Macafee: Fields, Wilson combo can be dangerous if used right

CLEVELAND -- For the second straight week, Arthur Smith, Mike Tomlin and the Steelers replaced Russell Wilson with Justin Fields at different times to try and ignite an offense that often looked like it needed it. At first look, it didn't seem like there was any pattern to how the Steelers used their dual-threat quarterback, but the Fields package is expanding and if it is used right, it can be dangerous.

Just a week ago, Fields was on the field for a total of three snaps against the Ravens. He ran twice and picked up 17 yards, including a second-and-10 late in the game where he rushed for nine yards after sliding short of the first-down marker. On Thursday, in the Steelers' 24-19 loss to the Browns, Fields took the field at least six times. He rushed three times for 26 yards and threw two passes -- one fell incomplete on a crucial third-and-4 late in the game and his second was negated due to a roughing the passer call.

While Fields did not throw a pass last week, the designed runs looked similar and were effective at times. Take his 30-yard gain early in the fourth quarter, for example.

In this situation, Fields had Connor Heyward blocking for him instead of Darnell Washington.

"It was a simple zone read; the d-end went down, I pulled it and it was kind of wide open," Fields said of the play. "I wish I wouldn't have got hawked on that, kinda sick. But, it's tough, I just gotta stay warm on the sideline."

The play also came moments after the Browns had scored to go up 18-6 and the Steelers desperately needed to put points on the board. Wilson was on the field for the first play of the drive and completed a four-yard pass to Washington. After his big gain, Fields carried the ball again off the left side for a two-yard loss before unleashing this 50/50 ball to George Pickens and drawing a roughing the passer penalty:

Wilson replaced Fields after that pass and Jaylen Warren capped off the drive four plays later with a three-yard run to pull the Steelers within five.

While Fields provided a spark to pull the Steelers back into the game, there were also instances where the package didn't have the same effect. Take this play on the Steelers' second offensive drive of the game. Wilson marched the offense into Browns territory after a 31-yard pass to Pickens but faced a fourth-and-2 after a four-yard run by Warren and a four-yard pass to Van Jefferson.

The Browns saw it coming the whole way.

Then, with the game hanging in the balance, Fields logged his second pass attempt of the game:

Leading by one, with a chance to ice the game and Tomlin and Smith decided to leave Fields in the game. This is a situation where Wilson would've been the better option in my eyes. Up to that point, Wilson had completed 18 of his 22 pass attempts for 241 yards and was coming off a drive where he threw a strike to Calvin Austin III:

He was also five-for-11 on third downs and deserved to have the ball in his hands in that passing situation. Outside of gaining a few decent chunks of yardage, the Steelers running game had not done much throughout the night and Wilson had been finding soft spots in their defense throughout the night. Lastly, that is a moment Wilson is made for. He's built his career around making plays in those types of situations and he was left on the sideline.

"I think we all, as a team, are trying to make plays and do different things," Wilson said. "Obviously, we have trust in Justin and what he can do and what he is capable of. Listen, I always want to be in there, that's just the competitor in me. But, at the same time, we have great trust in Justin and our team and our coaches and everything we're doing."

Tomlin has been hinting about this package tailored toward Fields' strengths all season long and we've seen a growing picture of what it looks like and what it can do. There's no denying that it can be successful, but when the timing of it is off, it can be predictable.

Cleveland had been stacking the box when Fields entered the game throughout the night. You saw it on the fourth-and-2 attempt and in the video above you can see eight defenders in the box before the ball is snapped and they drop back into coverage.

If Fields completes the pass to Pickens, it's a completely different story. But, in a one-point game, that's a play that needs to be converted. It has to be a sure thing. The Steelers needed to move the sticks and take more time off the clock. That's a situation where Wilson needs to be on the field. 

Smith himself said the timing of using Fields will be crucial to the offense's success this season. So, while it worked in certain situations, such as Fields' 30-yard run, it also struggled when the defense was able to key on Fields and play the run.

There are benefits to the package, but the timing of it will be everything moving forward.