QB -- What Are We Doing??

[j-d-s]

Newton isn't just a bridge-type QB, he is a legit franchise QB. Allowing him to leave would be really stupid by Carolina, but then again, firing Rivera was dumb too...

His situation is somewhat similar to when Drew Brees was replaced in SD with Philip Rivers due to his shoulder injurey. The Dolphins chose not to sign him because they didn't know how the injury would affect his play. While Newton isn't as great as Brees, Newton definitely can still be a franchise QB.

As for backups:
Landry Jones was and is horrible. With him we'd be 4-11 or something like that, at best.
The best backups usually are former starters, guys like Teddy Bridgewater, Blake Bortles, Tyrod Taylor and Matt Schaub (even though on him there is very little playing time for several years, so hard to judge how he would do if he needed to start).

Maybe we could sign Mariota, Dalton or Eli Manning, all of these would be top-notch backups.

Rivers and Fitzpatrick probably won't be backups, in the case of Fitzpatrick even if he's signed as backup he always ends up playing. Fitzpatrick's only two seasons where he wasn't backup at any point in the season were 2011 and 2012 with the Bills, yet in every single season since 2008 he has startet at least 3 games.

So, in conclusion: While I would love to see us signing Cam Newton, I don't think that will happen since Ben already said he's returning. So getting Mariota or Dalton is the best we can hope for. But probably even that won't happen because the Front office doesn't seem to value the backup QB position. We never really had any good backup QBs in the Tomlin era. Just rookies or players who played very little, or old QBs not capable of much anymore, like Vick, Batch, Leftwich...

[86WARD]

Do you not watch College football?

Actually a lot of people don’t and a lot of college fans don’t watch NFL.

And the QB class really isn’t that good...to waste draft picks trying to get back up to get one of these 3-4 guys.

[GoSlash27]

You don’t think so? I’d disagree. There’s several potential franchise QBs in this class. Not that the Steelers have the draft capital to get one of them.

I'm not seeing it. Tua's hurt, and I'm not seeing anyone below him who strikes me as "franchise". Starters, sure... but not franchise.
And you know me, I never miss a Hawks game. Nate Stanley is IMO the best QB in the Big 10, and he's just "alright".

[cubanstogie]

I'm not seeing it. Tua's hurt, and I'm not seeing anyone below him who strikes me as "franchise". Starters, sure... but not franchise.
And you know me, I never miss a Hawks game. Nate Stanley is IMO the best QB in the Big 10, and he's just "alright".

I think there are 5-6 solid QB's that could be starters, we all know its a crapshoot. Without having an early pick or first rounder its going to be a roll of the dice with someone like Kelly Bryant, Jalen Hurts or Sam Ehlinger. All three far from guaranteed but can run and good arms. All three struggle in certain areas but like I said its a gamble. I like Jake Fromm but its a pipe dream.

[GoSlash27]

I think there are 5-6 solid QB's that could be starters, we all know its a crapshoot. Without having an early pick or first rounder its going to be a roll of the dice with someone like Kelly Bryant, Jalen Hurts or Sam Ehlinger. All three far from guaranteed but can run and good arms. All three struggle in certain areas but like I said its a gamble. I like Jake Fromm but its a pipe dream.

Exactly; starters or backups, but not franchise. If we're looking for a replacement for Ben, this isn't the year to get one. If we're just looking for a starter, we've already got one in Rudolph. Either way, it's just not worth the draft capital to go after one this year.

[Steeldude]

There's also the 2 issues that: 1) The Steelers FO had no way of knowing Rudolph wasn't a R1 prospect and 2) Rudolph may *actually be* a R1 prospect.

His only problem right now is confidence. He never displayed this in college and it can be fixed. If you take someone with Rudolph's skill, work ethic, and football IQ and infuse Duck's attitude... you have a pretty good QB.

Replace Rudolph's arm.

[lipps83]

Make a move for Derek Carr. Raiders like to make lopsided trades in the Steelers favor.

[Craic]

Replace Rudolph's arm.

I guess you didn't watch the game today. I've ragged on Rudolph since the preseason because I just didn't see an NFL arm. Today's game should he has one. The question now is how consistent is it?

[GoSlash27]

I guess you didn't watch the game today. I've ragged on Rudolph since the preseason because I just didn't see an NFL arm. Today's game should he has one. The question now is how consistent is it?

I agree. Rudolph has the arm, and it's never been in question. His problems have been timing, progression, and confidence. In fact, the progression and confidence weren't a problem for him until this season.

[RunNGun]

Absolutely tank next year and draft Trevor Lawrence. Problem solved. I'm a genius.

[DesertSteel]

I’m warming up to the idea of Jalen Hurts in R2-3.

[Mojouw]

I’m warming up to the idea of Jalen Hurts in R2-3.

Run some serious wildcat then!

[DesertSteel]

Run some serious wildcat then!

I think you’re short-changing him.

[Mojouw]

I think you’re short-changing him.

No idea really. But the highlights I see make him look more like a RB.

[DesertSteel]

No idea really. But the highlights I see make him look more like a RB.

He averages 280 passing and 97 rushing per game, 12 yards per pass attempt. He put up pretty good numbers in the SEC too (not quite as gaudy). I really like the trend of dual threat QBs. While their life expectancy may be shorter, I think they may be easier to find.

[RunNGun]

I like the idea of bringing in Teddy Bridgewater. He's shown he can win football games. A definite upgrade over what we have. Maybe even an upgrade over Big Ben at this point? At worst we have a solid stop gap that make us respectable for the next few seasons of the rebuilding process.

He's also been learning from the GOAT himself, Drew Brees.

[cubanstogie]

I’m warming up to the idea of Jalen Hurts in R2-3.

I love the kid, rooted for him all season. Unlike Kelly Bryant who left Clemson on bad note with bad attitude Jalen has been all class. He's far from guaranteed but could be a decent gamble. Which if we draft a QB in 2020 it will be huge gamble no matter who they draft unless trade up. I didn't see Bryant play this year but Deshaun Watson said he'd be better than he was. Drafting is a tough job for sure.

[DesertSteel]

I like the idea of bringing in Teddy Bridgewater. He's shown he can win football games. A definite upgrade over what we have. Maybe even an upgrade over Big Ben at this point? At worst we have a solid stop gap that make us respectable for the next few seasons of the rebuilding process.

He's also been learning from the GOAT himself, Drew Brees.

I think Ben would have to be OUT for Teddy to consider the Steelers. He wants to play and has earned the right to.

[Neversatisfied]

The Ben injury has a lot of Andrew Luck feeling to it. Imagine ( if you will ) a 38 year old- often injured QB second guessing his quality of life after the NFL. The Steelers should proceed with caution, Ben has given everything to this organization and he might just want to quit while he is ahead.

[tube517]

The Ben injury has a lot of Andrew Luck feeling to it. Imagine ( if you will ) a 38 year old- often injured QB second guessing his quality of life after the NFL. The Steelers should proceed with caution, Ben has given everything to this organization and he might just want to quit while he is ahead.

For us old timers, Ben's injury is a flashback to Bradshaw in 83. He was almost out all of 1983 and came back for one game vs the Jets. Barely played the 1st quarter and threw some TD's to WRs he never met and then reinjured the elbow and never played another down.

I hope Ben has a year or 2 left but realistically, I am bracing for the day it's over for Ben

[JimHarbaugh'ssoakedtissue]

He averages 280 passing and 97 rushing per game, 12 yards per pass attempt. He put up pretty good numbers in the SEC too (not quite as gaudy). I really like the trend of dual threat QBs. While their life expectancy may be shorter, I think they may be easier to find.

He won't be there in the 2nd and with LJ's success some team will take a shot on him in the 1st. It's a copy cat league.

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For us old timers, Ben's injury is a flashback to Bradshaw in 83. He was almost out all of 1983 and came back for one game vs the Jets. Barely played the 1st quarter and threw some TD's to WRs he never met and then reinjured the elbow and never played another down.

I hope Ben has a year or 2 left but realistically, I am bracing for the day it's over for Ben

Think I remember him throwing 4 TD's in the first half. Then never came out for the 2nd half.