Trubisky Should Be Week 1 Starter..Case Closed

Look, I am not going to pretend to be the head coach of the Pittsburgh Steelers, but being a former player myself..I can definitely say that I know who will be the starting quarterback in week 1 versus the Cincinnati Bengals.

MITCH TRUBISKY: Not because he outshined rookie Kenny Pickett in the preseason, but because he has basically done nothing wrong to lose the starting position..which was what he was given a 2 year deal for. Also because he is a veteran who has experience playing the other teams in the AFC North. 3-0

In his three(3) preseason starts, Trubisky had a showing that most quarterbacks, starting or not, wish they had. Completing 24 of 34 attempts, going for 283 yards and 2 touchdowns. The most important stats being the 8.3 yards per attempt and zero(0) Interceptions.

The biggest argument for Trubisky was the 1:34..82 yard drive in the first half for a touchdown to Steven Simms. A drive that had penalties called against the Steelers, yet Mitch remained poised.

Mitch Trubisky drive for a touchdown against the Lions

KENNY PICKETT: Let’s not beat around the bush, the 20th overall first round 2022 draft pick is going to be the future for the Pittsburgh Steelers for years to come. And has shown that he can be a leader in the locker room and on the field. But you never want to throw a rookie into the fire early on.

In his preseason debut as a rookie, Pickett pretty much proved why he was the only quarterback chosen in the first round. Putting up an impressive 29 for 36, 261 yards and 3 touchdowns. And like Trubisky, finished the preseason with no interceptions. The only stat he lacked on, was the yards per attempt. But how much does that truly factor in?

Jacksonville announcers don’t know the player’s names

Kenny Pickett was definitely the most “NFL READY” quarterback to come out of the draft. Being the oldest player drafted with the most NCAA experience at quarterback, Pickett will be the starter at some point this season..just not now.

The situation reminds me of the 2004 NFL draft, when the Pittsburgh Steelers had one Tommy Maddox as their starting quarterback, and drafted future Hall of Famer quarterback, Ben Roethlisberger. Who came in for an injured Maddox, only to go undefeated for the remainder of the season. A year later, became the youngest quarterback to win a Super Bowl.

Anyway, back to the subject at hand. Mitch Trubisky should be the starting quarterback come week 1 for one reason only..”EXPERIENCE “. You never want to place your rookie quarterback, although talented, in a situation to where he has to win immediately.

Give Trubisky the helm, and if he falters, you can always go to Pickett. Because it is not wise to have a first round pick start then go to a veteran. Start with the veteran, then let the rookie pull a Roethlisberger. #HereWeGo

Trading Mason Rudolph Just Makes Sense

Photo courtesy of Sporting News

MEMO: Trading Mason Rudolph just makes sense. It saves the team $3 million, basically which was their plan in the first place. He had his chance to improve for four(4) years, now it’s time for #NextManUp He is just too much like Landry Jones, good one day..bad the next. No consistency whatsoever.

Although he played fairly well against the Seahawks on Saturday, that was basically an audition for other teams who absolutely NEED a quarterback. I mean let’s face it..they didn’t sign Trubisky and draft two quarterbacks if they had trust in Rudolph.

“A former NFL GM told me thinks Mason Rudolph could be traded to the Lions by the end of the week,” tweeted 93.7’s Andrew Fillipponi.

The trade just makes sense. The Steelers didn't sign Trubisky and draft two quarterbacks if they had trust in Rudolph. https://t.co/7idnsuwVxK

— Steelers World 1 (@SteelersWrld1) August 16, 2022

Tweet by CBS Sports Radio Andrew Fillipponi

To be honest it is a good problem to have, with two 1st round draft picks and a 3rd round pick as your quarterbacks. But at this point and time it is time for Rudolph to get a change of scenery. Because he will not be the starting quarterback in Pittsburgh..that’s a given.

Plus, if you cannot beat the Cleveland Browns on a regular basis you will not be the quarterback for our team for long. #HereWeGo

VIDEO: Mike Tomlin Week 1 Preseason Press Conference

Mike Tomlin via steelers.com

MJD Ranks Najee Harris As No. 9 RB in the NFL

Photo courtesy of TribLive

Former Jacksonville Jaguars standout and NFL analyst Maurice Jones-Drew expressed his “TOP 32 RUNNING BACKS” on Thursday, placing Pittsburgh Steelers 2nd year RB Najee Harris at number nine(9) on his list.

Harris, the 6 foot 1 inch..232 lb. back out of Alabama had a very impressive rookie season, rushing for 1,200 yards with 7 touchdowns. Tacking on an additional 74 receptions for 467 yards and 3 receiving touchdowns, all of this behind a makeshift offensive line.

With a player not named Ben Roethlisberger under center on a permanent basis for the first time since 2003, the Steelers’ offense is primed to go through No. 22. He had an outstanding rookie campaign with zero fumbles on 381 regular-season touches. He’s durable and poised to lead the unit in the run game while also providing a big boost in the pass game.

Maurice Jones-Drew via NFL.com

With the addition of veteran centers James Daniels and Mason Cole, the Steelers have definitely improved in the offensive line category and give Coach Mike Tomlin a lot more “wiggle room” than he had last season.

Not to mention the addition of offensive tackle Dan Moore Jr. With that I see Harris surpassing his 1,200 yard rookie debut, especially since the 1st string quarterback position is still up for grabs.

RUNNING BACKS ABOVE NAJEE:

8) Austin Eckler (Los Angeles Chargers)*

7) Joe Mixon (Cincinnati Bengals)

6) Alvin Kamara (New Orleans Saints)

5) Ezekiel Elliott (Dallas Cowboys)*

4) Dalvin Cook (Minnesota Vikings)

3) Nick Chubb (Cleveland Browns)

2) Jonathan Taylor (Indianapolis Colts)

1) Derrick Henry (Tennessee Titans)

* = Ranking I do not agree with

VIDEO: 50 Reasons Why Troy Polamalu Was Better Than Ed Reed

Steelers Flying Under The Radar..And We Should Love It

Rich Eisen went on his “Rich Eisen Show” podcast recently and posed the question to his panel..

..“Who’s team is being talked about the absolute least in the AFC North?..”Yep, you guessed it, the Pittsburgh Steelers, I myself absolutely could not be happier.

Video courtesy of the Rich Eisen Show

The Baltimore Ravens are in the news due to the Lamar Jackson contract situation. The Cincinnati are in the news because they FINALLY made it to the Super Bowl after a 33 year drought.

Then you have the Cleveland Browns, who are mainly in the news due to their quarterback situation. With Deshuan Watson most likely facing a year long suspension, and Baker Mayfield basically on his way out the door is very news worthy.

As for the Steelers? Well, they drafted quarterback Kenny Pickett out of Pitt in the first round of the 2022 NFL Draft. The first QB picked by Pittsburgh in the first round since Ben Roethlisberger in 2004.

They also hired Omar Khan as their General Manager, made Minkah Fitzpatrick the highest paid safety in the league, and bolstered up their defensive with the addition of DBs..LBs..and DLs..too many to name.

Long story short..I see that as a good thing. It’s better to be out of the publics eye..it takes the pressure off. While the others teams in the AFC North are being praised for last season, or being ridiculed for their quarterback situations the Pittsburgh Steelers are focusing on nothing but the upcoming NFL season. #HereWeGo

POLL: Who Will Be The Steelers Starting Quarterback In Week 1?

F*** Google Nose Richard Sherman..Pickett Will Prevail In Pittsburgh

Photo courtesy of Brian Jenkins steelersworld1.com

Ok, so recently former Seattle Seahawks, San Francisco 49ers and Tampa Bay Buccaneers washed up defensive back, Richard Sherman had some words against the Pittsburgh Steelers first round draft pick quarterback, Kenny Pickett.

“Do I think he’s the quarterback of the future? I don’t know. It’s hard for me to trust a quarterback who wears gloves all the time. It’s just different. It’s just different. I just, I have hard time with it.”

First of all who cares what an aging, now mediocre cornerback has to say about a quarterback wearing gloves all the time? If anything. .if he was still relivent..should relish a quarterback he doesn’t trust, since Sherman is a defensive player.

But then, Richard went on to back peddle and give props to Pickett, as well as compliment on what the Steelers have been able to do with developing players.

“But he slings it. He’s effective and we’ll see how effective he is in Pittsburgh. They do a great job developing guys,” Sherman said. “They haven’t had another quarterback under center starting consistently since Ben Roethlisberger. I mean, Ben’s been there for what, 13 years, 14 years, something like that? And so, so that’ll be interesting.”

However, Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin had a different take on Pickett’s glove wearing (to get a better grip on the ball) and hand size (8 1/2 inches).

“I potentially was capable of buying into that if I didn’t watch him play college football in Pittsburgh, and dealing with the elements that comes with playing in this environment,” Tomlin said on The Rich Eisen Show. “You can get into the hand size thing, or you can just look at how he performed in a variety of conditions, and we have those conditions here in Pittsburgh. So, there’s very little speculation from our perspective about how he might handle the ball in inclement weather, wet days, etcetera.”

So basically Richard Sherman’s words mean nothing. Just bitterness because the Pittsburgh Steelers were not interested in picking him up..in my opinion. #HereWeGo

VIDEO: Cam & Conner Heyward Speak On Steelers Brotherly Love

IS MASON RUDOLPH ON HIS WAY OUT THE DOOR

Photo courtesy of Useless Daily

According to Gerry Dulac of The Pittsburgh Post-Gazette, veteran quarterback Mason Rudolph most likely will not be on the 53 man roster at the start of the season. Something that became evident after the Pittsburgh Steelers drafted Kenny Pickett(20th) and Chris Oladokun(241st) picks overall.

I mean let’s face it, we all saw this coming, it’s just that Rudolph just doesn’t fit the Pittsburgh mold. But even Mitch Trubisky, who was signed by the Steelers in the offseason as the apparent front-runner as the starter will have to battle for that spot.

“Regardless what role Pickett will eventually assume in the offense, the reality is his arrival puts Trubisky in an awkward, tenuous position,” Dulac said on Sunday. “Six weeks ago, Trubisky’s signing in free agency was met with much hope and anticipation — a former No. 2 overall pick looking to pull a Ryan Tannehill-like resurrection with the Steelers. Now, after one bad game, maybe even just one interception, all he will hear is the fans crying for Pickett. The same is true for Rudolph, though he is likely to be traded before the season rather than be the starter.”

Now retired General Manager, Kevin Colbert expressed his semi-faith in Mason Rudolph after the retirement of proverbial Hall of Fame quarterback “Big” Ben Roethlisberger. But the signing of the former Chicago Bears and Buffalo Bills, Trubisky showed he was not all that confident as he made it out to be.

“If we started a season today, Mason would be our starter,” said Colbert. “He’s 5-4-1 as a starter. We’re excited to see what’s next for Mason.”

“We know we’re going to add to the position, I can’t tell you how at this point. We will go to camp with four. If we had to start today with Mason as our starter, let’s go. We’ll try to build the best team around him.”

Mason is due to earn just over $3 million this season. But, if Pittsburgh were to cut Rudolph , it would only result in a dead money cap hit of just over $1 million. Which means the Steelers could trade or release him with little damage to the salary cap.

Look at it this way..if Mason Rudolph completely outshines 7th round draft pick Oladokun, then he has a chance. But if Oladokun comes into OTAs and training camp the way the Steelers expect him to, Rudolph is definitely gone. IMO #HereWeGo