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Mike McCarthy’s QB School

Discussion in 'Steelers Talk' started by Blast Furnace, Feb 2, 2026.

  1. pczach

    pczach Well-Known Member

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    But his hands are almost as small as Pickett's. :smiley1:
     
  2. jeh1856

    jeh1856 We want in so we can bark to go out again

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    That’s an open line
     
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  3. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    that it is. :facepalm::cool:
     
  4. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    i'd like for them to draft sawyer robertson from baylor. he has the tools, he just needs some refinement. i don't want to lose will howard but add to that group. :cool:
     
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  5. jeh1856

    jeh1856 We want in so we can bark to go out again

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    Nice draft review :facepalm:


    He has a wide, kick-style release in his follow-through from his baseball days, doesn’t always align his feet with his target and has a tendency to fade away on throws. All of that has yielded one of the highest uncatchable and inaccurate-pass percentages among 2026 quarterbacks.

    - pff
     
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  6. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    The bloodlines were always there for Sawyer Robertson - his father Stan was a first-round pick in the 1990 MLB Draft, his cousin Jarrett Stidham played quarterback at both Baylor and Auburn. Born in Lubbock and raised under Friday night lights at Coronado High School, Robertson etched his name into Texas high school football lore, finishing among the state's all-time leaders with 813 career completions, 135 touchdown passes, and 11,302 passing yards. The accolades poured in during his senior campaign - Gatorade Texas Player of the Year, Lone Star Varsity Player of the Year, and Class 5A Built Ford Tough Player of the Year - as he torched defenses for 4,509 yards and 58 touchdowns while leading Coronado to a 12-1 record and the regional semifinals.

    Robertson's journey took him first to Starkville, where he spent two seasons learning under Mike Leach's Air Raid system at Mississippi State. After limited action behind Will Rogers, including just five appearances in 2022 where he completed 6-of-11 passes, Robertson transferred to Waco and found himself waiting once again. He saw spot duty in 2023 behind Blake Shapen, starting four games when injuries struck and flashing potential with a near-flawless 17-for-19, 215-yard performance against West Virginia. When dual-threat quarterback Dequan Finn went down early in 2024, Robertson seized his opportunity and never looked back.

    His redshirt junior campaign transformed him from backup to Big 12 sensation - 3,071 passing yards with 28 touchdowns against just eight interceptions while completing 62.2% of his throws, all while playing through a lower-body injury that forced him into a walking boot between games for the season's final two months. The hardware followed the production: two-time Big 12 Offensive Player of the Week, twice on the Davey O'Brien Great 8 List, Earl Campbell Tyler Rose Award semifinalist, and Jason Witten Collegiate Man of the Year semifinalist. Through six games of his senior season in 2025, Robertson leads the nation in passing yards (2,058), touchdown passes (19), and yards per game (343), cementing his transformation from overlooked transfer to legitimate NFL prospect at 6'4", 220 pounds.
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Scouting Report: Strengths
    • Live arm that can drive the ball into tight windows and challenge every blade of grass on the field
    • Natural feel for pocket navigation with subtle movements that buy time without bailing prematurely from clean pockets
    • Throws with conviction and anticipation, releasing the ball before receivers break and trusting his pre-snap reads
    • Surprising juice as a runner - not just scrambling but designed runs where he shows burst and toughness
    • Mental toughness to bounce back from mistakes and maintain aggressive mindset throughout four quarters of play
    • Quick release mechanics when his feet are set, getting the ball out in rhythm on timing routes
    • Commands the huddle and earns respect from teammates through work ethic and leading weekly Bible studies
    • Shows ability to layer throws over linebackers and under safeties with touch when he's balanced and confident
    [​IMG]

    [​IMG]

    Scouting Report: Weaknesses
    • Accuracy wavers when platform breaks down - too many throws sail high or skip at receiver's feet
    • Gets locked onto his first read against zone coverage and forces balls into traffic unnecessarily
    • Footwork becomes lazy in the pocket, leading to throws off his back foot when unnecessary
    • Deep ball placement needs refinement - completes them but often makes receivers work harder than necessary
    • Lanky frame raises durability questions after playing through significant lower-body injury for half of 2024 season
    Scouting Report: Summary
    Robertson's film tells the story of a quarterback who thrives when the lights are brightest - that comeback touchdown against SMU with 35 seconds left, the five-touchdown demolition of Texas Tech, maintaining production while literally limping through the back half of 2024. He's got that gunslinger mentality that offensive coordinators love and defensive coordinators fear, willing to challenge any window and trust his arm to make plays. The arm talent jumps off the screen immediately, and his mobility adds a dimension that keeps defenses honest. When he's cooking, Robertson looks like a legitimate NFL starter, threading needles and extending plays with his legs.

    The concern isn't whether Robertson has NFL tools - he absolutely does. The question becomes consistency and refinement of the finer points. Those turnover-worthy plays that don't always show up in the box score are still there on tape, and NFL defensive backs won't be as forgiving as Big 12 secondaries. His mechanics need tightening, particularly his lower body when pressure arrives. Teams running West Coast concepts will love his quick release and timing, while vertical passing schemes can utilize his arm strength. The mobility gives him versatility in today's RPO-heavy NFL offenses.

    Robertson sits outside the top 100 prospects for a reason - the flashes of brilliance come with stretches where his footwork deteriorates and balls sail into dangerous territory. He's a classic middle-round quarterback who tantalizes with tools but frustrates with inconsistency. Think rounds 4-5, where teams are comfortable taking a swing on arm talent and hoping their quarterback coach can iron out the mechanical hiccups. His combination of arm strength, surprising mobility, and proven leadership gives him backup potential immediately, with a chance to compete for starting reps down the line if he lands in the right developmental environment. The team that drafts Robertson gets a tough competitor who's overcome doubters at every level, but they'll need patience. He's not walking in and beating out established starters, but give him a redshirt year behind a veteran and Robertson could surprise. His ceiling remains intriguing even if the floor suggests career backup - and in today's NFL, finding a reliable QB2 with starting experience in rounds 4-5 represents solid value.


    sorry about those ad's. not sure how to get them off there. if we have a QB whisperer he should be able to fix the hiccups. :cool:
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2026 at 10:00 AM
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  7. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    Part of CJs problem was our D. I get tired of every time our D causes problems for a Qb it's the Qbs fault, and not because our D causes it.
    We have been tops in the NFL almost every year causing turnovers, but some people on here believe it's magic, or when we play teams it's because the teams we are playing are just having a bad day, or being super nice to us. LoL
    The whole reason I brought this up was saying the O sucked. So of course I don't want Rodgers back in anything but a backup role/plan/Qb teacher, not as our starter in any freaking way.
     
    Last edited: Feb 18, 2026 at 1:59 PM
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  8. pczach

    pczach Well-Known Member

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    He's another guy that has good ability. He has a lot to work on in his game, but he does have some very good traits to build on. The other thing is that he is often throwing to players that are wide open. The windows are a lot tighter in the NFL.

    I do think he has upside, but his fundamentals and technique need to be improved. His footwork is bad. He is not a quarterback to be taken at the top of the draft. He is a quarterback that can be considered later on. We still have the combine and pro days to get through, and we need to see the measurables and find out how well he does during the interviewing process.

    He does appear to be a player with tools that McCarthy may like for his system.
     
  9. forgotten1

    forgotten1 Well-Known Member

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    Isn't there a thread here currently that is discussing nepotism and genetics in the NFL?

    Personally, I'm ok with any direction the team takes I have no choice,

    AR, WH, MR, and Skylar too sounds fine to me this upcoming season
    It's Mike McCarthy it's all good. No worries
     
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  10. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    Hell if people are just looking for a later round project, look no farther than Taylen Green: 6 foot 6, with a rocket arm, and runs a like the wind, and has also played the SEC for years. Not my type of Qb as he stands now, but if people are just throwing out guys because of pure physical abilities.
     
  11. pczach

    pczach Well-Known Member

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    I think that since this is a new era, we need to see what the team and McCarthy decide to do. For the first time in a long time, Mike Tomlin isn't here and things are going to be done differently and with a new approach to things.

    I'll have opinions like I always do, but let's see the direction they choose to go. It's hard to criticize too much when we can't see the outcome of this offseason and draft. There is a new head coach with a different way of doing things. McCarthy deserves a chance to do his thing before we are all ready to fire him. There's plenty of time for that later. :lolol:

    All I have wanted is for a fresh look at offense and a younger quarterback to develop. I'm certainly not going to scream for the head coach to be fired 6 weeks into the season when I know there are going to be bumps in the road when young quarterbacks are being groomed. That's the whole point, and it is exactly what many of us have been wanting for a while now. Let's see it play out and see where it goes.
     
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  12. pczach

    pczach Well-Known Member

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    I like Green. He is extremely athletic and throws a great deep ball.

    He needs to work on his processing and his accuracy on shorter and intermediate throws needs to really improve. He has 59 passing touchdowns and 35 INT in his college career, so taking care of the rock needs to get a whole lot better. He is definitely a project, but that's ok if the team is willing to be patient and they see a high ceiling with coaching and support.

    Anybody that wants a great athlete that can go bombs away with the great arm and the deep passing game and still have great running ability, he's your guy.

    I think that Allar, Green, and Robertson are the three guys that I like best from the third round on. I haven't mentioned Green because I haven't done a breakdown of the entire class. At this moment those are the three quarterbacks that I would target if they don't go after a quarterback early in the draft.
     
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  13. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    I believe he needs to work on digging A hole in his mind. He's one of those guys right now that if everything is going good, he's the best on the field, but if He makes a mistake, he can go into a hole, and be afraid to take chances. I'm not pushing us to draft him, I'm just saying if people are just looking for late projects from athleticism, he should be high on people's list.
     
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  14. forgotten1

    forgotten1 Well-Known Member

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    This can be said about all QB's no? Especially younger ones but to vets too

    Learn to get over it
    move on
    adjust
    focus

    Some here claim Aaron is scared to get hit and it affects his play
    that's a hole for him .no W
     
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  15. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    Sounds like he could tryout at TE if the QB thing doesn’t work out.
     
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  16. mac daddyo

    mac daddyo Well-Known Member

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    i think robertson has the best tool on his shoulders. he could probably had in the 5th or 6th round. we will need a backup at some point. i do think howard will be the guy down the road. i only mention nussmier because as we see with most of the coaching staff, Mike McCarthy like people he knows and know him. nussmeir and his dad fall under that MM school of thought. it wouldn't be the worst pick if in the 4th or later. :cool:
     
  17. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    Or WR
     
  18. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    Yeah. Do you remember a big, fast, athletic Arkansas QB from a few years back who went top 10 as a WR prospect based entirely on physical measurements?
     
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  19. Wardismvp

    Wardismvp Well-Known Member

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    Not to change subject but is that WR at i
    UConn worth a third round pick?
     
  20. MojoUW

    MojoUW Well-Known Member

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    Hah! I remember that dude. Didn't he fall out of the league because of booze and booger sugar?
     
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  21. MojoUW

    MojoUW Well-Known Member

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    I pushed my soul in a deep dark hole and then I followed it in
    I watched myself crawlin' out as I was a-crawlin' in
    I got up so tight I couldn't unwind
    I saw so much I broke my mind
    I just dropped in to see what condition my condition was in

    I realize that this is not a useful comment nor does it move the conversation forward. But it was all I could think of when I thought of digging a hole in my mind.
     
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  22. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    4th or later IMO. He’s a good player, but I don’t see him as a sure thing at the NFL level
     
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  23. jeh1856

    jeh1856 We want in so we can bark to go out again

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    I do admire your effort though :thumbs_up:
     
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  24. Steel_Elvis

    Steel_Elvis Staff Member Mod Team

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    That’s him. I was wrong. He was 1st round, but not top 10.
     
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  25. S.T.D

    S.T.D Well-Known Member

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    I liked it, a lot :thumbs_up:
    Did you make it up, or was it from something I should know?
     

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