Cuts -

Like I wrote, Mason would be the backup...but not for long. I like Mason but that doesn't matter. They lose a few then you have to bring in Allar. Perhaps answers the need to draft a 1st round QB in 27.

 

Out of curiosity, what was the take on Ben after his first preseason?

 

I don't know.

 

No I don't. I'm pointing out they played like a 3rd and 6th round pick.

 

So your prediction is Mason will lose a backup job from performance issues thrusting the 3rd stringer into a starting role on a failing team. I really don't think this coaching staff is throwing a raw QB talent and 3rd round pick to the wolves to get devoured.

I think this coaching staff know that it is best for QB development to let most of them sit for at least one year. Rogers had 3 years to sit under Farve. Love a couple under Rogers.

They probably will be drafting a QB next year anyways unless Allar goes Big Ben on us which is unlikely as they play completely different styles.

 

I have seen documentaries that suggested Roethlisberger was the best QB in camp his rookie season.

 

I have been saying all along that Mason is your 1 or 2 game starter. If something happens where they lose Rodgers for the "rest of the season", I expect to see Allar get some starts at the end of the season.

Unlike Tomlin, I think McCarthy is a blow it up kind of guy and will look at what is best for this teams future as he has 5 years left on his contract.

 

Geez dude. Allar and Howard play their first NFL games and don't flash HOF abilities? You're kidding right? 3 games. What 5 quarters each and you expect them to show you HOF credentials?

Let me ask you this. Give me the rookie QB's that showed HOF credentials either in preseason OR their entire first season? Many HOF'ers didn't even start their first year either. I lived the Bradshaw years and it was rocky even into his 4th year!

The only QB I can remember that went off right out of the gate was Marino. He hit the field running or should I say passing. I can't think of another rookie QB that lit it up in their first year though. There might be one or two others, but that is it. Most take some time getting things going. Don't even mention Ben either. He had the luxury of having the best defense in the league to fall back on. Basically, don't screw it up kid and let the defense do its thing. Back in 76 when Bradshaw got hurt, they turned to a rookie, Mike Kruczek. The steelers won 6 in a row with him at QB. Not bad but the real story is the defense. It only allowed 25 points in those 6 games! That is a 4.2 ppg average. That is the story. He didn't even throw a TD pass in those 6 games yet he was 6-0. Ben landed in a similar situation. Still though he did have a good rookie year but it was not lights out throwing the ball all over the field. Point was, he didn't have to.

I'm not sure what you expected out of two rookies and a new system and coaches. Yet these guys were supposed to be HOF'ers right out the gate. Curiously, what did Brady do in his first year? Rode pine. He only got in because Bledsoe got hurt and he didn't look like HOF material either.

Rookies make mistakes, especially rookie QB's. Give it a rest. I'm really getting tired of everyone thinking these two should look like HOF'ers right out the gate.

rutan

 

After the first preseason game there were a ton of people saying cut Rudolph and go with Howard and Allar. I cautioned that it was the first preseason game. I expected exactly what we're seeing from these guys now. I had zero expectations. Hope that helps

 

I still think we should cut Rudolph and go with Howard and Allar. Both had some ups and downs (as you'd expect). Howard seems really comfortable in some instances, but has also tended to favor the TE a bit. He made one really bad throw for his first pick (even if it was a bad route, and the other two were potentially on the routes but still). Allar seems to do really well on the slants and outs and also moves the pocket well. He's able to get the ball to all playmakers and has had success in the middle of the field. However, some of the things that caused him to drop to the 3rd round popped up. Inconsistencies in footwork, missing easy routes, and a tendency to lock on. I think there's a lot to be excited about with Allar, but he has so much he has to clean up that it is still a long shot that he develops into that stud QB he flashes from time to time.

I like them both tbh, and think both will continue to improve under McCarthy. I'd invest in them. Mason is who he is... He's a perfectly acceptable back up, but he's not a high end option and is more likely to play poorly than he is to play well. He has a solid deep ball and is fearless, but he has absolutely zero pocket presence and struggles with turnovers (22 INT's in 19 starts and another 14 fumbles, though not all are lost). If we lose Rodgers for more than a game or two our season is over anyways. Just my opinion though.

 

Agreed

So far it has been a good trade

 

The Jones trade changes things for me. I'd still not keep Mason, but I think it is inevitable. Last spot is that 3rd RB. Comes down to Nichols/Homer/Heidenreich. That is a position that could easily go any of those 3 directions. If we decide to go shopping on cut downs, look for back up center/guard or WR4 potentially. Could see Hoffman or Wilson getting the axe. Potentially a DL too if the IR Joseph-Day.

Offense - 25
QB - Rodgers, Rudolph, Howard, Allar
RB - Warren, Dowdle, Heidenreich
WR - Metcalf, Pittman, Bernard, Wilson, Skowronek, Wetjen
TE - Washington, Freiermuth, Tonyan
FB - Nowakowski
OT - Fautanu, Cook, Iheanachor
OG - Anderson, McCormick, Dunker
C - Frazier, Hoffman

Defense - 25
DL - Heyward, Black, Harmon, Benton, Joseph-Day, Rubio
Edge - Watt, Highsmith, Herbig, Sawyer
ILB - Queen, Wilson, Roberts, Holcomb, Bruener
CB - Porter, Dean, Ramsey, Samuel, Everette, Echols
S - Elliott, Brisker, Jenkins, Spears-Jennings

 

This.

Early in the offseason, MM said something like you can't just be on the roster if you don't have any value to the team unless someone gets hurt.

And I believe they played Johnson zero special teams snaps in the preseason. They didn't even give him a chance in a game to see if he could do it. Suggests to me that he either opted out (basically saying "please cut me") or they just gave up on him to give other people a chance with those reps.

Hard to think anything other than we gave up on him the minute we signed Dowdle. Probably before.

 

Even if 2025 All-Pro WR George Pickens leads the entire NFL in receiving yards in 2026, you are still going to claim it was a good move for the Steelers to trade away the best WR in the NFL for a 3rd round pick.

Don't be surprised to see George set a record and go over 2,000 yards in 2026 now that he has developed chemistry with DAK.

 

You see only the good and ignore the bad

 

What can I say, I am a numbers guy. I look at the numbers George put up last year and think this was a bad, bad trade!

 

I think he played C for McCarthy in Dallas, but maybe that's not true?

 

I’m a football guy

I see the whole picture

 

i understand were they're getting at; to get better draft positioning. But i agree with you, i dont like it either. I would rather the Steelers trade up as aggressively as possible to get the player they want.

 

• August 14 at Detroit Lions (L 27-21): 8/13 (61.5%), 84 yards, 1 TD, 0 INT, 105.9 rating

• August 21 vs. Houston Texans (W 38-3): 8/14 (57.1%), 132 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 59.2 rating

• August 26 at Philadelphia Eagles (W 27-21): 7/11 (63.6%), 74 yards, 0 TD, 1 INT, 45.3 rating

• September 2 vs. Carolina Panthers (L 16-13): 2/5 (40.0%), 45 yards, 0 TD, 0 INT, 72.9 rating [1]