert in that spot in that defense and you know we'll see if fie Bishop can can hang on to it you know he I say only but he's only got to be average like for like two months of this season now I I know he's going to get picked on and I I know teams are going to try to expose that part of the Steelers defense no matter who the slot corner is but thinking to get by you know for for eight games cam Sutton's gonna come back and I think he's gonna give this team a huge lift in the second half not only with his experience but his versatility as well it's going to be a a nice little um tool that Terell Austin has in his tool belt for the last nine games of the season I certainly think so and uh you know I thought there was also a kind of a a cool moment for the Steelers and cam Sutton he got an interception in the preseason game allbe it against against backups and later in the game but you know if you're watching on from home uh Missy Matthews was interviewing Russell Wilson and like you hear the excitement of him he was like wait it go s and like every the whole TP team is like kind of like dapping him up as he's on the sideline because that's where he got cut before he came back to the Steelers and you know I think that was a pretty good moment for cam Sutton even though he's about to not play for two months he's about to miss the first eight weeks of the season so um but I I do think you see people this this that that the locker room appreciates him he's welcome he's welcomed there and uh I think there is an excitement to get him back in the mix because his versatility could be huge for what this defense wants to do down the stretch yeah listen what whatever happened with Cam Sutton happened um he's being penalized by the NFL but I could tell you before that incident and after that incident uh he's a likable guy in that Steelers locker room so I I think he's going to be a good fit for this defense on and off the field once he does return now the NFL took away his game check for eight weeks Chris are they gonna take away some more money from him for putting that ball into the stands I don't know maybe he might want that money back here in a couple weeks he's not playing for a lot of money on that one-year contract this year no he's no he's not he might he might need some of that um last thing here Ray if as you're doing by the way he's Ray is releasing his 53 man roster projection today it's Monday go check it out at post dascom to get his full read out if you're building the wide excuse me the cornerback room who are you keeping that is currently on this roster and if you're projecting to add someone from outside where would you slot them especially at corner yeah I mean listen uh I'm sure you noticed yesterday Chris uh Corey trce started thought he had a couple of good tackles early in the game and then I I want to say it was maybe midc quarter certainly uh by let late second quarter he his shoulder pads were off so it seems like the Steelers saw what they needed to see out of him I think he's going to be on this roster now it might not be the top backup at outside corner if they go out and acquire someone but I think he's firmly on the roster right now I think he's shown them enough training camp um I still have questions about Darius rush I mean he's another tall outside corner that they like they're trying to develop him since you know the middle of last season when he was picked up off waver um he was playing well into the second half so I think they have more questions about Darius Rush than they do Cory T right now and again just like we talked about SL Corner Chris waiver wire trade do they get a vet in here to maybe solidify the depth that outside corner you know it doesn't have to be a star maybe just somebody with a little bit more experience than Corey trce who has zero games and Darius Rush who has three games and 33 snaps uh on his resume certainly there I I I hear you on those points re rais 53 man roster projection to get all of his his predictions for how this this roster is going to play out but we're not done I want to talk to Ray about the offensive line because that's a huge part of what this team hopes to see take significant steps forward we did see two rushing touchdowns how did they play into that and where do we see especially the young guys factor in all next here on the North Shore Drive podcast in the Pittsburgh Post cazette but first what remind you this show is brought to you by svena Canan and guchi they are your mesela and his best is lawyers with over 85 years of experience call cenus Kan and glue today for a free consultation also we're brought to you by Moon Township Honda visit Moon Township Honda at 582 University Boulevard in Moon Township Pennsylvania or go to their website Moon honda.com to see all of their great options here's a message from my friends at Moon Township Honda to build the Honda CRV hybrid we took everything you love about the CRV and kicked it up a notch with greater power for a CRV unlike any before Adventure confidently with Honda car and driver's most awarded brand in 10 best history the CRV and CRV hyrid part of the Honda line of buged vehicles visit your local Honda dealer for new vehicles or arriving date buy online or Reserve from select Honda [Music] dealers we're back here on the Northshore Drive podcast from the Pittsburgh Post Gazette Chris Carter Ray fapo Ray let's talk about this offensive line real quick first let's focus on uh Zack Fraser for a second here because Zack Fraser has now completed the entire Steelers preseason and at least according to Pro Football Focus and how they chart things he has yet to give up a single pressure up the middle in pass protection that's a pretty good rate and in the Steelers a 31 yard touchdown run ran by Cordo Patterson you could see on that play uh it was right behind Frasier and sealo they both start off double teaming the the the defensive tackle sealo chips to the backer Fraser seals The Tackle inside and that created a huge hole for Patterson to attack where he was able to put one move on the safety missed and he walked into the end zone uh Ray how impressed are you by Zack Frasier and the progress that you've seen uh from the started training camp to now yeah I I think if you talk to his teammates and his coaches they'll tell you the same thing they they've been very impressed with his maturity level his knowledge of the offense his ability to transition from a college to the Pro Player and the last element that they were looking for was that onfield physicality in that play and you know we've seen it you mentioned um you know the touchdown run that was blocked up really well yeah um he's not gonna he's not gonna shy away from blocking 310 pound nose tackles you know he he's a wrestling guy he's got leverage he's G to be able to get that done on on a consistent basis and as far as the pass Pro goes he might be the only Steelers offensive lineman who didn't give up a pressure in during the preseason I mean it was very leaky otherwise but he was really Stout um in the middle um listen that that transition from Nate herck to Zack Frasier probably would have started before the the Atlanta game anyway I just think the last two weeks we just kind of see a preview and people have been impressed with with uh Zack Frasier and I think going to be solid in his rookie season for the Steelers it's funny you say that at least according to Pro Football Focus other players who did not give a pressure throughout the preseason were were Dan Moore Jr and James Daniels now and know again that's their charting that's how they see it but I thought that was something I want to touch on Dan Moore Jr for a second here because I I actually think Dan mois looked pretty solid in the preseason games and you know it doesn't mean that he has fixed everything and that Dan Moore is ready to go and forget about rodri Jones and Troy Fano he's the future but I I do think that he has not gone quietly away into the night and made this just a just put just put the young put the young guys in their decision for the Steelers when Mike tomman talks about you know maturing throughout um you know a rookie contract first year to second year big jump and then again third and fourth year I mean Dan Moore was a lightning rod his first couple years in the league during the preseason um you know he and Kendrick green a couple years ago was one or the other they were giving up sacks or pressure so I tip my hat to Dan Moore that guy's a pro um you know he's solid obviously the Steelers long-term plans you know it's brck Jones and Troy fanu as their book ends but listen if if Troy fanu practices this week Chris and the Steelers think he's gonna be healthy enough to start the season it's gonna be Dan Moore on the left side it's gonna be fanu on the right side then eventually I think brck Jones is going to have to you know work his way back in there you know there was one sack yesterday that uh has been on the Highlight Reel wasn't really brck Jones's fault but you know um you know we had the scrum with with bradick last week and I think you asked the question in there just about his timing and stuff even on that sack where where Kyle Allen got taken down punch he was giving up a lot of ground I mean he was in his he was in his kick slide you know three and a half four yards into the back field and he wasn't even thinking about getting hands on uh I think it was Houston who who he was trying to block so you know you know we discussed last week okay are they gonna maybe start jump setting more I I didn't really see that yesterday just get your hands on guys sooner you know athleticism isn't the issue for brck Jones but you know the technique the timing when to punch um you know he he was he the the entire theme of this preseason for brck Jones giving up ground and getting pushed into the quarterback and again on at least on that one rep yesterday we saw the same thing so if it's me I know a lot of people don't want to hear this but if it's me if fan is healthy I'm sticking with Dan Moore based on what I've seen the last couple of weeks I think that would be a hot take of all hot takes Ray I think if people someone's listening right now they're like what that's crazy you you must be they drafted two first round tacking for a reason but I hear you and I think part of this is and it's like what we've said and the reason I asked about brck Jones I asked him specifically about his punch because against Greg rouso in the Bild game that was what he was losing he was getting in position he was lined up perfectly good pad level and then R would just punch him in the chest and he would fall over and and as alignment you're supposed to have your punch being the one that gets into their chest you're supposed to be winning that especially with a guy who has the build and the arm length of a broaderick Jones so for me that that that that to me brings a big question into what's going on there because that was an issue for him last year when we saw him as a rookie which makes me think there's something going on with that right arm uh and what's going going on there and to again to brck Jones's credit he has not tried to use that in his excuse he said hey everyone's banged up we gotta go out there and I gotta I gotta work I gotta get better uh but it may behoove bradick Jones if he gets some rest and that right arm heels and then he can get back to playing the way that he did last year where he wasn't afraid to throw his hand and that and those were violent hands that allowed him to sort of better engage opponents and listen I'm not knocking Arthur Smith or Pat Meyer either here but you know sometimes when guys have injuries have to coaching adjustments right I mean it's it's coaching 101 okay he's having a hard time in the traditional kick slide just ask him to do a a more shallow set you know work on that and practice if the elbow really is bothering him and he can't execute his normal punch do a shallow set and then get your hands on the guy sooner so I mean these are all things that'll probably be talked about in the next couple of weeks um but in my mind just on based off what I've seen the last couple of weeks you know Jones has like some technique issues to work out I don't know if you necessarily want to be a coach working out technique issues with one of your starting tackles as you enter a season I I I definitely agree with you there you want to have technically sting especially a tackle where you're protecting the quarterbacks uh from the from the edge rushers before we get out of here Ray give me your projection again back to your 53 man roster projection but if you're just taking offensive lineman how many you're taking and who are they well I I I'm keeping nine and I I would take uh let's do the starter let's say brck Jones James Daniels Zack Frasier samalo and Dan Moore are your five and then you obviously keep Troy fanu be a starter eventually uh I'm keeping Ryan McCollum right now just because um he's another Center and you know Mason McCormack and Spencer Anderson are still work in progress I think the Steelers have to find out over the next week if either of those guys can be a center on game days and if not Ryan McCollum has to be on this roster then my last two would be of course McCormack um a guard and Spencer Anderson a guard with some tackle some Center capability a little bit disappointed in Spencer Anderson yesterday he gave up a set let the guy beat him to the inside he was playing tackle there I know he's played guard most the camp but listen if you're going to be uh I think Spencer's on the 53 but if you're gonna be on the 46 Man game day roster better be able to play guard and Tackle or guard and center and that wasn't necessarily a good showing from Spencer yesterday so I I think the theme is they're gonna be set with their starters whether it's Fano or Jones but the depth behind them you know the top the top Center the top swing t tackle the top uh you know guard Off the Bench that's going to be decided here in the next week or so there's still a lot to be decided we'll keep you up to date with all that the Pittsburgh Post cazette stay tuned as the Steelers make their final cuts down to their 53 man roster and how they plan to figure that all that out we'll keep you covered with all those updates at the Pittsburgh Post cazette Ray thanks so much for joining us here and thank you all for joining us here on the Northshore Drive podcast from the Pittsburgh Post cazette Chris Carter ra F at apoto read all of our work at postgazette.com find us here on the Northshore Drive podcast every Monday Wednesday Wednesday Friday on your favorite podcasting app and on YouTube like this video if you enjoy it subscribe to this channel to get all of those episodes as well as our daily content that comes out from all of our Pittsburgh sports Riders we're back Wednesday after the final cuts for the for the Steelers right here on the Northshore Drive podcast thank you for tuning in to another episode of the Northshore Drive podcast from the Pittsburgh Post cazette if you watch this video on YouTube please like the video and subscribe to our channel for all the sports coverage from the Post Gazette that we have to offer visit postgazette.com time