Rex Ryan: Steelers should ‘dehydrate’ Justin Fields with QB runs

The Pittsburgh Steelers face a depleted Dallas Cowboys defense missing DeMarcus Lawrence and Micah Parsons. ESPN analyst and former head coach Rex Ryan believes that means Dallas defensive coordinator Mike Zimmer will change the defensive scheme. In response to that, Ryan wants the Steelers and offensive coordinator Arthur Smith to follow the Baltimore Ravens’ lead and “dehydrate” Justin Fields with quarterback runs.

“(Mike) Zimmer is going to change the scheme to run blitzes and things like that, although you should live with it. My only concern with Pittsburgh is Arthur Smith on the other side, that offensive coordinator. Don’t be so stubborn that you don’t study the tape. Steal quarterback plays from the Ravens,” Ryan said Sunday on NFL Countdown. “You have the plan right in front of you. Dehydrate your quarterback today.”

In Week 2, the Ravens went all over Dallas for 274 yards on the ground, with QB Lamar Jackson rushing 14 times for 87 yards and a touchdown. Fields has used his legs well this year, both on designed runs and in scrambles, and it wouldn’t be a surprise if the Steelers used him more in that capacity tonight. Not only has Pittsburgh seen him work out with the Ravens, but the team is losing both Jaylen Warren and Cordarrelle Patterson, leaving Aaron Shampklin and Jonathan Ward as the two running backs behind Najee Harris.

It could benefit the Steelers to use Fields more as a running back to help lighten Harris’ workload a bit, but as Ryan said, the plan is there for a team to use their quarterback effectively as a running back against the Cowboys. Pittsburgh will also get some help on the offensive line with the return of Isaac Seumalo, although with James Daniels’ injury, it’s a group that still doesn’t look like it was supposed to.

Pittsburgh’s game plan tonight will be interesting, and Fields might want to get revenge on Zimmer, who shot him unnecessarily in September. I’m sure the comments that Fields “hasn’t done anything” are in the back of his mind, and he would love nothing more than to criticize Zimmer’s defense tonight.

The Steelers and Cowboys always play close games, and even with Dallas losing some important defensive pieces, tonight will likely be another close one. It could all depend on whether Pittsburgh can win on the ground, and Justin Fields will be an important piece in making that happen.