Who should be the Steelers' quarterback in 2024?

I wasn't saying that Trubisky is good, I am saying "wins" as a QB is a stat that can lie. Trubisky sucks, yet he has a winning record as a starter. Pickett also sucks, yet has a winning record as a starter. And no, the playoff chances didn't go downhill because Kenny got hurt. Its because our defense allowed 25ppg over that 3 game span. You're a fool if you think Kenny can score enough points to win any of those 3 games. He has proven throughout his career that he doesn't have that ability.

Why is "points scored" a stat that doesn't matter regarding a QB and their ability? Yes, wins is the stat that matters at the end of the day, but we cant look at how our QB has performed and feel good about starting him again next season. The stats aren't lying. The last 2 seasons has seen 2 different Steelers defenses. Number one is the one from the last 3 games + the 8 games before the bye last season. That defense gave up 24.7 PPG and we were 2-9 in that span. Number 2 is the one from the bye week last season through the Bengals game this year. That defense gave up 17.6 PPG and we were 14-6 in that span. We need to get better at the QB position (among others) on the offense in order to help the defense out a little bit. We simply cannot continue to roll out a guy that scores less than 16 PPG in his starts and feel like we are putting ourselves in a position to win/succeed. This team has had ups and downs because the defense has had ups and downs. The only thing that has been consistent over the past two seasons is horrible QB play and horrible offense because of it.

Ben didn't look like Ben in Canada's offense, yes. Ben was also 39 years old. He also threw 22 TD passes that season and averaged 20.2 ppg. Numbers that are likely good enough to get us a home playoff game this season. Ben maximized Canada's offense and his own ability that season. We all know he wasn't the same dude he was in his prime, but he was still a good player. Good enough to succeed in Canada's offense. If Kenny was any good, he would have been able to find some success in Canada's offense. He found none. It isn't solely on Canada.

 

I’d rather they try and recreate Kurt Warner and get the bagging guy at Giant Eagle over Rudolph or Mitch.

Not sure about KP. He doesn’t really seem that good either but he’s definitely better than those baffoons. So stick with him I guess. This team has so many needs.

 

I might be in denial but I believe pickett can be a very good QB. Would love to see a offensive coordinator come in a change the entire play book that fits the players we have.. the oline is terrible without upgrade to the line it really doesn't matter who is behind center. This team can be fixed but the longer they wait to change and fix line the more likely a complete bow it up will be needed

 

I agree with you but I did pick KP again only because the only good free agents are likely to resign with their current teams (Cousins, Mayfield) and I would like to see them prioritize a lineman over a QB in this draft. I personally dont think KP is a starter, but I do like him as a really good backup. Maybe they can find a future Dak Prescott or Brock Purdy in this draft but the scout team hasn't done a good job since Ben. Ideally if it was up to me they would bring Cousins in and let Kenny and a draft pick sit behind him for a couple years. Get rid of Rudolph and Trubisky.

 

Mason Rudolph

 

I remember thinking back when Ben was reaching the end that we would face this issue with whoever replaced him: that many would expect an instant-starting franchise QB, when the more realistic likelihood was a decent QB who could win enough games. Neil O'Donnell got us to the SB, Kordell Stewart got us into the playoffs, etc.

What I didn't consider was that we would have such a torrid playbook to work with. The offensive scheme is not built around the current strengths, the blocking scheme was difficult for the o-line to master (though the improvement in the run game shows that's changing to an extent), and nobody seems to be able to coach KP to read the field quickly.

 

First - I like Kirk Cousins. I was in Washington with him, from the day they Drafted him and RGIII. I though Kirk was the better of the two as he was more of a Total QB than RGIII was. He had problems being a gunslinger at the most inopportune times. So, I know Kirk Cousins very well. So, you're not going to 'love to hear' some things.

What I don't want is a QB with only so much time left, like Aaron Rogers. Cousins has taken care of his self, he always does. That said, this is a minor point. But fact is fact, he's band-aid.

Cousins is going to be expensive. That's what I know, and I don't like that part. It is not what this team needs. The team needs a reliable vet that doesn't suck up a lot of Cap space. The Steelers are around $7->$9 mil under... not in the most desirable status. They just need a good Vet to either back up Kenny or fill in till 2025 draft where they will most likely have to go all in should things not work out.

Depending on the Offensive Coordinator, will he fit? Cousins is the kind of QB where the current state of DJ and Pickens is not a recipe of success for Cousins.

Lastly, and I despise this label for him, winning the hard ones. You're preaching to the choir if you want to jump off on some sort tirade. Minnesota brought him in, paid a ton of money and then promptly let the defense go. (could argue cap restricted) But Cousins has a track record of coming out on the short side of those big games, love it or not.

My preference is:
- For any QB they get, DJ and Pickens and the part time TE (Muth) have to either get better. DJ and Pickens need to be QB friendly. Muth has to find a way to stay healthy.
- They need OT and Center, I'd recommend the draft.

I don't know about the coaching status here. I get a feeling that Mike is going to move on.
With a year left on his contract, it is still a wildcard situation.
With that in flux, it is hard to figure what is next.

 

My point was that if you keep telling a quarterback to play it safe and avoid turnovers at all costs, you make them hesitate to take the opportunities that are there. Put them behind a line that doesn't protect them well, and they get even more conservative. I think that is why Pickett regressed this season. I'm not sure if he can be fixed, but I am certain that the team messed him up when they should have been cutting him loose.

Your second paragraph is a straw man. It won't be any of that at all. If they do stick with him, and I think he will at least have a shot to win the job next season, and he doesn't progress it will be time to relegate him to backup duty and find a viable long-term option.

 

In all seriousness, I don't think where a QB is drafted is as important. Yeah it's nice to think about a 1st round QB as a draft pick and might be the way to go if you are completely rebuilding. BUT, I think the Whichever QB fits your system is more important then the place they are drafted.

 

https://triblive.com/sports/tim-ben...elers-starter-has-already-helped-mike-tomlin/

The last paragraph is exactly the point you're trying to make. Which is a solid one.

 

Pickett gets a chance with an innovative offensive mind to prove he wasn't a mistake. But they will bring in a vet that will keep the pressure on Pickett to stand or fall.

All of this talk about who what and where will mean nothing if Tomlin is left to his devices and promotes Falkner, who NEVER has called plays.

They need to force on Tomlin an innovative offensive mind outside the reach of Tomlin that lives in present NFL. If he doesn't like it then leave. Hopefully he does.

The Defense needs a fresh voice as well in which Austin is not.

 

Surprised how many people don't want Cousins because he's expensive. Who cares. Salary cap numbers are the GM's problem, let him figure it out. Give me the best possible available QB, probably the only guy available who could lead a team to a SB. TJ Watt isn't getting any younger. If you ride with Pickett and he doesn't turn into an elite QB, we will have wasted TJ's career and possibly Minkah's prime as well. It can also be harder to retain and attract players if we continue to be dysfunctional.

If we go with Pickett and he has a really good year or two, he's going to demand $40 million. Look at what Daniel Jones got. That's the price for a #1 QB.

Sign Cousins to a short deal. Try and get a center in free agency. Address the other holes in the draft. A new competent OC. With a bit of luck, I think we could seriously compete next year, but not with Pickett or any of the other free agent QB's. I actually think we have enough talent on this team that if we patch a few holes and add Cousins, we can win it all next year. I have been saying all year that we have tons of talent on this team, it's just being wasted by coaching. Unfortunately I think Tomlin will screw it up like he always does, but it doesn't mean I don't want them to try.

I don't care about salary cap stuff. Let the GM restructure or whatever else he has to do to make things work. Teams do it all the time. Give me the best QB available.

 

You mean this one?

The one thing that did stand out to me, though, was the “calculated risk taker” part. Pickett appears to have been programmed by Tomlin, Matt Canada, Eddie Faulkner and Mike Sullivan into making avoiding turnovers his only priority. He seems so risk-averse that chances for big plays are rarely explored.

Yes, I agree with Benz. It doesn't excuse all of Pickett's failings, but his biggest issue is not taking opportunities that develop down the field. This isn't the quarterback we saw at Pitt, who managed to throw the ball down the field without an inordinate number of turnovers.

 

Sticking with Faulkner as OC would be a disaster. The offense is terrible. No coach who is part of that deserves a promotion.

 

Cousins has never shown that he can be the guy who gets a team over the top to win it. His results with the game on the line are decidedly mixed.

Sure, if you take money out of the equation and the medical staff signs off on his recovery from the torn Achilles tendon, it's not a bad idea, but you can't take money out of the equation. Signing an expensive quarterback limits their ability to address their weaknesses in free agency. They need more than just help at center. The middle of that defense is going to require upgrades. Remember, we don't know what Holcomb will look like returning from his knee injury and Alexander is a free agent coming off a torn Achilles tendon of his own.

That also ignores that there is additional risk for a 36-year-old quarterback coming back from a major injury.

 

Sure, these are both things that can cause issues in development. They really screwed up by not firing Matt Canada in the offseason and bringing a new OC in. We would have a better picture of the position and where we wanted to go with it. Plus there wouldn't be a call to "see Kenny with a REAL OC". The kid has many flaws. Going to be really tough for him to overcome them. He just doesn't look like an NFL QB.

And not necessarily a straw man. Just an observation. But I get what you're saying.

 

Sure, they could have/did. The defense wasn't just holding teams to few points because the offense wasn't turning it over. We were 5-1/2 games into the season this year with 50% of our drives ending in 3 and outs. The offense was doing the defense ZERO favors. But no, I didn't miss Kenny's 16 point 0 TD performance against the Bengals. It was an offensive onslaught though, thing of beauty. The "no coincidence" is that the defense finally starts giving up points and we start losing.

Sure, winning is all that matters, but the points NEED to come. He's had 24 starts. When are they coming? Ever? It's looking like the safe bet is that they aren't.

39 year old Ben was washed up and past his prime. Prime Ben could dominate in any system. Canada's offense sucked, but a good QB can still look pretty solid in just about any system. Its the bad QB's that need a perfect system to look competent. Our current QB sits in the latter of those 2 groups.

 

Not sure that the problem is to fix it. In my view, three absolutes need to happen for an offense to be competitive:

Coaching/ OC
QB
OL
Other?

Without any one of these the offense probably doesn't run optimally. So, are sit here today, seems like all of them are opportunity areas. Which one is the highest priority that should be corrected immediately/first? If we have better coaching, will that make the OL and QB better? If we get a good OL will that make the QB/ offense do better? If we get a "better" QB, will that make the coaching and OL look better? Of course, there are others that need to do well for success like competent WR's and RB's. Where does one start in this scenario? JMO>

 

Better design does not make better players. It’s the opposite, you start with great players and then comes the design n play calling. Particularly at the level we’re talking about (NFL). Seamalu I agree maybe salvageable but I’ve seen even him letting someone by him like a turnstile. In short, in run he looks as advertised, in pass protection, umm, bad man just bad. Admittedly, that maybe a cause and effect of poor play around him which does call to your point. Again, the entire line needs to be upgraded starting with Center. I think if we had a better line we’d be talkin a different ballgame right now. It’s amazing what a great line can do for even mediocre talent behind it.

It all begins, and for us unfortunately ends, in the TRENCHES!

 

At this point, anyone but Kenny and Trubisky. Hopefully we can bring someone in to at least meaningfully compete with Kenny for the position. If it's actually Mason, then great, but it's probably not going to be him, and it certainly ain't gonna be Mitch. Kenny is a bust-in-waiting and while we might be stuck with him next year, the sooner we can secure high draft pick franchise QB to replace him, the better.

All of that having been said, a high quality upgrade Center would probably in and of itself improve a lot of the smaller problems in QB play, so...fixing that should be the first priority. It should've been a first round priority in 2022, as well... but, I guess the Steelers FO decided that taking a 3rd Round QB in the 1st Round was better than getting an actual NFL caliber Center.

 

I'm all about signing Cousins. He'd be a fantastic temp / stop gap veteran QB. With the right coaches in place, I think we could probably get really far with Kirk - a lot farther than we could ever hope for right now with the QBs that we've got.

 

For how much?

 

Why do you care? If the GM can make it work and sign everyone, why does it matter what individuals make?
There's always little tricks with the salary cap to fit everyone in.