The Steelers are bringing in QB Shedeur Sanders for a visit

That has been the debate for months.

 

Not true.


Patrick Mahomes was a major risk yes but Andy Reid has had success developing QBs before. Josh Allen was another; his accuracy being a major question marks. Having the likes of Brian Daboll greatly aided his development. Teams passed on Lamar thinking he wasn't capable of throwing the Football well enough. John Harbaugh did something completely out of the box; creating an Offense in which Lamar himself is the focal point. Hell, even Jordan Love was considered a risk by Green Bay despite the team having a very good HC in Matt LeFleur. Conversely, Trey Lance clearly didn't work out in San Francisco despite San Fran having a very stacked roster. Same goes for Mac Jones even though he himself won a Playoff Game as a Rookie due in part to Bill Belichick screwing up his development by making a Coach who has never called Offense in his life in Matt Patricia. The biggest one of them all thus far is Trevor Lawrence; the next one being nearly destroyed due in part to incompetent leadership. In short?!


Risk has to equal reward for QBs. For the risk to become a reward, teams have to have a structure in place. Pittsburgh doesn't have that as it stands. The team has rock solid players but that alone doesn't beget success for a young QB.


A QB's success will always depend on how well run the Organization is ran. At one point in time, Pittsburgh's was well run. Given Pittsburgh's Playoff futility since 2017, I cannot say so anymore; all marked by two common denominators.

 

I am not actually. The whole point of drafting a QB in Round One is so that he may develop to become the Future of the Franchise. If the team doesn't have the applicable structure available, no matter how good the QB is coming out, they are doomed to fail. As you said, Trevor Lawrence is such a case. Mac Jones was doomed via Belichick's decision to hire Matt Patricia while Justin Fields was ruined as Chicago's understanding of Offense had been near non existent for quite some time.

Not to the current paradigm of the NFL it is not. Given how there are more ways for young QBs who play in High School have more ways to improve before they even get to college, it is more fair to say that Rookie QBs drafted in Round 1 should be on the clock the second they are drafted; doubly so if they are considered of Franchise QB quality. If you are not able to find success as a Franchise QB very early, it is more fair to question if that success can be had at all. Jayden did in Year One; C.J. Stroud as well. Both can be considered Franchise QBs. Now, again, are there exceptions to this rule?! Absolutely. However, majority rules and the NFL is a business of winning. If you are not winning.. well...

We don't know about Roman Wilson's capabilities other than some snaps against Las Vegas. He is very much an unknown; more on another Offensive Rookie from his class in a bit Speaking of unknown, which Pat Freiermuth is the team receiving; his bounce back 2024 version or what he had shown during 2022 to 2023. As for Najee, fair enough. However, Jaylen Warren has not toted the rock nearly as much as Najee has. Grabbing a Running Back shouldn't be a problem but who specifically is a very valid question. Finally, on the Offensive Line, this is do or die time for Broderick Jones. Either he can or he cannot. As for Troy Fautanu?! A couple of snaps is way too little information on what he is truly capable of. I personally liked what I saw but so little can only go so far. As I have said, Zach Frazier is the only Offensive Lineman that can be counted on heading into 2025. Isaac should count here but his age finally caught up to him in 2024. Mason McCormick did showcase improvement but he was inconsistent at times as well. You have already outlined the Tackles; as have I.


While the Steelers wont feature a bottom 10 Offense, how high the Offenses ceiling is will depend on the Offensive Line. It is up to them and, due to such uncertainty, it is fair to question if the Future of the Franchise can navigate through that; this case being Shedeur. He did so at Colorado but the NFL is a different beast all together.

All this is well and good... except for one problem. Pittsburgh already tried the Most Pro Ready route in Pickett. Again, Pickett isn't the caliber of Player that Sanders is but Pickett sure wasn't helped by the both Tomlin and the Front Office; a complete masterclass on how not to develop a QB. Shedeur is clearly different from both a tools and mental perspective from Kenny but again, the success of the Future of the Franchise shall always depend on the structure and competency of the Organization that drafts. Thankfully, Pittsburgh and AR II are not like Shahid Khan and Jacksonville... but the Steelers are sure a long ways away from what they used to be. For that matter and, as it pains me to admit this, Baltimore is essentially what Pittsburgh used to be and used to stand for; innovative, creative and flexible. Pittsburgh isn't any of that now. The biggest problem though is the one you outlined;


"that's the type of team Tomlin seems to want anyway."


Tomlin did this with Kenny and failed by all accounts. Expecting him to succeed with Shedeur is very unlikely.



To conclude, as I have said many times over, Shedeur isn't my problem. The man responsible for developing him is; Mike Tomlin. Tomlin has yet to show any of us his ability to develop a QB. He has had since 2018; middling results as a result. Expecting Tomlin to change, at this stage of his Coaching Career, is as hopeful as wishing for a pot of gold.

 

Excellent Question!!!!


I myself have been wanting this answer since 2018!!!! I haven't the foggiest!! I can happily tell you about two common denominators though!!


Like @KnoxVegasSteel stated;


"Mediocre Team doing mediocre things for mediocre results by a mediocre coach ran by a mediocre owner. Same S#!t, different season. Rinse, repeat."



For any QB to thrive in this environment, the top people need to change. For AR II, he is going to have to adapt to the Modern NFL in terms of both the Front Office and Coaching Staff; both in payment and type. Again, not a lot of Coaches but given how the team still doesn't have a dedicated Pass Game Coordinator nor a dedicated Run Game Coordinator (something that would really help both Arthur Smith and Pat Meyer I might add), that would be a good start. Hell, the Steelers just recently added analytics; something I myself am not a fan of but do see some, I repeat some, merit in having.


As for Mike Tomlin?! Allowing his Offensive Coordinator to Coordinate the Offense would be an excellent start. Arthur Smith's Offense uses the MOF often given its Play Action heavy nature. Not accessing that area of the field limits what Smith can call. He tried to adapt to how Russell Wilson plays last season and the results were not pretty in the end.


If change does happen Elvis?! Then the Steelers are onto something. However, given the history, I doubt change is on the Horizon.

 

Well, no, you said Dart would make more sense in New Orleans than Sanders given his familiarity with Nussmeier.

No one's arguing who the better runner is between Dart/Hurts.

 

Incorrect.


"New Orleans could take Jaxson Dart even. I wouldn't rule him out either. Doug Nussmeier, the current Saints OC, has dealt with a QB like Jaxson Dart before in Jalen Hurts. Now, Hurts is the superior runner but Dart is a better thrower of the football when comparing the two when they both came out of college.


I believe that Jaxson would make more sense for New Orleans given that familiarity. However, given how well Shedeur played in spite of the lack of overall weapons on Offense makes him the more appealing option. Who will Kellen Moore select?!"


Doug has worked with QBs like Jaxson Dart before; Jalen Hurts namely. That was my point.

 

Yes. But you said that in response to someone that said Sanders could now be in play for the Saints due to Carr's injury. Anyone thinking the Saints may adjust their strategy at 1.9 due to losing Carr for the year is doing so under the impression that the Saints would want a QB to compete for the starting job this year. Carr is 34 and was already in cap casualty territory this offseason. He's not long for the roster in New Orleans.

If you're thinking starting QB option for 2025, you're not thinking Jaxson Dart. I get you saying now that you meant him as possibly a better long-term match, but if that was their thinking Carr's injury shouldn't impact things. The shift in strategy would be pivoting to a guy more ready to compete for the job sooner.

 

Dan Orlovsky said on ESPN the Steelers should try to trade up to #6 to get ahead of the Saints at #9 to get Sanders .

 

Not enough capital available to do that

Toss in every pick this year along with next years first might get you close

 

Dart though could technically come in and start; that is what I am getting at. Doug has worked with Jalen Hurts; someone who somewhat compares to Dart. Not in running but arm talent is somewhat similar.


Regarding Shedeur?! Indeed I did say he could be in play as well. The question though for New Orleans though is which one do they believe in more?! That answer will have to come on Draft Day.

 

Let's hope the Giants take him

 

This is a good argument. Despite that though, the problem still remains with Mike T. Tomlin doesnt like the middle of the field; ultimately limiting Smiths Offense. I hate being a broken record but the fact of the matter is that Arthur Smiths Offenses have historically worked best there. The only time Smith agreed to not use it was against his former team in Atlanta in Week 1.


Post Week 1 until Fields got benched, Pittsburgh was operating that area a lot. As I have said before about Shedeur, there is no doubt he is talented. If anything, him being in an Offense that allows him to use said area is where he will shine best; something the article does correctly point out.


However, until Tomlin changes, none of that matters. Tomlin has to get out of his own way in order for Sheduer to work; assuming he is even on the board to begin with. We both have seen this narrative about Tomlin being risk adverse too many times for too many seasons.

 

Im thinking this is an old wives tail

Ben used the middle of the field

Trubisky threw some of his best interceptions to the middle of the field

I did read Canada steered away from it

I did read Smith steered away from it

The only thing I can find on Tomlin are either pundits tossing out bs or people on this board

 

Time will tell then.

 

If Tomlin coaches for another 15 years I gonna have to enjoy something else!

 

Does he have large hands?

 

I'm thinking you thinking about the wrong wife's tail is going to get you in trouble.

 

Does Nussmeier run Kiffin's offense? If not, that's going to be a rough ride.

I haven't seen anyone who doesn't think starting Dart straight away would be setting him up to fail.