QB Situation?

http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/201 ... -leftwich/

Just curious.
I happened to read this in the Tribune, after reading the "Arians" thread here.
I know it is just a "rumor", at the moment, but it kinda makes sense.
Our qb situation(behind Ben), has been a concern of mine, and this article sure didn`t make me feel any better about it.
Not that I would miss Lefty too much, but I hope we have more than Troy Smith, or the Jerrod Johnson kid, as back up plans.
The video I`ve seen of Johnson, looks good, but I really know nothing else about him.
What struck me as really odd, was the definitive statement, "Dennis Dixon will not be back with the Steelers next year"...
at the end of the article.
I already assumed that, but I haven`t heard any recent news to confirm it. Or seen any threads about Dixon, Lefty, or Batch,
returning, or not.
Anyone know anything I have missed, or that would help me feel better about the fact that I think if Ben goes down to a serious injury, we would be about as screwed as the Colts last year?
Sure... we are a better team, with "more depth"... but really... are we?
Yes, our defense, even with the off-season losses is way better than theirs, but on the offensive side of the ball?
What do we do, if Ben gets knocked out for the year?

 

Colbert and/or Rooney has said they would like to bring Lefty/Batch back (possibly both)....also Tomlin I think said that he'd like to bring in (maybe draft) a young guy to groom as the main backup behind Ben.

And no I dont think the team would be screwed w/o Ben...they've won without him before they can do it again.

 

Yeah, I probably got overanxious, on comparing our demise to that of the Colts without Manning, and i recognize, that very few teams have capable back-ups, let alone high quality starters.
But with the lack of money we have, we almost certainly are gonna have an inexperienced back up.
Personally, I like Batch, but I don`t have a lot of confidence in him being durable enough to mak more than a couple spot starts.
I also know, a lot will depend on what Haley does with our offense.
That could make a world of difference, but we won`t know, until we see what he does.

Edit...
On a side note, I also just thought it was strange, that this is an area of the team, that I have seen little conversation about on the board...
Am I the only one concerned?

 

Okay, I'm going to say something that's bound to get attacked on many fronts, but hear me out:

Brock Osweiler just had a tremendous workout at his pro day. Local radio is singing his praises. He's coming out early, and so he's still a bit raw. But if he's still on the draft board by the middle of the second round, boy would I like to see the Steelers make a move up the board to grab him. The team certainly has more pressing concerns, I know. BUT...Osweiler is the perfect QB to be Ben's successor. He needs three years on the bench, learning, and that's about what he'd get in Pittsburgh. This guy is 6-7 with a very good arm. He just lacks some seasoning, and he'd get as Ben begins the twilight of his career.

 

Please lay off the drugs/alcohol, hahaha. They do NOT need to worry about a successor to Ben NOW (the team has already said this). Osweiler in the middle of the FIRST? Are you freaking kidding me? No way no fn way. Even if they did need a successor now I still wouldnt do it. I would be SHOCKED if the guy was even selected in the first round.

 

I think Troy Smith can be a great backup and could have been a starter with the right coaching.

 

OOOOOOOOOPS. My bad. That was supposed to say SECOND round. Yeah, I'm not THAT dumb.

 

I fixed the original post. But your point still stands. Nobody should suggest the Steelers take a QB in the first round. And just to make sure everyone knows it was an honest mistake: indeed, Osweiler is NOT going first round.

 

Hahaha...OK thats a little bit better...I mean people have said some crazy stuff....but I was like WHAAAT? haha

I'd still say no/etc...but i dont think your as crazy as a little bit ago at least, hahah

 

The Steelers are not the Colts. If Ben goes down, we will not go 2-14. Look at when Ben had a 4 game suspension, we went 3-1 and almost went 4-0. We are a good team regardless of who is the QB, and good teams do not go 2-14

 

I agree. I'd like to see him start as our #3 and possibly work his way up to #2.

 

I won't worry about the QB situation until Lefty has signed with someone else. At the moment, I still expect him to be back with the team.

 

i will say one thing about our backup situation. with a new offensive coordinator, what was a stregnth of batch and lefty knowing the system so well, that all changes somewhat with a new OC. ben will be taking more reps to learn the new system, so it will limit what the backup gets, so why just teach these two to learn the system when they may only have another season in them? we need a new guy, but that limits him in learning it fast enough. i'd have to say we grab a more seasoned vet that has 6-7 years left in his game to learn this new system along with a new guy. we need someone with some mobility, oswieler is a pocket guy. he will get killed here. smith i'm not thrilled about, but i think johnson has a good shot as that new guy. he's like a draft pick but with a little edge. it won't be his very first glimps of the speed. i think a guy with a little expierience, should be brought in for the next couple of years to bridge the gap and maybe more.

 

Colts and Arians Looking at Leftwich

http://blog.triblive.com/steel-mill/201 ... xt.twitter

 

Re: Colts and Arians Looking at Leftwich

viewtopic.php?f=2&t=2657

 

Mac, Good point about changing OC`s, taking away from the prior knowledge of our backups.
I`m a Buckeye fan, so, I agree, I am not overly impressed with Troy Smith.
He MIGHT be a serviceable back up, but that would be the extent of my optimism.
I will keep my mind open about Johnson, as I know very little about him, and his highlight tape, and the fact that he was in the running for the Heisman, seem to show that he is at least decent.
I still wonder where Dixon is going?
Not that I think he would be our best option, it just seemed strange, that the article concluded with a flat out statement that he won`t be back.
I hadn`t heard of him signing anywhere, but I did/do expect him to.
And I know that many disagree with me(including the Rooney`s), but I think it is time to at least START thinking about who is gonna replace Ben.
Tough as he is, his body isn`t gonna take another 5 years at the rate he is getting hit, and hit hard.
Now if he gets better protection/starts releasing the ball quicker... Probably.
I have a hard time believing he is gonna really change his style of play, much, though...
He is who he is, and I`m glad he`s our starting qb.
I do think it would be in his best interests, to do a little more film study, though.
Haley may change a lot of that, by his scheme/approach to getting in Ben`s head...
Time will tell, on that.
Also, I know it`s hard to keep a quality qb as a benchwarmer, but we seem to groom our rookies slower than most, anyhow, so who knows?

 

Personally, I'm glad Arians is interested in Leftwich. Let the Bum go with Arians, we don't need him. He is injury prone and not good. I call them like I see them. It's time to cut ties with the likes of Leftwich. Batch beat the dude out every year anyway. Now it's just time. I think Troy Smith would be better then him. Also, I think the Steelers should draft Cousins and keep Smith. Batch can always come to camp to teach and then be let go and on standby in an emergency situation.

Even the young guy Jerrord Johnson would be better then Leftwich.

Good bye Leftwich. IMHO, while they are at it, they need to get rid of Hampton too. Draft his replacement in the first or second round
go Guard, Nose Tackle or Nose Tackle, Guard 1, 2!

 

Also:
Earl Morrall (1972 Dolphins)
Jim Plunkett (1980 Raiders)
Doug Williams (1987 Redskins)
Kurt Warner (1999 Rams)
Tom Brady (2001 Patriots)

 

I remember reading an interesting article by Mike Carlson a few years back that challenged the assumption you need a dazzling QB to win the superbowl, can't find the link, but it was kind of convincing. Whether it applies to this team, at this moment, is perhaps a different question. But you're bang on that it's entirely possible to win without the starting QB.

 

there is nothing wrong with having a good backup. we showed at the beginning of 2010 that we can win games without our starter. 3-1 to start and very nearly 4-0. it helps to have a guy that can push the starter a little. it would have made it a little easier to have sat ben last year in the 49'ers game too. why charlie wasen't played is still beyond me. he's shown he can win. we have enough players around them to carry some of the load. drafting one now doesn't mean he's taking over for ben, but if in 3 years he starts outplaying ben, then is that a bad thing?