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This is going to be the age old question - to rebuild or not to rebuild (regardless of what you say to the public via the media). Personally, I agree with this...I think you can rebuild quickly in this day and age especially with your getting cap space available now and next year.
I think the Steelers are in a far better position than the current AFC crown holder was (2 wins in 2019, 4 wins in 2020). Albeit the most important part...a franchise QB. I think talk of trading for Rodgers, Garopolo, or signing Mariota makes little sense. I fear that signing a Mariota...ties the Steelers to the "we are close" just a bit more and we will challenge. Just remember in that 10 year "hell period" of 83-92 the Steelers won their division 30% of the time.
I do have questions on whether that "Franchise QB" is in this year's draft. So focus on the rest of the infrastructure and look to 2023 as a find the QB. It may turn out that having a "losing season" as much to the chagrin of the Tomlin haters and perhaps Tomlin himself (and the vaunted losing season record).
I am sure this will be a split decision...I guess the nightmare scenario is somehow Rudolph...defies expectations and is able to win enough games (along with a stellar comeback of a shutdown D) to get the vaunted 6th/7th seed. And delays the process in the minds of the brain trust.
Why the Steelers should pass on a QB and trot out Mason Rudolph in the 2022 season
Ben Roethlisberger was the reason the Steelers won as many games as they did in 2021. Take him out of the equation, insert Mason Rudolph, and theyÂ’re easily a sub-.500 team.
Rudolph will get into the nitty-gritty of his first offseason as QB1 for the Pittsburgh Steelers in just a few short months. He’ll get first-team reps, he’ll be “the man,” he’ll be the focus of the Steelers offense, he’ll be the
first guy not named Ben Roethlisberger (https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/lists/pittsburgh-steelers-retirement-nfl-announcement/) at the helm of the team in nearly two decades.
But even a full offseason as QB1 won’t magically make Rudolph good enough to be the face of Pittsburgh’s franchise. He just isn’t that type of quarterback. Rudolph doesn’t have that “it” factor. If he had, we would’ve seen a glimpse of what could be in his 10 career starts.
Given what Rudolph has shown in those starts, he wonÂ’t find success in 2022. HeÂ’ll fold under the pressure alone. But trot him onto the field and see what happens. If he flounders, so be it. Send Dwayne Haskins out there.
Times have changed — quickly. The Steelers won’t be ready to compete with the likes of the Bengals (or even the Ravens) in 2022. With all of the pieces the Steelers need, it will take patience.
ThereÂ’s no harm in having a subpar season other than a bruised ego. A season with eight or fewer wins will get you in the top 15 of the NFL draft. Less than that, even better. ItÂ’s not what Pittsburgh wants; itÂ’s not what it aims for. But if itÂ’s what you get, it only means a higher draft pick and (hopefully) greener pastures in 2023.
These nine-win seasons only get you in the 20s — that’s not where the future is and certainly not a shot at a franchise quarterback.
Throw caution to the wind.
I think the Steelers are in a far better position than the current AFC crown holder was (2 wins in 2019, 4 wins in 2020). Albeit the most important part...a franchise QB. I think talk of trading for Rodgers, Garopolo, or signing Mariota makes little sense. I fear that signing a Mariota...ties the Steelers to the "we are close" just a bit more and we will challenge. Just remember in that 10 year "hell period" of 83-92 the Steelers won their division 30% of the time.
I do have questions on whether that "Franchise QB" is in this year's draft. So focus on the rest of the infrastructure and look to 2023 as a find the QB. It may turn out that having a "losing season" as much to the chagrin of the Tomlin haters and perhaps Tomlin himself (and the vaunted losing season record).
I am sure this will be a split decision...I guess the nightmare scenario is somehow Rudolph...defies expectations and is able to win enough games (along with a stellar comeback of a shutdown D) to get the vaunted 6th/7th seed. And delays the process in the minds of the brain trust.
Why the Steelers should pass on a QB and trot out Mason Rudolph in the 2022 season
Ben Roethlisberger was the reason the Steelers won as many games as they did in 2021. Take him out of the equation, insert Mason Rudolph, and theyÂ’re easily a sub-.500 team.
Rudolph will get into the nitty-gritty of his first offseason as QB1 for the Pittsburgh Steelers in just a few short months. He’ll get first-team reps, he’ll be “the man,” he’ll be the focus of the Steelers offense, he’ll be the
first guy not named Ben Roethlisberger (https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/lists/pittsburgh-steelers-retirement-nfl-announcement/) at the helm of the team in nearly two decades.
But even a full offseason as QB1 won’t magically make Rudolph good enough to be the face of Pittsburgh’s franchise. He just isn’t that type of quarterback. Rudolph doesn’t have that “it” factor. If he had, we would’ve seen a glimpse of what could be in his 10 career starts.
Given what Rudolph has shown in those starts, he wonÂ’t find success in 2022. HeÂ’ll fold under the pressure alone. But trot him onto the field and see what happens. If he flounders, so be it. Send Dwayne Haskins out there.
Times have changed — quickly. The Steelers won’t be ready to compete with the likes of the Bengals (or even the Ravens) in 2022. With all of the pieces the Steelers need, it will take patience.
ThereÂ’s no harm in having a subpar season other than a bruised ego. A season with eight or fewer wins will get you in the top 15 of the NFL draft. Less than that, even better. ItÂ’s not what Pittsburgh wants; itÂ’s not what it aims for. But if itÂ’s what you get, it only means a higher draft pick and (hopefully) greener pastures in 2023.
These nine-win seasons only get you in the 20s — that’s not where the future is and certainly not a shot at a franchise quarterback.
Throw caution to the wind.
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