Russell Wilson or Justin Fields won't matter in Belichick's eyes if the O-line and run game doesn't get right
Whether Russell Wilson or Justin Fields should start Week 1 at quarterback is the usual topic that’s brought up when discussing the Pittsburgh Steelers.
However, legendary former NFL coach Bill Belichick is focused on another side of the offense that isn’t being talked about as much as the quarterback competition.
Speaking on "The Pat McAfee Show," Belichick spoke about the "bigger problems" the Steelers could face this season on offense.
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New England Patriots head coach Bill Belichick speaks during a press conference after a game against the New York Jets at Gillette Stadium Jan. 7, 2024, in Foxborough, Mass. (Winslow Townson/Getty Images)
"The defense is, you know, a pretty solid unit," Belichick said, per Penn Live. "The offensive line had a hard time being consistent there. They lost the tackles. … They have a rookie center, and the guards, they’ve had some issues too in the preseason games."
The Steelers are expected to have two rookies on their offensive line, including first-round tackle Troy Fautanu. They also selected center Zach Frazier in the second round to bolster the line.
"I think the Steelers need to get their running game and the offensive line playing consistently..
— Pat McAfee (@PatMcAfeeShow) August 19, 2024
Arthur Smith is a good fit and he's a really good coach" ~ Bill Belichick #PMSLive pic.twitter.com/yslro3KVPo
Mason McCormick, a fourth-round pick by Pittsburgh, is also on the depth chart.
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Belichick also gave his take on the quarterbacks, saying he believes Wilson has the edge over Fields, especially considering his low turnover rate.
But none of what new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith wants to do in the pass game will work without a solid run game.
Russell Wilson of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back to pass in the first quarter during a preseason game against the Buffalo Bills at Acrisure Stadium Aug. 17, 2024, in Pittsburgh. (Justin Berl/Getty Images)
"They need to get the running game going. They have good backs. They need to get those backs started," Belichick said. "Russell’s good out of the pocket. But I think the problems are bigger than Russell Wilson. I think it’s really offensive line and the running game."
The Steelers’ run game has a solid duo of Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren, though Warren injured a hamstring last week that is expected to keep him sidelined for weeks.
The Steelers have yet to make a decision on who will be the signal-caller in Week 1.
New England Patriots former head coach Bill Belichick addressed the media at Gillette Stadium about his departure. (John Tlumacki/The Boston Globe via Getty Images)
The Steelers, who open up against the Atlanta Falcons, the team that fired Smith as head coach after last season, have a tough schedule in the AFC North with the Cincinnati Bengals, Cleveland Browns and Baltimore Ravens.
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Scott Thompson is a sports writer for Fox News Digital.
