Pittsburgh Steelers QB Justin Fields took responsibility for one of the biggest momentum swings in Sunday’s loss. With under two minutes to play, the Steelers trailing by three, he took a snap to the facemask from C Zach Frazier. But former Steelers QB Charlie Batch seems to question whether Fields wasn’t just trying to be a leader when he said the disastrous sequence that ended in a 12-yard loss was on him.
Head coach Mike Tomlin didn’t really address the mechanics of the botched center-quarterback exchange, postgame or yesterday. Steelers players have only spoken about it so far in the immediate aftermath of the 27-24 loss to the Indianapolis Colts. As of now, we don’t have a clear idea of what was supposed to happen. Did Frazier snap early, did Fields not pay attention, or was it a combination of both?
“When you are in silent count like that, you tend to generally break the huddle [and] you let them know either it’s on silent one, two, or three”, Batch said on the DVE Morning Show with Randy Baumann. “If you go back and watch, [Fields] gives the heel flip on one. McCormick taps, looks at the line of scrimmage, and then turns around and looks right back at Justin.
“Justin is looking to the right. So that tells me that both of them two thought it was on silent two, where Zach Frazier thought it was silent one. If you go back, when the ball is snapped, watch McCormick. He turns around and taps to let him know that the second snap is ready to go, and the ball is already snapped. Just watch the mechanics of everybody, and that just lets you know the miscommunication was all around”.
Batch then reiterated that, based on his extensive experience, he believes this was a one count. In other words, Frazier was supposed to snap the ball after McCormick tapped him twice. And if you go back and watch the replay, as Batch suggests, it is telling. Frazier is already snapping to Fields as McCormick turns back center and taps him again.
At the very least, I think we can reasonably assume McCormick thought it was on two. Why else would he be trying to tap Frazier after he already snapped to Fields? The only thing that makes sense is that he thought he had to tap again.
Both Frazier and McCormick are rookies, the latter making his first career start in Indianapolis in his second game. Justin Fields is new to the Steelers this season, and he has a history of center-quarterback exchange issues. While this much is true, that doesn’t necessarily mean this incident was on him. At least not entirely.
After Sunday’s game, Fields said Frazier was supposed to snap after his first leg kick. Fields did raise his leg, but Frazier didn’t snap for another four seconds or so. While he may have been incorrect in not waiting for a second tap, Fields is still right to blame himself in that he didn’t keep his eye on the snap after raising his leg.
Both components can be true as Batch said, “The miscommunication was all around”. Without knowing actual facts, it’s hard to distribute fractions of blame among Justin Fields, Zach Frazier, and Mason McCormick. All we know for certain is that the Steelers can’t keep letting this happen.
