Damn, eff everyone else but I am going to miss Ben. You'll never find a competitor with more will to win than him.
Depends on what stat you want to hang your hat on. Qb or w/l. He mainly did his job against the Lions but their D gave it up at the end. On the other hand, he got Steelers back into the game with his picks. And the vikes d about gave away the game. Had Claypoole not show boated...one more play may have tied the game
You can not be serious. Cousins is serviceable when he has a clean pocket, great QB's get it done when the pocket is dirty. Look at how many passes Ben has completed when he had defenders draped all over him.
Available QB's are slim pickings and as you noted the draft isn't offering much, especially middle of the first round. With 40+ million in cap space next year they can go after a QB and beef up the O-line a bit to help the run game. It all depends on if they are in a win now mentality or put Rudolph in and it is what it is. The downside to that angle is all that young talent already in place are going to be coming up on contract talks. Fitzpatrick, Johnson and Claypool the knucklehead are going to be going for big contracts. If Rudolph gets them a top 5 pick in the '23 draft, are they going to have the means to draft a top QB if one is available and still keep all/most of the talent? Sticky situation when you only need a QB to maintain a certain level of play vs a total rebuild as players seek trades or leave in free agency wanting to win. Derek Carr would still top my list, if they go after a trade they need someone with several years of competitive play left. I'm on the fence on Russel Wilson. Not really in my control though
The Steelers are a proud historic NFL franchise. Teams like that do not rent a QB they draft and develop. Teams like the vikings try like hell to develop but can't so they rent them, don't be like that.
My feeling is the Steelers will not draft a QB this year, they have been developing Haskins. If they do draft a QB , it will be in the later rounds. 4-5th. Draft a guard or DT in the 1 st round, 2 ND rd- LB. Or flip the 2 picks
I was all over the Rudolph pick, thought drafting him and James Washington was brilliant as it gave him some chemistry right off the bat. I beat that drum repeatedly even when Roethlisberger went out with his elbow. Then it went south, really not sure what to think about him truthfully. Was a fluke when he was knocked out cold, but can't help but wonder whether it had a lasting effect on him. That year the offensive line was not a problem, but running back was as Connor tried to establish himself. I don't know, maybe if they beef up the O-line and get Najee Harris going he can make something happen. I think they need to build the run game to be what Steelers tradition is all about. The defense is a whole new can of worms there, they've got all the corner pieces already. Just have to figure out where the kinks lie, Butler or elsewhere.
I don't know that they resign Haskins though, he couldn't beat out Rudolph for the number 2 job. Run option QB's have never worked in the Steelers system, Slash was somewhat of an exception as a prop QB but couldn't cut it as a full time starter. Pocket passer with some mobility is what they need.
Makes you appreciate what Bill can do in New England. Modern day Lombardi. Bill takes players and says I don't give a **** about personal crap, you are not an individual you are a Patriot and there is a way things are done.
O-line will be first selection unless a no brainer somehow drops down to them. Would be the cheapest dart to throw, but yeahx they will not draft a QB this year as I see them giving Rudolph the ball. That's why they brought Canada in anyway, to work with and develop him. We'll see
Look at all the QB's he has had over the years and couldn't keep with Brady keeping them at an elite level. Garapolo(sp?) Is the only one still hanging around though, but just another element of a system making a player rather than a player making a system.
Steelers have only had 3 head coaches in the past 52 years and counting, could make it 60+ with Tomlin's age.
That said, if the 9'ers can beat the Bengals this afternoon Steelers are still right there. I don't see them making it, but if no one else wants to win the division why not?
