Key Highlights
- The article questions whether the Pittsburgh Steelers are more QB-friendly than commonly thought.
- Recent performances of former Steelers quarterbacks Justin Fields and Russell Wilson have raised doubts about their success elsewhere in the league.
- Pittsburgh has developed several passers since Ben Roethlisberger, including Mason Rudolph and Mitch Trubisky, despite not having a star quarterback in recent years.
- Offensive coordinator Arthur Smith is cited as a potential reason for the Steelers’ QB-friendly reputation due to his success with Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee.
The Quarterback Development Debate
The Pittsburgh Steelers might be above-average at quarterback development, according to an intriguing thought that has been creeping into some minds. This debate arises from the recent struggles of former Steelers quarterbacks, particularly Justin Fields and Russell Wilson, who have experienced significant setbacks in their careers after playing for the team.
Struggles of Former Steelers Passers
In a season marked by turmoil at quarterback positions across the NFL, the performance of Steelers alums has been less than stellar. Justin Fields, who has failed to throw for over 100 yards in the last two weeks combined, was finally benched by the New York Jets. Similarly, Russell Wilson’s performance with the New York Giants has been overshadowed by Jaxson Dart’s rookie success, leading to his official replacement.
Kenny Pickett, though he played just five snaps on a recent Sunday game, had one of the week’s uglier plays and is currently on his fourth team in three years. These performances have raised questions about whether the Steelers’ front office made the right decisions or if the quarterback struggles are more related to coaching and development.
The Role of Coaching
One of the key figures in this discussion is offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, who has a proven track record with Ryan Tannehill in Tennessee. Saunders from Steelers Now pointed out that Smith’s success could be a significant factor in why quarterbacks tend to have more success in Pittsburgh than at their other NFL stops.
However, it’s important to note that the Steelers haven’t exactly had high-level quarterback prospects recently. While Pickett has shown promise, his struggles with multiple teams might point to issues beyond just coaching and development. The front office’s decision to sign Aaron Rodgers this season adds another layer of complexity to the debate.
Mike Tomlin’s Legacy
Under head coach Mike Tomlin, the Steelers have managed to find success even when starting with backup quarterbacks like Duck Hodges, Mason Rudolph, and Mitch Trubisky. While they haven’t developed a star quarterback since Ben Roethlisberger, it still stands that passers tend to have more success in Pittsburgh than at their other NFL stops.
This suggests that the Steelers might be a bit more QB-friendly than the current consensus, which could be good news as the team prepares for potential quarterback prospects in the upcoming spring draft.
Conclusion
The debate over whether the Pittsburgh Steelers are more QB-friendly than commonly thought is far from settled. While recent performances have raised doubts, the success of quarterbacks like Kenny Pickett and Arthur Smith’s track record with Ryan Tannehill suggest that there might be something to this claim.
As the team gears up for potential quarterback prospects in the upcoming draft, it will be interesting to see how these discussions play out and whether they can continue to develop successful passers even when given limited talent.
