Tag Archives: Zack Mettenberger

Justin Fields: A “Bridge Quarterback” for the Steelers? Or Something More?

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The quarterback reclamation project is to football is the roommate switch was to Seinfeld:

  • Everyone wants to do it, but it’s nearly impossible to pull off.

The Steelers have a rich, if uncelebrated, quarterback reclamation history. Chuck Noll tried with David Woodley and Todd Blackledge without success. In Tommy Maddox and Charlie Batch, Bill Cowher and Kevin Colbert fared a bit better, but with Kent Graham not so much.

Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin took flyers on Zach Mettenberger, Paxton Lynch and Dwayne Haskins to no avail.

Last year, Omar Khan and Tomlin took another flyer on Justin Fields and now must decide whether they want try to extend his stay in Pittsburgh.

Justin Fields, Steelers vs Radiers

Justin Fields rushes for a touchdown in the 2nd quarter. Photo Credit: AP via Tribune-Review

Capsule Profile of Justin Fields’ Career with the Steelers

Justin Fields arrived in Pittsburgh on March 16th 2025 capping off a remarkable 4-day stretch that saw the Steelers sign Russell Wilson, let Mason Rudolph leave for Tennessee and send Kenny Pickett to the Eagles. While Mike Tomlin promised an open competition, everyone knew that Fields was penciled in at QB No. 2.

However, a calf injury to Russell Wilson on the first day at St. Vincents opened the door for Fields to get extensive work with the first team. He started the first preseason game, but took a back seat to Wilson for the second two, and was set to enter the season as Wilson’s back up.

Then Wilson aggravated his calf again, so Fields began the season as the Steelers starting quarterback. Fields won his first 3 starts, lost his next two before rebounding to win his 6th, bringing his mark as a starter to 4-2.

Fields’ role as a change-up quarterback never evolved as he ran 7 times and threw twice after his benching. He saw action in the wins over Baltimore, Washington and Cincinnati and in losses to Cleveland and Philadelphia as well as the playoff ridiculing vs the Ravens disaster.

The Case for the Steelers Resigning Justin Fields

Sam Darnold. Baker Mayfield, Geno Smith and, to go back a generation, Drew Brees. These are all quarterbacks that needed more time to develop than the teams that drafted them were willing to give them. (Side question: Who exactly in Cleveland had the bright idea to push Baker Mayfield out?)

  • Justin Fields played the best football of his career in Pittsburgh.

He raised his pass completion percentage, reduced his interceptions, evaded sacks and improved his passer rating compared to what he’d done in Chicago. And he didn’t exactly have a world-class group of receivers to target, nor did he benefit from a strong offensive line, neither did he have an effective running game.

Fields proved himself to be a dynamic threat, running for as many touchdowns as he threw for. Arthur Smith favors him over Russell Wilson. Fields is only 26. Although Jalen Hurts Super Bowl MVP performance might force Pittsburgh to pay a little more, he can and should still be resigned at a reasonable, “Prove It” contract.

Finally, Justin Fields managed his benching with a maturity beyond his years (contrast that with Kenny Picket….)

At a minimum, Justin Fields should be a serviceable “bridge quarterback” for the Steelers with a chance to be much, much more.

The Case Against the Steelers Resigning Justin Fields

4-2 sounds good and in the NFL is certainly nothing to sneeze at.

But let’s be realistic: Mike Tomlin and Arthur Smith kept the training wheels on for Fields. Sure, he only threw one pick, but that’s because he was bending over backwards to play it safe. Case in point, he averaged below 200 yards passing per game.

Justin Fields, Justin Fields Bad Snap, Steelers vs Colts

Justin Fields is sacked after an errant 4th quarter snap. Photo Credit: CBS47 and KSEE24

Sure, Fields can improve and win. But even with the right weapons around him, is he ever going to be a quarterback who can develop beyond the 8, 9 or 10 wins and then one-and-done in the playoffs bubble? His six fumbles and abortive 7 yard run when he needed 8 against the Ravens suggests he lacks basic instincts for the game.

  • As the 2024 playoffs proved, the age of mobile quarterbacks has arrived.

But in that light, the base-case scenario is that Justin Fields develops into the next Jalen Hurts. The more realistic projection sees him becoming the next Kordell Stewart.

Do the Steelers really want to go down that road again?

Curtain’s Call on the Steelers and Justin Fields

This Curtain’s Call is a mirror image of Russell Wilson’s – the Steelers decision on Justin Fields will tell us as much about how they see themselves as it does how they see Justin Fields.

If the Steelers really think they have the players on the roster now to bag Lombardi Number 7 in 2025 or 2026, then they should sign Russell Wilson (provided his contract demands are reasonable.) If their analysis of their own roster is a bit more sober, then Justin Fields must be their man.

In the short term, Fields certainly has a lower floor than Wilson, but there’s a chance that he has a higher ceiling than Wilson in the longer term.

 

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Rumors of the Death of the “Steelers Way” Have Been Greatly Exaggerated

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Sometimes things change fast on the South Side. Russell Wilson and Justin Fields are in Pittsburgh, while Mitch Trubisky, Mason Rudolph and Kenny Pickett are in Buffalo, Tennessee and Philadelphia.

In the blink of an eye, Omar Khan and Mike Tomlin have remade the Steelers quarterback room in Nietzschean fashion.

SteelersNOW’s Alan Saunders proclaimed, “These are not your Father’s Pittsburgh Steelers.” On Steel City Insider, Jim Wexell looked back to the Buddy Parker era – the last time the Steelers completely remade the quarterback room year-on and year-out, and reminded us that these might be your grandfather’s Pittsburgh Steelers.

More than one commentator has said that these changes prove that the Steelers have fundamentally changed the way they work.

It may feel that way.

But reports of the death of “The Steelers Way” are greatly exaggerated. Let’s explore why.

Russell Wilson, Pittsburgh Steelers

Russell Wilson’s first Steelers press conference. Photo Credit: Post-Gazette.com

Yes, This IS a Big Change

Let’s embrace the obvious. The Steelers QB depth chart now reads:
1. Russell Wilson
2. Justin Fields
3. TBD

Precisely NO ONE saw this coming. No one.

Even coming out of the NFL combine the safe money was on Kenny Pickett’s “competition” being Ryan Tannehill. Not only did the Steelers reel in two of the bigger fish in the market, they moved on from Kenny Pickett faster than they’ve moved on from any first round draft pick since Huey Richardson in 1992.

  • For a franchise steeped in stability, that’s a lot of change.

But if you look at consider the moves that Omar Khan has made in the larger context of Steelers history, you’ll find plenty of precedent.

The Myth of Steelers Standing Pat @ Quarterback

If you asked GenAI or some other bot to neatly summarize modern era Steelers quarterback history you could easily get an answer like this:

The Steelers drafted Hall of Fame quarterback Terry Bradshaw in 1970. Despite seeing a series of bad, average and “good” quarterbacks follow Bradshaw, the Pittsburgh Steelers move to get another franchise quarterback until drafting Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.

  • Sounds about right, doesn’t it? Perfect for our world of Twitterized communication. Except its wrong.

Not drafting Dan Marino was a grave mistake. The Steelers also could have tried to get Steve Young’s rights in the 1984 Supplemental Draft and would have been better off with Brett Favre instead of Huey Richardson in 1991.

But after missing on Marino, those basically the Steelers only two chances to draft a franchise quarterback until 2001 when they took Casey Hampton instead of Drew Brees.

  • Meanwhile, Chuck Noll, Tom Donahoe and Kevin Colbert did exactly as Omar Khan has done this past spring.

Despite having invested a first round draft pick in Mark Malone, Chuck Noll traded a third round pick for David Woodley. After dealing Malone for an 8th round pick, Noll traded a 4th to Kansas City to bring Todd Blackledge to Pittsburgh.

Bubby Brister, Chuck Noll, Bubby Brister super tecmo bowl raiting, Steelers 1988

Chuck Noll and Bubby Brister. Photo Credit: Mike Powell, Getty Images

Bubby Brister beat out Blackledge for the starting role in 1988. A year later Brister and 1989 Steelers “shocked the world” by upsetting the Houston Oilers in the playoffs, finishing a bad snap and a dropped pass away from a trip to the AFC Championship.

Yet, Chuck Noll thought that Neil O’Donnell was a first round talent and would have drafted him there in 1990 had Bill Nunn and Dick Haley not assured him O’Donnell would be there in the 3rd.

Get that? The franchise had a 2-year starter at QB who’d just won the franchise’s first playoff game in 5 years, and yet Noll was ready to take another quarterback in the first round.

O’Donnell would of course eventually beat Brister for the starting job, and led the 1994 Steelers to AFC Championship game. Pittsburgh lost in a stunning upset, but people forget O’Donnell broke a few AFC Championship passing records on that dreary day.

  • So what did Tom Donahoe do?

He drafted Kordell Stewart in the 2nd round of the 1995 NFL Draft. Kordell Stewart saw his ups and downs as Steelers quarterback, leading Kevin Colbert to sign Kent Graham to compete with him.

Kordell Stewart, Steelers vs Raiders

Kordell shrugs off injury to lead 2nd half rally. Photo Credit: Getty Images via Twitter

Stewart lost but ultimately re-gained the starting role for the 2000 Steelers leading them to a 9-7 record. Yet, Kevin Colbert still took a flyer on XFL “star” Tommy Maddox. Stewart was voted MVP of the 2001 Steelers and appeared to have finally turned a corner. That didn’t stop Colbert for signing Charlie Batch when the Lions surprisingly cut him in the spring of 2002.

  • The Steelers have been criticized for not having a coherent succession plan for Ben Roethlisberger.

No real argument there. Anyone think that no one on the South Side regrets taking Terrell Edmunds over Lamar Jackson?

But along the way the Steelers did take flyers on Zach Mettenberger, Paxton Lynch and Dwayne Haskins, one former part time starter and two former first round picks.

What IS Different

As you can see, Terry Bradshaw began his “Life’s work” the Steelers actively tried to improve at quarterback. Sometimes this has taken the form of (largely unsuccessful) quarterback reclamation projects.

At other times they’ve invested premium draft picks in quarterbacks despite having an incumbent starter – starters who’d been more successful than Kenny Pickett.

Omar Khan, Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan

Pittsburgh Steelers General Manager Omar Khan, Photo Credit: Nola.com

In contrast, Omar Khan has brought an aging veteran in at the veteran minimum and given up a conditional 6th round draft pick to bring in 2021’s 11th overall pick to Pittsburgh on his rookie contract.

Compared to moves to bring Woodley, Blackledge, O’Donnell and Stewart to Pittsburgh, Khan is downright conservative compared to his predecessors.

  • The critical difference or the “independent variable” if you will is Kenny Pickett.

To be sure, the arrivals of these new quarterbacks to Pittsburgh didn’t spawn Cumbia-like moments at St. Vincents. But all of the signal callers in question handled the prospect of competition with far more professionalism and maturity than did Kenny Pickett.

Which is why he’s in Philadelphia facing at least two years of clipboard holding.

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Steelers Free Agent Joshua Dobbs: Will the Rocket Scientist Return to Pittsburgh?

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The life of an NFL third string quarterback is by definition, nondescript. About the only player on the roster who remains more anonymous is the long snapper. Wanna prove it? Ask a lifelong Steelers season ticket holder who never missed a game at Three Rivers Stadium during the ’80s and ’90s:  “Who wore Number 11 from 1989 through 1992?”

  • You’ll almost certainly draw a blank, although the answer is “Rick Strom.”

No one remembers Rick Strom today and, I’d bet, few could have named him at the height of his clipboard holding days. That makes Joshua Dobbs, the Steelers incumbent third string quarterback unique.

  • Fans know his name – that’s a bit unusual, but not every team has a rocket scientist as its third string quarterback.

The question is, will Joshua Dobbs the Rocket Scientist turned quarterback who is reaching unrestricted free agency return to Pittsburgh?

Joshua Dobbs, Jacob Philips, Steelers vs Browns

Joshua Dobbs throws a pass. Photo Credit: Chaz Palla, Tribune-Review

Capsule Profile of Joshua Dobbs’ Career with the Steelers

The Steelers surprised some when they drafted Joshua Dobbs in the 4th round of the 2017 NFL Draft. The move was a surprise because Landry Jones had developed in to a competent backup, while former NFL starter Zach Mettenberger had done a year of apprenticeship as the 3rd string QB.

Dobbs was inactive his rookie year, but by all accounts, he did everything a third stringer could do to prepare. Things didn’t look good for Joshua Dobbs when the Steelers commenced camp at St. Vincents in the summer of 2018, as Pittsburgh has just drafted Mason Rudolph.

The Steelers had only kept 4 quarterbacks twice in their history – how could Joshua Dobbs hope to survive?

  • Joshua Dobb didn’t just survive the summer at St. Vincents, he thrived.

Dobbs forced Landry Jones from the team and established himself as the number 1 backup behind Ben Roethlisberger. In that capacity he saw action twice. First in the road win against the Ravens where Dobbs came in for one play, audibled out of a run, and fired a laser like strike to JuJu Smith-Schuster and converted a 3rd down.

  • The second time came in the Black Hole at Oakland, where Dobbs started the second half and looked tentative.

Joshua Dobbs’ development plateaued in the summer of 2019, and the Steelers dealt him to the Jacksonville Jaguars following week 1 of 2019. It was a decision they would regret, as they quickly claimed him off of waivers less than a year later. Dobbs remained in street clothes throughout 2020, until the season finale at Cleveland, where the Steelers deployed a special package of plays for Dobbs.

With Dobbs delivered a dynamism to the offense completing 4 of 5 shovel passes and rushing twice for 20 yards, prompting questions about whether he’d get a helmet in the playoffs. He did not.

The Case for the Steelers Resigning Joshua Dobbs 2021

The fact that fans know his name says a lot. True, Joshua Dobbs hasn’t been battle tested much, but he’s proven far more than most NFL third stringers. He’s good to have in the locker room, is a student of the game and delivers immediate athleticism to the depth chart.

  • Best yet, they’ll be no bidding war for Joshua Dobbs services.

The Steelers can bring him back at the veteran minimum to complete with Dwyane Haskins and they should. After all, this is the Golden Age of Steelers Third String Quarterbacks as QB Number 3 has been pressed into non-mop up action multiple times in the Roethlisberger era.

The Case Against the Steelers Resigning Joshua Dobbs in 2021

Ben Roethlisberger is about to begin his “Life’s Work.” Mason Rudolph is the heir apparent, and the Steelers have taken a flyer on Dwayne Haskins. Dobbs’ upside is dwarfed by Dwayne Haskins’.

  • The idea of the Steelers keeping 4 quarterback for a 3rd time simply isn’t feasible.

With that in mind, Joshua Dobbs deserves a chance to sign somewhere where he has a shot at being a backup quarterback and the Steelers should use his roster spot and precious salary cap space on someone else.

Curtain’s Call on the Steelers and Joshua Dobbs in 2021

The Steelers decision to sign Dwayne Haskins would appear to doom Joshua Dobbs’ chances of returning to Pittsburgh. But appearances can be deceiving. The Steelers aren’t doing anything else on Haskins other than taking a flyer on a talented player with a troubled past.

  • They’ve done this enough times to know there’s usually a reason why a former first round pick is unemployed in February after just two years in the league.

With that said, the Steelers have very limited salary cap space to work with and the smart money says they’ll invest those dollars outside their quarterback depth chart. Look for Joshua Dobbs the rocket scientist to land somewhere outside of Pittsburgh in free agency.

Has Steelers free agency left you scrambling? Click here for our Steelers 2021 Free Agent tracker or click here for all Steelers 2021 free agency focus articles.

 

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Steelers Signing Dwayne Haskins Isn’t as Strange as it Sounds. In Fact, Its Quite in Character.

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The Pittsburgh Steelers made their first attention catching move of the 2021 off season when they signed former Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins to a reserve/futures contract. Dwayne Haskins played for Ohio State and was the 15th pick of first round pick of Washington in the 2019 NFL Draft. He was the third quarterback taken in the first round that year.

  • While Haskins draft pedigree and his athleticism are tremendous, his NFL resume underwhelms.
Dwayne Haskins, Pittsburgh Steelers

Dwayne Haskins signs his futures contract with the Steelers. Photo Credit: Steelers.com

Haskins made 7 starts in 2019 and 6 and 2020 and compiled a 3-10 record, throwing 12 touchdowns and 14 interceptions. But Haskins was known to be a project coming out of college, and his high draft status was largely a product of pushing for Daniel Snyder for Washington to take the player over his coaches’ objections.

Growing pains are nothing new for rookie NFL quarterbacks (just look up Terry Bradshaw’s early career passing stats) but Haskins created problems for himself off the field.

As the Washington Post’s Les Carpenter detailed, Haskins was chronically late to meetings, refused to study his playbook, had poor practice habits and was seen breaking COVID-19 protocols by partying maskless.

In a nutshell, he’s the type of player the Steelers normally avoid. So why is he in Pittsburgh?

Mike Tomlin’s Fascination with Athletes, Extra “Camp Arm” Nothing New

To put the Dwayne Haskins in context, remember two things about Mike Tomlin:

  • Superior athletes fascinate him
  • He believes in “camp arms” and in keeping 3 quarterbacks

Quick trivia question: Where was Joey Galloway’s NFL home between New England and Washington? If you guessed the Pittsburgh, you guessed right. The Steelers signed him at the tail end of 2009, although Galloway never played a game in Black and Gold.

Plax ultimately joined the Jets, but returned to Pittsburgh in mid-2012, catching a touchdown for his final NFL pass. Word was that when Mike Vick got out of prison Tomlin wanted to do the same but got overruled by the Rooneys.

  • Like Burress, Vick eventually found his way to Pittsburgh.

When Charlie Batch broke is collarbone at St. Vincents in 2008, he brought former first rounders Daunte Culpepper and Byron Leftwich to Pittsburgh for workouts immediately. Lefwich of course stayed.

A year later, when Ben Roethlisberger suffered a concussion against Kansas City and Charlie Batch broke his wrist, the Steelers worked out (but did not sign) former first round pick Patrick Ramsey.

Although he wasn’t a first rounder, with 10 NFL starts to his name Zach Mettenberger served as the Steelers third string quarterback in 2016. One quarterback who first rounder in the 2016 NFL Draft Paxton Lynch, who served as the Steelers 3rd string quarterback in 2019 behind Mason Rudolph and Devlin Hodges.

Devlin Hodges of course came to Pittsburgh as nothing more than a camp arm, and one who earned his shot via the Steelers rookie mini-camp. As Mark Kabloy suggests in The Athletic, Haskins isn’t anything other than a camp arm.

His arrival likely does spell the end of Devlin Hodges time in Pittsburgh, but signals nothing about the Roethlisberger era, the Steelers plans for Mason Rudolph and the 2021 NFL Draft, nor does it preclude Joshua Dobbs’ return.

Mike Tomlin has taken a flier on a “camp arm” albeit with a bit more upside then most “camp arms,” but he’s still a “camp arm.”

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Does Steelers 2017 Draft Class Display Kevin Colbert’s Confidence or Cockiness?

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NFL teams don’t draft in a vacuum. Jimmy Johnson’s Cowboys in 1989 and Chuck Noll’s Steelers in 1969 serve as exceptions, but only expansion teams get a blank slate.

The choices those men make tell us a lot about how they see their respective teams. The Steelers 2017 Draft Class certainly qualifies.

Steelers 2017 Draft Class, Kevin Colbert, Mike Tomlin

Kevin Colbert & Mike Tomlin during the 2017 NFL Draft

Let’s look at the context in which Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin assembled the Steelers 2017 Draft class.

After going 8-8 and out of the playoffs for two straight years, the Steelers made the playoffs in 2014, only to get booted by the Ravens at Heinz Field. A year later the Steelers discipline lifted them over the Bengals on the road, and then saw a short-handed team fall just shy of beating Denver on the road. In 2016 the Steelers won their first two playoff games, only to get shredded by New England in the AFC Championship.

Diagnosing what ailed the Steelers in New England is quite simple:

  • The Steelers couldn’t pressure Tom Brady
  • Tom Brady used the time Pittsburgh gave to him to decimate the Steelers secondary
  • Pittsburgh lacked a receiving target capable of taking heat off of Antonio Brown
  • When Le’Veon Bell went down, the Steelers struggled to run the ball effectively

With those bitter memories in mind, let’s review the Steelers 2017 Draft Class in the order they were picked:

1. TJ Watt, Outside Linebacker, Wisconsin
2. JuJu Smith-Schuster, Wide Receiver, USC
3 a. Cam Sutton, Cornerback, Tennessee
3 b. James Conner, Running Back, Pitt
4. Joshua Dobbs, Quarterback, Tennesse
5. Brian Allen, Cornerback, Utah
6. Colin Holba, Long Snapper, Louisville
7. Keion Adams, Outside Linebacker, Western Michigan

In the 2017 NFL Draft the Steelers immediately applied their premium picks towards addressing each of those pain points the Patriots so gleefully exploited. The Steelers thinking is clear:

  • James Harrison isn’t going to outrace father time forever, so they draft in TJ Watt
  • Neither Martavis Bryant nor Sammie Coates have proven their reliability, so they draft JuJu Smith-Schuster
  • The Steelers need a 3rd corner and DBs capable of manning up, hence Cam Sutton
  • Pittsburgh’s chronic inability to keep two starter-capable running backs healthy easily explains the Jimmy Conners pick.

After that, things got fuzzy fast.

Pittsburgh Post-Gazette scribe Gerry Dulac, never a journalist wont to hyperbole offered this on Twitter:

Dulac could have added 5th round pick Nathaniel Adibi whom Bill Cowher allegedly insisted on drafting over Marcus Turner. Of the fivesome, only two played in the NFL, and only Matt Kranchick played a down for the Steelers (1 catch for 6 yards, but it was a heck of a catch….)

In rapid fire, the Steelers drafted quarterback Joshua Dobbs, cornerback Brian Allen, long snapper (yes, you’d hopped the “LS” on you saw on ESPN’s draft crawl as a typo, didn’t you?)
Colin Holba and finally Keion Adams.

On the surface it appears, the Steelers devoted the top half of the draft addressing their most urgent needs, and then Colbert and Tomlin spent the rest on luxury picks. With the benefit of a few days of perspective, let’s see if that’s the case.

Does Steelers 2017 Draft Class Indicate Colbert’s Confidence, or Cockiness?

The Joshua Dobbs pick was the first one that Steel Curtain Rising took issue with.

Dobbs, by all accounts is a solid pickup in the 4th round, but at the time the Steelers still had more pressing needs at inside linebacker and perhaps tight end. However, their subsequent decision to release Zach Mettenberger explains a lot.

The Steelers had 20 weeks to workout Mettenberger work, and they clearly they saw enough. If they don’t think he’ll be ready to challenge Landry Jones for the right to backup Ben Roethlisberger in 2017, its best to invest salary cap dollars in someone who will do it in 2018.

  • Looking at the other picks, however, it is hard not to recall Art Rooney Jr.’s reflections on the late 1970’s.

The Pittsburgh Steelers were of course a drafting juggernaut during the first half of the 70’s, only to see the quality of their drafts drop off a cliff as the decade closed. It’s easy to chalk that decline up to lousy draft position, but the 49er’s of the 80’s and the Patriots of his century have shown winning championships and quality drafting can go hand-in-hand.

  • Tension between Rooney Jr. and Noll, and moving the draft into spring hurt the Steelers.

But the Steelers also hurt themselves. With their roster laden with Super Bowl veterans, they got away from taking the best player on the board, an instead tried to identify and then draft players who fell for one reason or another. Looking at the latter picks of the Steelers 2017 Draft Class, it’s tempting to wonder if Colbert and Tomlin aren’t succumbing to the same temptation.

Cornerback Brian Allen, Carnell Lake assured us, would have been drafted higher had he played defense for more than two seasons in college. Colin Holba was one of the few “draftable long snappers” in this draft, so the Steelers took him. And those who roll their eyes at the concept of a “draftable long snapper” Bill Belichick drafted a long snapper with a fifth round pick in 2014 and won a Super Bowl. Keion Adams is a guy who has “really developed over the last few years.”

  • Fair enough. But these Steelers lack the pedigree of their 70’s predecessors and their Patriots contemporaries.

No one can argue that Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin didn’t address the Steelers most pressing needs with their first four picks of the 2017 NFL Draft. Colbert and Tomlin draft choices also represent a tacit endorsement of Vince Williams, Ladarius Green and Jesse James.

In a word, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin with the confidence that indicates that the Pittsburgh Steelers really are only a couple of three players away from winning the Super Bowl. So be it.

  • Regular readers know that Steel Curtain Rising doesn’t do post-day draft grades.

The Steelers 2017 Draft Class will be graded by the same criteria used to grade their 2016 draft class – whether this group of players helps Ben Roethlisberger bring home Lombardi Number Seven before he begins his “Life’s Work.”

If that happens, then Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert will get an “A” for this draft, regardless of whether any of their Day 3 picks ever play a down in the NFL.

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Steelers 2017 Draft Needs @ Quarterback – Find Players to Help Roethlisberger Win Now

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Since Chuck Noll ushered Pittsburgh into the modern era of pro football, the Pittsburgh Steelers have used 1st round picks on quarterbacks exactly 3 times.

  • Their first came when they drafted Terry Bradshaw with the first overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft.
  • Ten years later they returned to the well, drafting Mark Malone with the last pick of the first round of 1980 NFL Draft.

Steelers Nation would have to wait 24 more years until the 2004 NFL Draft for Pittsburgh to use another first round draft pick on a quarterback, and the decision to pick Ben Roethlisberger only really came at the behest of Dan Rooney who, by his own admission, was haunted by the teams decision not to draft Dan Marino thinking that the Blond Bomber had a few more seasons, instead of just 8 more throws, left in his arm.

Although is return for 2017 is confirmed, since incumbent Steelers signal caller Ben Roethlisberger has publically as uttered the “R” word it is only fair to ask if the Steelers needs justifying picking a quarterback with their first round pick in the 2017 NFL Draft.

Steelers Depth Chart @ Quarterback Entering the 2017 NFL Draft – the Starter

Closing in on his 15th NFL season Ben Roethlisberger remains one of the NFL’s elite quarterbacks. The Steelers Killer Bees, Roethlisberger, Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell give Pittsburgh its strongest concentration of talent at the skill positions since the days Lynn Swann, John Stallworth and Franco Harris lined up alongside Bradshaw.

  • To judge solely by his passer rating of 95.4, Ben Roethlisberger 2016 season was almost identical to 2015’s (94.5).

But that shows you how fickle of a measure passer rating can be as his completion percentage dropped by 4 points, but he threw more touchdowns and fewer interceptions and took fewer sacks. And he did it without the services of Heath Miller, Ladarius Green, Martavis Bryant, Markus Wheaton and Darrius Heyward-Bey for much or all of the season.

  • If Ben Roethlisberger continued to prove that he was still a championship-caliber franchise quarterback during 2016, his game was not without its flaws.

First, there was a sharp disparity between Ben Roethlisberger’s play on the road and his play at home. Beyond that, in the playoffs with Eli Rogers and Cobi Hamilton as his number 2 and 3 receivers the Steelers needed Ben Roethlisberger to make them look better than they were.

Steelers Depth Cart @ Quarterback Entering the 2017 NFL Draft – Backups

Steel Curtain Rising has written more in defense of Landry Jones that he probably deserves, but such is the nature when two of a site’s writers style and ideas overlap. So be it. There’s no need to repeat our praise of the embattled backup here as Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert agree with Landry Jones is a viable NFL backup. If Landry looked lost in 2013 and 2014, the showed he belonged in 2015 and in 2016 he proved that the previous season was no mirage.

  • No, the Steelers cannot expect to contend for a Super Bowl if Landry Jones has to start for an extended period.

But you can say almost every other NFL contender can say the same thing about having to start their backup for more than a few games.

Behind Landry Jones the Steelers have Zach Mettenberger, whom they picked up off of waivers. Both fans and columnists would prefer to seen Mettenberger holding down the number two slot and if he proves himself in training camp he may get that opportunity.

When all is said and done, it could be that the Steelers decision to claim Mettenberger off of waivers will grow in importance to Kevin Colbert’s 2002 decision to sign Charlie Batch after the Detroit Lions cut him loose. At the time it looked like Charlie Batch was merely provided a fringe benefit of additional depth behind Kordell Stewart and Tommy Maddox.

  • Ten years later we know that Charlie Batch grew into one of the best backup quarterbacks the Steelers have ever staffed.

Can Zach Mettenberger follow the same script? At this point it is an unknown.

Steelers 2017 Draft Need at Quarterback

While Ben Roethlisberger might have sent shockwaves through Steelers Nation by admitting he needed to take time to decide whether he would play again in 2017, the fact is that he has made similar statements in private. That’s normal and even healthy thought process for a player to take at this stage of his career.Steelers 2017 Draft Needs quarterback

If statements of Art Rooney II, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin are any guide the Steelers expect Ben Roethlisberger to finish his contract.

  • There’s a simple but unpleasant reality at work when it comes to the Steelers replacing Roethlisberger.

Replacing one franchise quarterback with another is easier said than done. Sure San Francisco did it with Joe Montana and Steve Young. Green Bay did it with Brett Favre and Aaron Rogers. The Colts did it with Peyton Manning and Andrew Luck. It is pretty hard to find other success stories.

The difficulty of trying to find your next franchise quarterback while your team still has one ranges somewhere between completing King Authur’s hunt for the Questing Beast and seeing Haley’s Comet – many try but only a few succeed.

Word is that 2017 NFL Draft is a weak one for quarterbacks, and even if it were not, the chances of a franchise quarterback slipping to the Steelers at the 30th pick are non-existent.

If the Steelers can select excellent value at quarterback with their third or 2nd round pick then they might want to consider it, but barring that, focusing on players who help bring home Lombardi Number Seven in 2017 as opposed to trying to lasso a unicorn would represent a far wiser investment of Pittsburgh’s draft capital.

But when all is said and done, Ben’s public utterance of the word “retirement” doesn’t change any of the dynamics at work and the Steelers 2017 draft need at quarterback must be considered Low-Moderate.

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Speculation Ends: Landry Jones 2 Year Contract Settles Steelers Backup Quarterback Question

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The Pittsburgh Steelers capped off the first day of the 2017 NFL Free Agency signing period by ending speculation about their backup quarterback position by signing Landry Jones to a 2 year contract. So there you have it, for the next two years, Landry Jones will serve as the proverbial “next man up” behind Ben Roethlisberger until 2018’s conclusion.

  • While the move doesn’t come as much of a surprise, some had interpreted Art Rooney II’s words as an indication that the Steelers were ready to move on.

Instead, the Steelers have doubled down on the investment they made into developing Landry Jones after drafting him in the 4th round of the 2013 NFL Draft. Behind Jones the Steelers also have Zach Mettenberger, whom they picked up off of waivers after Bruce Gradkowski went on injured reserve.

Landry Jones, Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones contract, Ben Roethlisberger and Landry Jones, Martavis Bryant, Steelers 2017 free agents

Landry Jones’ 2 year contract ensures he’ll be backing up Ben Roethlisberger through 2018. Photo Credit: Gene J. Puskar, AP via PennLive

Speaking with Teresa Varley of Steelers.com, Landry Jones explained his decision to stay in Pittsburgh this way:

It was really just wanting to be back here. It wasn’t a tough decision. This place is familiar to me and I am thankful I have an opportunity again to have a job and have a spot to come back to.
It was the best decision for me and (my wife) Whitney and our family. If all things were equal, I wasn’t going to go anywhere. That was where my mindset was.
I think it is the way people treat you around here. It is a business, but at the same time the Rooneys treat you great, all of our coaches treat you great. It’s just a great place to be.

Doubtlessly the move is being panned by a large swath of Steelers Nation who watched Landry Jones struggle during his first two preseason outings and have seen the hit or miss nature of regular season performances.

And if it is true that he doesn’t offer the ex-starter pedigree that his predecessors Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich brought to the huddle, Landry Jones has developed into a competent, confident backup quarterback.

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Steelers Free Agent Landry Jones Should Be Back in Pittsburgh as Backup Quarterback

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Who was the most popular player in Pittsburgh from 1984 to 2003? The answer is simple, “the backup quarterback.”

OK, that’s not quite true, but it is no secret that fans often showed a lot more love for the understudies of Mark Malone, Bubby Brister, Neil O’Donnell and Kordell Stewart than they did for those starting quarterbacks.

The same could not be said during Terry Bradshaw’s (latter) days as a starter, nor for Ben Roethlisberger. Such was the cross that Landry Jones inherited when the Steelers took Jones in the 4th round of the 2013 NFL Draft, a cross which he continues to carry into free agency.

Landry Jones, Steelers vs Cardinals, Landry Jones free agent, Markus Wheaton

Landry Jones celebrates during his first NFL game against the Cardinals. Photo Credit: Pittsburghblitz.com

Capsule Profile of Landry Jones Steelers Career

As regular readers of this site know, living down in Buenos Aires deprives me of the ability to watch preseason football. Which is a shame because preseason gives fans their one and only shot at getting an unfiltered look at rookies and backup players.

  • But friends of mine assured me during the 2013 preseason that the Steelers should consider bringing Charlie Batch back.

And these were not reactionary, “Fire everyone” types. Their estimation of Landry Jones didn’t change after the 2014 season, and a quick look at the stats confirmed that Landry Jones had under performed Brian St. Pierre in his first two preseason outings.

The Steelers took note and moved to challenge Jones during the 2015 preseason, bringing in Tajh Boyd, Devin Gardner, and Tyler Murphy but Jones held off those challenges. And even though the Steelers signed in Mike Vick when Bruce Gradkowski went down, Jones looked like he belonged, much to the consternation of fans who felt Landry Jones represented a wasted roster spot.

Landry Jones, Steelers vs Browns, Landry Jones Free Agent

Landry Jones in the Steelers 2017 finale against the Cleveland Browns. Photo Credit: Archie Carpenter, UPI

Jones got his first action in 2015, coming off the bench to lead victories against the Arizona Cardinals and Oakland Raiders while struggling in his first start against the Chiefs. Jones also looked lost in relief of Roethlisberger in the Steelers playoff win over the Bengals.

In 2016 Landry Jones looked solid, although far from spectacular in a loss against the Patriots, while looking sharp in leading the Steelers backups to a New Year’s Day overtime comeback against the Browns.

The Case for the Steelers Resigning Landry Jones

Ever since the Steelers traded for Todd Blackledge in 1988, the franchise’s policy, with a few exceptions, has been to staff a veteran backup quarterback. But injuries to Charlie Batch and Byron Leftwich in limited play caused the Steelers to reevaluate that philosophy, leading them to draft Landry Jones, who made a commitment to developing him Jones as a backup.

The Steelers invested a lot of time and effort Landry Jones’ development, while hedging their bets. In 2016 Landry Jones showed that he’s matured into a competent, confident NFL backup quarterback. He knows Todd Haley’s offense, and looks comfortable in the huddle leading superstars like Antonio Brown and Le’Veon Bell.

Landry Jones is a legitimate NFL backup quarterback and, assuming his salary demands are reasonable, there’s every reason why the Steelers should keep him in Pittsburgh.

The Case Against the Steelers Resigning Landry Jones

After Charlie Batch got hurt in 2008 early in preseason, Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert had Byron Leftwich and Daunte Culpepper on the field in Western Pennsylvania trying out within a day. When he explained his decision, Mike Tomlin insisted that the Steelers were a Super Bowl team and that both players had been franchise quarterbacks. Should something happen to Ben Roethlisberger, he wanted a quarterback capable of taking the Steelers all the way.

  • Can anyone suggest that Landry Jones is that caliber of a quarterback and keep a straight face?

The reality is that after taking every snap in 2013 and nearly every snap in 2014, Ben Roethlisberger has had to miss or leave games due to injuries on 5 separate occasions in 2015 and 2016. Landry Jones might be a game manager, but it is all but impossible to see him leading the Steelers on a Jeff Hostetlerque run through the playoffs (Google 1990 New York Giants if you’re unfamiliar and/or read our obituary of former Steelers offensive coordinator Ron Erhardt.)

Given that reality, the Steelers shouldn’t invest a valuable roster spot and valuable salary cap dollars in Landry Jones, and should instead look to the 2017 NFL Draft and/or Zach Mettenberger as their “Next Man Up” for the next time Ben Roethlisberger gets injured.

Curtain’s Call on the Steelers and Landry Jones

Steelers General Manager Kevin Colbert made no bones about the fact that the Steelers would love to have Landry Jones back. This will not sit well with a large segment of Steelers Nation nor with a good chunk of writers who cover the team.

  • So be it. Although it is painful for a Steelers site to quote Buddy Ryan, but if you think like the fans, you’ll be one.

Might Landry Jones find a team that wants to pay him several million dollars above what he can get in Pittsburgh to wear the backup quarterback cap? Perhaps. If he does then more power to him. But Landry Jones is a viable number 2 quarterback that the Steelers have invested a lot in, and the Steelers should keep in Pittsburgh.
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Ladarius Green Practices, Steelers Have 21 Days to Activate Him from PUP

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Elvis is in the building! The Pittsburgh Steelers had a new participant at practice yesterday, none other than Ladarius Green according to Chris Adamanski of the Tribune Review. The Steelers of course responded to Heath Miller’s retirement by signing Green, hoping that Green’s vertical big play ability could make up for Heath Miller’s legendary dependability.

  • The move made sense, as it allowed the Steelers to focus on the secondary in the 2016 NFL Draft.
Ladarius Green, Ladarius Green practices

The wait is over! Ladarius Green practices with Steelers for first time. Photo Credit: Pittsburgh Tribune Review

Then things got wired, as Green sat out mini-camp, OTA’s and all of training camp. Green had had surgery following the 2015 season, but word leaked that he was also in the NFL’s concussion protocols. The Steelers never confirmed that later bit of news, but various reporters did, although there were conflicting reports.

  • Some reporters even speculated that the Steelers might try to recoup Ladarius Green’s signing bonus.

So the Steelers placed Ladarius Green on the PUP list and the wait began.

An End to Tight End by Committee?

In Ldarius Green’s absence, the Steelers turned to a “Tight end by committee” approach, relying on Jesse James, David Johnson and Xavier Grimble. Each of the three had their moments, but none of them provided the dynamic spark the Steelers hopped to get with Green.

According to Adamanski, Green had a good practice, catching passes from Ben Roethlisberger, Landry Jones an Zach Mettenberger. Adamanski quoted Sean Davis as confirming that Green had a good day of practice, including making a touchdown catch.

For Whom the Turk Visits?

It is unknown whether or when the Steelers will activate Ladarius Green. The sight of Ladarius Green practicing is a positive one, but three seasons ago Sean Spence returned from the PUP only to reinjure himself.

  • Should the Steelers activate Ladarius Green, they will have to make a roster move to create space for him.

Jesse James figures to be safe, but if Mike Tomlin and Kevin Colbert intend on keeping only 3 tight ends then either David Johnson or Xavier Grimble could be in trouble. As a vested vetran, Johnson would be owed his full salary for the season, and he is the team’s best blocking tight end who can also serve as a fullback. Xavier Grimble has far more “upside” at this stage of his career, but the Steelers might not be able to sneak him back on the practice squad.

Cobi Hamilton, the rookie wide receiver would also be a candidate to go, but there’s no assurance the Steelers would be able to get him back onto their practice squad.

  • Of course, with the way the injury bug has hit the Steelers, circumstances could end up making the decision for him.

The Steelers now have 21 days to make a decision on activating Ladarius Green, or placing him on injured reserve for the season. They could activate him for either their game against the Ravens or the Cowboys but would need to pull the trigger after that.

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Like It Or Not: Steelers Will Live and Die with Landry Jones Until Ben Roethlisberger Returns

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Pittsburgh Steelers fans had better get used to the sight of Landry Jones with his hands under Maurkice Pouncey’s but, as they’ll see it  week vs. New England and, if reports are correct, perhaps beyond that.

Not that concern isn’t warranted. This was a Steelers team that came close to upsetting the New England Patriots team in the 2015 season opener and has been itching for a rematch faster than you can say “HeadsetGate.”

steelers backup quarterbacks, landry jones

Like or not, Steelers Nation must get used to seeing Landry Jones under center

So fans’ desire for Ben Roethlisberger rise from the trainers bench, al la the Karate Kid, are well founded:

https://twitter.com/Steel_Curtain4/status/788019228465135617

But if the longing for John Norwig to morph into Mr. Miyagi is understandable, the calls to start Zach Mettenberger or even more outlandish suggestions that the Steelers trade for Mark Sanchez, are not. For better and for worse, the Steelers will live and die with Landry Jones as their signal caller for as long as it takes for Ben Roethlisberger’s knee to heal.

There are lots of reasons for this, but everyone overlooks the biggest one….

Steelers Nation Keeps Up with the Changing Times

Bob Labriola and other members of Steelers Nation’s “4th Estate” have derided the outcry to immediately purge Landry Jones form the roster. And they’ve got the right reaction, unless you really think that Peyton Manning, Johnny Manziel or Tim Tebow would do better.

But if the sarcasim of the Labriola’s of the world is justified, then you also must credit these Steelers fans for being smart about one thing: They know a franchise quarterback when they see one.

Seriously.

From 1984 to 2004 the most popular player on the Steelers roster was whoever was backing up Mark Malone, Bubby Brister or Kordell Stewart. Neil O’Donnell won a bit of a respite, but even he heard calls to start Mike Tomczak in mid-1994. (Tommy Maddox was around long enough.) But between Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger’s time, if the backup quarterback wasn’t the most popular player in Pittsburgh, he certainly earned an honorable mention.

That’s has changed, and as well as it should, but “Landry Jones Anxiety” also reflects another more recent change.

Steelers Nation Appreciates What It Had When Its Gone

Since the beginning of the Bill Cowher Era the composition of the Steelers quarterback has remained pretty predictable: A designated starter, an experienced backup, and an up and comer.

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The Steelers coaching staff and front office, whether it’s been headed by Tom Donahoe or Kevin Colbert, believe in experienced backups but have repeatedly tried to staff the 3rd string quarterback position with a player they can nurture into a backup. During the 1990’s they tried, unsuccessfully, with Mike Quinn, Pete Gonzalez and Anthony Wright. In the 00’s the Steelers tried it with Brian St. Pierre and a slew of 5th round draft picks.

  • The closest they got was with Dennis Dixon, who started 3 games for the Steelers, but he never matured into a stable backup.

Landry Jones is the first to achieve that status, and he’s unlikely to lose it save for an injury or a meltdown.

Mike Tomlin Stands By His Quarterbacks

Fans hoping to see Landry Jones on a short, or even medium leash can hold their breath for one simple reason: Rightly or wrongly, Mike Tomlin stands behind his quarterbacks. Going into his 10th year as head coach, Mike Tomlin has never pulled or benched a starting quarterback because of performance. Tomlin is loyal, sometimes to a fault, to his quarterbacks.

In both 2011 and 2012, Mike Tomlin had an experienced, healthy Charlie Batch standing on the sideline as his starter struggled, noticeably limited by injury, but Tomlin kept Roethlisberger and Leftwich in.

  • Given that precedent, it is hardly likely that Tomlin will turn over his offense to newly arrived Zack Mettenberger, who has yet to throw a pass for the Steelers in preseason.

Love it or hate it, the Steelers will live and die with Landry Jones until Ben gets back.

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