We’ve made it, guys.
This week, the Pittsburgh Steelers play a football game.
It’s been 209 days since that drubbing on the North Shore at the hands of the Texans.
The next day, Mike Tomlin left the team and the direction of the team was unsure.
Fast forward those 209 days, and a lot looks different. But much looks the same.
Mike McCarthy has taken the reins of the team and brought in almost an entirely new coaching staff. Players like Pittman, Brisker, Dean and Dowdle are new additions to the roster as well as a new set of draft picks looking to make an impact.
Shifting to the game on Thursday with the Packers.
Preseason games are not an enjoyable watch these days. Coaches fear injuries, and rightfully so. That means we wont see many starters and the playcalling will be vanilla.
So, we need to dig deeper and watch these games with a different view.
Here is what I will be paying close attention to game 1 of the Steelers preseason:
The Quarterbacks not named Rodgers or Rudolph
We are hearing that McCarthy may have Rodgers play a few series in this game. I will believe it when I see it. I think Mason will have a better shot at seeing some time on the field.
But the focus obviously needs to shift to Howard and Allar. The team needs to see what they have in either or both of these guys. The 2027 NFL Draft is expected to be loaded with high-end QB talent. The team needs to be fully on board with either Howard or Allar as their next franchise QB, or they will need to shift focus to next year’s draft class.
So what does that mean in this context? How do Howard and Allar differentiate themselves from each other? McCarthy has talked up Howard a ton this offseason. But, he also spent a 3rd round pick on Allar. Both can’t play at the same time on the field. Separation needs to be made.
I want to see how the ball jumps off of Allar’s hand. He has all of the tools of a QB1 in this league, But the coaching in State College left a lot to be desired. Now he shifts to a top-level QB developer with McCarthy, and the excuses need to come to a stop. He’s going to make mistakes, but I want to see how he plays, how the coaching has changed him. How are his mechanics just 4 months into his NFL career.
With Howard, I want to see his athleticism and decision making. Does he have an NFL arm? Can he make that 12-15 yard out pass to the sideline? Can he throw the ball over the middle through a tight window to a small receiver?
The NFL is a QB-driven league and the Steelers have bungled their way through the QB landscape since Roethlisberger’s career was winding down. Howard and Allar represent their best chance to turn the corner and find their next franchise QB.
How does the secondary shake out?
I have been a Steelers fan all of my life, and I cannot recall a time where the team had this level of top end talent in the secondary. Doubling down and signing a severely underrated CB in Dean elevates this unit to the next level. Bringing in Brisker on a 1-year deal was a genius move that really went under the radar nationally. They brought back Samuel Jr and drafted Everette. The unit is loaded with upper level talent.
So, what does that mean? Where does everyone play?
We know what we have in JPJ, Ramsey, Dean and Elliott. What I want to see this preseason is how players like Echols, Everette and Samuel fit into the mix. Who is playing the slot on a consistent basis? That is key because if they can get a good slot cover guy, that would allow Ramsey to almost play a rover-like position in the secondary, which would confuse the hell out of opposing QBs.
Leave a comment