Steelers QB Situation
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For the first time in 18 years the Steelers find themselves in very unfamiliar territory. That being not having a guaranteed starting quarterback come Week one.
The Steelers knew this would be an issue sooner rather than later with Ben Roethlisberger having a slow decline in his play ever since he had to get his elbow reconstructed in just two weeks into the 2019 season.
His decline really showed after he took a low hit to the knee in Week eight in 2020 in Dallas late in the first half. The Steelers would win and improve to 8-0 (and eventually 11-0) that season but Roethlisberger’s health was never the same.
In 2021, Ben ran slower than a redwood tree but still had some very impressive accuracy. In today’s NFL the quarterback is much more than just a gun slinger. He is also a running back to some extent. A mobile quarterback is the name of the game nowadays and if you don’t have one who can escape players like Aaron Donald, Myles Garret, and T.J. Wyatt, or a line who can fend of those guys, then your team is in big trouble. And that’s something the Steelers had neither of last season.
This year is a different story for the Steelers however. They have two quarterbacks who are really good at moving out of the pocket and making throws down the field. One of them has been to the playoffs twice, and the other is an ACC Champion.
Among the other two of Mason Rudolph and Chris Oladkun, one tied the Lions and the other no one knew existed until the Steelers took him in the seventh round. There is no doubt that the Mitch Trubisky and Kenny Pickett have the capabilities to make plays on the field but the problem is the offensive line.
Also, one aspect is who is going to be more accurate in a game situation. Practice can only take you so far, which is why there is this thing called the preseason. I expect all four quarterbacks (Trubisky, Pickett, Rudolph, Oladkun) to see the field this preseason. Pickett will probably get the most reps out of any of them I’d imagine.
Most signs are leaning towards Trubisky getting starting Week one in Cincinnati; however, some (including me) speculate that Pickett could eventually become the starter near the halfway point of the season or even before (if things so drastically wrong for Trubisky).
Even though during offseason workouts he has been taking reps with the third string team. Pickett was said to be the most pro ready out of any of the quarterbacks taking in this year’s draft. So putting him in halfway wouldn’t be as nerve racking as putting in an unproven Tom Brady (although we all know how that one turned out).
Regardless of who the starter is Week one or 14 Mike Tomlin is up for the task, as he’s always been. Which is why I (and you) shouldn’t be surprised if the Steelers pull 7-9 wins this season. Although with how competitive the AFC is, that actually make not be enough to sneak into the postseason. Time will tell and maybe a team will have some misfortune that will help the Steelers sneak in. Anything is possible.
