Tomlin Presser: Kenny still QB1

He did good against the Bengals, many have.
Najee and Warren ran all over the Seahawks.
Harris trampled the Ravens.
I think he did well.

I don't really ding him against the Bills.
That wasn't his fault.

I can't go with 'shined' as that would be J Browning for most of the season... maybe even Flacco.
Browing is going to have some calls.
I figure Mason will too.

I can't make it much clearer... I do like Mason and I am hoping he returns.
Is he our franchise QB? Nope.
Can he step in and hold the fort, certainly looks like it.
So, yeah, I did watch, I watched the hell out of it.

 

ok - well, you said he has done nothing for 7 years. he did.

he sucked his first 2 - 3years. I was done too with him. Then he disappeared. He sucked in a critical game vs the LOWLY Lions in what, 2021? Ben was concussed or something that week. that did it for me, I never wanted to see him again.

But
but.....

he is clearly not that same kid. and the team see's it and knows it. MT does not. he is blind.

My bet is that Mason will be starting next year - somewhere.

We will all get to watch and see.

I was just responding to your 'he has not done anything in 7 years' comment. Well, he did. He as the QB led this team to 3 straight win. We RAN WELL in part in SEA b.c Mason can throw the ball. With 2 mins left and a close game, he made clutch plays. that is what he did. He got us into the playoffs. Don't ever forget it. Including the GREAT throw to DJ vs. the Rats in the monsoon. the throw that Pickett cannot make.

and I'll add - he and the offense DID Not quit on Monday. We got 7. He threw touchdown passes - we have seen that in 2 years. but Mason brought that back the field.

 

Gotcha Wolf! But I will add this, Mason is a vet QB with 6 years in the league. He has had way more practice reps than game reps but nonetheless, MR has had some game reps as well. Is it really fair to compare a second year guy in KP, to a veteran like MR (who also had direct coaching and mental reps with Big Ben), when speaking about staying in the pocket? Mason was horrific in his first few seasons in the pocket (really was his number one problem). He never climbed the pocket (at his last drop step, steps back into the pocket). He got sacked and more balls batted down then I have ever seen from a QB. His timing was off, awareness....everything. MR had arguably a better O Line and an actual supporting run game too!

I will say this about KP: Arm strength is solid. He makes clean throws when he has a pocket. He is very instinctual and does try to create or extend plays with his feet (a strength and a weakness)... but part of the reverse rollouts (which QBs are taught when feeling pressure, especially backside) is largely due to the inconsistent pass blocking. Look at KP's early film with the Steelers, confident, throwing dimes, making the right reads (mostly). Then watch this season and the end of last season, he lost confidence for sure. Hell, I would too, if my time in the pocket was anywhere from 1-3 seconds on every single pass play. Not to mention, Canada was putting him and the entire offense in terrible positions; 5-7 step drops, throwing intermediate to deep constantly, no running game support! The deep ball thing, IMO, is largely due to being rushed and not able to set his feet and gather! So teams were ultimately teeing off on him. That's a really tall order for any QB, let alone a 2nd year guy.

I'm not making excuses, I'm just not sure everyone is taking all the pieces to this situation, into account. Give him a good playcaller who can coach up QBs and pass pro, and he will be more than fine! It will take time to gain that pocket presence again but it will happen. Guy probably has some PTSD from some of the unblocked hits he took this season!

Go Steelers!

 

The 7 -year body of work is the problem. Weighted with that, he hasn't done anything.

I've always spoke highly of Mason in the early days, I figured he would be outstanding.
I am not let down, and he did weather the storm that was Canada's mess.

 

agreed

he was invisible for 6.5 years. saved the season late this year and showed some real talent

 

Pickett has made throws like that one to Johnson, so your premise that he can't make it simply isn't true.

I see you skipped over the Bengals game. I guess even you realize that it isn't much of an accomplishment to score on them. Your implication that he was the reason they ran well against Seattle was dubious at best. They had him Monday, too, and the Steelers still couldn't run.

He was good, but you are overrating what he did.

 

Competition for Kenny is exactly what the plan should be. The team isn't going to cut bait on him, but he needs someone breathing down his neck. The better that player is, the better the chances a QB1 is unearthed. For now I would not say that Kenny cannot be that player. If he were to find his balls then it is possible. But for that to happen he cannot be comfortable.

OC hire will loom large as well. Though there is no shortage of WCO tree wannabes out there. Just pick a good one this time.

 

Technically, Kenny Pickett is QB1 right now by default.

Mitch is getting cut and Mason is a free agent.

 

The prospect of Kenny being #1 next year is disheartening to hear but it’s not like he can say much else when asked at this point. Mason isn’t signed and we all know Mitch won’t be the guy.

It’ll be interesting to see who the competition will be, if Mason is a real priority, and if he even wants to resign if another team shows real interest.

 

Blip on the screen so far

 

Good post, I hope this proves out because if he doesn't take a big step the Steelers are gonna be in the post Bradshaw years for a long time because we are Heinz Ketchup patient on moving on from mid qb's as well.

 

My takeaway is that at least they are going outside the team for an OC, which is the only good news I've heard since end of season.

I don't really care whether or not Mason is signed. I don't get how people are suddenly so high on him after 3 games, which weren't even anything special. Better than Kenny or Mitch doesn't say much. It's not like there's going to be some bidding war on him. If we can get him cheap, fine.

I'm not as down on our DC as others. I think it's more a lack of talent than anything on D.