Here is our debate on video...Kenny Pickett starting.

[Shawn]

I'm sorry guys on here I don't know how to to insert a video clip but cut and paste. It's well worth your time,

[hawaiiansteel]

I'm sorry guys on here I don't know how to to insert a video clip but cut and paste. It's well worth your time,

https://youtu.be/F-tlslp8NeU

[Captain Lemming]

I'm sorry guys on here I don't know how to to insert a video clip but cut and paste. It's well worth your time,

https://youtu.be/F-tlslp8NeU

I watched it. Moats kind of overstated how well Mitch played under pressure in my opinion.

Locked on Steelers podcast made an interesting observation.

They asked, how many BAD passes has Kenny thrown period? One maybe?

Think about it.

[Shawn]

I watched it. Moats kind of overstated how well Mitch played under pressure in my opinion.

Locked on Steelers podcast made an interesting observation.

They asked, how many BAD passes has Kenny thrown period? One maybe?

Think about it.

I don't completely disagree. Listen I think Pickett will be the better QB. I think he will be a good QB. This should be a discussion of how to develop him and it's getting lost in egos and people wanting to be right. Listen, if he starts day 1 and lights it up? Then I will cheer. For me, it's more about you develop a young mind. Listen, this is what I know about Tomlin. Is he the most elite game planner and manager in the NFL? No. He isn't. What he does knows well? He knows how to navigate, motivate and develop young men. He's elite at that. And when you do that well then you will win. I'll trust his decision and cheer.

[feltdizz]

here’s my video on the debate.

[feltdizz]

I don't completely disagree. Listen I think Pickett will be the better QB. I think he will be a good QB. This should be a discussion of how to develop him and it's getting lost in egos and people wanting to be right. Listen, if he starts day 1 and lights it up? Then I will cheer. For me, it's more about you develop a young mind. Listen, this is what I know about Tomlin. Is he the most elite game planner and manager in the NFL? No. He isn't. What he does knows well? He knows how to navigate, motivate and develop young men. He's elite at that. And when you do that well then you will win. I'll trust his decision and cheer.

While I think he lights it up…

I’m fine of he plays as well and is a game manager early on and grows with experience. I set high expectations because I’m familiar with Kenny and think he has that “IT” but it doesn’t mean he has to be all world his rookie year if he starts day 1 for me to feel good about his future.

Personally I just feel like if Pickett is just as good as MR and MT (I feel he is better) then why wait? He’s older than Jaylen Hurts who is about to start his 3rd season. Let him grow while playing since the other QB’s aren’t anything special and only
had 1 start between the 2 of them last year.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

I don't completely disagree. Listen I think Pickett will be the better QB. I think he will be a good QB. This should be a discussion of how to develop him and it's getting lost in egos and people wanting to be right. Listen, if he starts day 1 and lights it up? Then I will cheer. For me, it's more about you develop a young mind. Listen, this is what I know about Tomlin. Is he the most elite game planner and manager in the NFL? No. He isn't. What he does knows well? He knows how to navigate, motivate and develop young men. He's elite at that. And when you do that well then you will win. I'll trust his decision and cheer.

I'm DeVille and I approve this message.

[TheRealTazz864]

I'm DeVille and I approve this message.

Mitch showed that he faced the adversity by getting sacked.... KP8 starts Week 1, period... Like I said, KP8 EARNS his QB1 position in preseason... Don't give me "what if's..."

[whisper]

While I think he lights it up…

I’m fine of he plays as well and is a game manager early on and grows with experience. I set high expectations because I’m familiar with Kenny and think he has that “IT” but it doesn’t mean he has to be all world his rookie year if he starts day 1 for me to feel good about his future.

Personally I just feel like if Pickett is just as good as MR and MT (I feel he is better) then why wait? He’s older than Jaylen Hurts who is about to start his 3rd season. Let him grow while playing since the other QB’s aren’t anything special and only
had 1 start between the 2 of them last year.

The thing about his age is a good point and I sometimes forget about that. He is 24, not 21. But what about this point? There are some who say that if you start KP you can never bench him, or it will destroy his confidence, etc. Is there truth to that or is it poppycock? If they start him week 1 and get gets ransacked by Cinci, NE and Cleve., then what? If they hold off and start MT in those 3 games (and MT loses) and then insert him, if he loses then so what? We were already losing with MT so...

I'm not saying I'm sold either way, just asking.

[SteelerOfDeVille]

Personally I just feel like if Pickett is just as good as MR and MT (I feel he is better) then why wait?

This right here is where the discussion should be had.

So many people think you have to sit a young QB because it will break them if they struggle. I don't know if I agree with that. I think it depends on the individual.

As Americans, we make it a habit of lumping people together and saying, "every one of this age acts like __", or "everyone from this country acts like ___" (let's not even get into anything closer to going political in this thread, because I have an on topic point here).

Just as those stereotypes aren't 100% true, neither is it for each kid coming out of college. Some are mentally tough, some aren't. Some need time to grow, some develop under fire. The decision whether he can handle the lumps or not will COMPLETELY depend on KP's mental makeup and it'll be up to Tomlin to figure that out.

Frankly, if he breaks, then he's probably not the guy -- and I'd like to know that sooner rather than later.

At this stage in the game, the main reason to start MT over KP is NFL experience and ability to give the team to win early games, by simply having seen more defensive looks than the vanilla defenses that you face in the preseason. But in doing so, you slow KPs growth.

So if you think that by the end of the season, you'll play KP? Then you get him on the field to get as much experience against NFL defenses as possible.

Basically, my answer to "who to start?" is: you start the season with the guy you plan to finish the season with. And that guy is whoever you project to be the better player come playoff time. Because either of them will get you to the wildcard round - but given 17 starts, which one of them will give you the best chance to win *that* game?

[TheRealTazz864]

The thing about his age is a good point and I sometimes forget about that. He is 24, not 21. But what about this point? There are some who say that if you start KP you can never bench him, or it will destroy his confidence, etc. Is there truth to that or is it poppycock? If they start him week 1 and get gets ransacked by Cinci, NE and Cleve., then what? If they hold off and start MT in those 3 games (and MT loses) and then insert him, if he loses then so what? We were already losing with MT so...

I'm not saying I'm sold either way, just asking.

You answered your own question.... He's 25, not 21.... He doesn't have the tentative confidence of, say, a 19 year-old JuJu... who started his rookie year...

IF he starts week 1 and lights it up against CIN, NE and CLE, then what??
Just asking...

[Mr.wizard]

I think Tribusky is going to start, but I also think Pickett is ready to start. The one good thing about playing the Bengals first game of the year is that we are going to find out how much juice Tribusky has.

[feltdizz]

The thing about his age is a good point and I sometimes forget about that. He is 24, not 21. But what about this point? There are some who say that if you start KP you can never bench him, or it will destroy his confidence, etc. Is there truth to that or is it poppycock? If they start him week 1 and get gets ransacked by Cinci, NE and Cleve., then what? If they hold off and start MT in those 3 games (and MT loses) and then insert him, if he loses then so what? We were already losing with MT so...

I'm not saying I'm sold either way, just asking.

I think unless Pickett gets injured he just has to take his lumps. What if we wait and he gets beat up once inserted?

I’m sure that is the biggest question the FO has to answer because if you start Kenny you have to stick with him IMO.

But I don’t think you can protect Kenny from adversity by sitting him until you believe you are the soft part of your schedule.

Iron sharpens iron. If Kenny is who the FO thinks he is and that’s a franchise NFL ready QB you let him play day 1, learn on the fly and once you do get to the “soft” part of the schedule (no such thing IMO) he should be able to navigate it much easier.

Also, I think the NFL has much more tape on MT and MR. Why not play Kenny who the NFL has no tape on and take advantage of it?

[NorthCoast]

While I think he lights it up…

I’m fine of he plays as well and is a game manager early on and grows with experience. I set high expectations because I’m familiar with Kenny and think he has that “IT” but it doesn’t mean he has to be all world his rookie year if he starts day 1 for me to feel good about his future.

Personally I just feel like if Pickett is just as good as MR and MT (I feel he is better) then why wait? He’s older than Jaylen Hurts who is about to start his 3rd season. Let him grow while playing since the other QB’s aren’t anything special and only
had 1 start between the 2 of them last year.

Listen to the quarterback whisperer Shannahan on rookie QBs (he didn't start TL until end of the season):

"Your first year, you don't just gradually get better," Shanahan said Tuesday at the Annual NFL Meeting. "You go up and down, you hit some walls in the year, and you learn how to fight through them."

Remember, the season is 17 games which is a tough transition for any rookie. You start KP Wk1 and in November he's hitting the rookie wall. Why not let him watch for the first month of the season? Then it's a normal college season for him.

[whisper]

I think Tribusky is going to start, but I also think Pickett is ready to start. The one good thing about playing the Bengals first game of the year is that we are going to find out how much juice Tribusky has.

Since I don't see our D holding Cinci down, the QB is going to have to produce more than 20 points. Can he? Can MT score in the 30's?