The Pittsburgh Steelers have to figure out their quarterback situation moving forward. While Mike Tomlin granted Kenny Pickett his starting quarterback status back with competition looming, whether that is Mason Rudolph or someone else, good teams have plans at quarterback. Flip-flopping between three options due to injury and other circumstances can leave a team out to dry.
Steelers guard Isaac Seumalo knows that well. He was in Philadelphia when Carson Wentz’s decline took place, and that is a burden that the entire locker room can feel. And so, when it comes to what the Steelers need to do to take the next step in their maturation, it’s finding that quarterback who can fill the void.
“The quarterback situation needs to be figured out. That’s how the NFL is. We need to have some solidarity there, one way or another, wherever it goes. You can’t win in the NFL without that,” Seumalo said to Gerry Dulac of the Pittsburgh Post-Gazette.
To this point, Pickett’s coaches and the system around him have not helped him, but their statement on him would be a massive story. Mike Tomlin gave some confidence in Pickett on Thursday in his final press conference of the season, which could bode well for some of that quarterback solidarity.
“He will (get QB1 job back), but ultimately, there will be competition,” Tomlin said. “There’s always competition in this thing. We don’t anoint anyone. I’m appreciative of his efforts and where he is and excited to keep working with him, but certainly he will be challenged from a competition perspective moving forward. Competiion brings out the best in us.”
The Steelers have moves to make, but their offensive coordinator hire will determine just how well they can concoct all of these ideas and meld them together at quarterback. Someone who has quarterback guru experience, or at least experience dealing with young quarterbacks, is a big key to all of this.
There are plenty of candidates out there who fit the bill for Tomlin and his staff. Now that they have given some confidence behind Pickett, it is about finding someone to maximize the scheme around him to put him in the best spot to succeed.
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