The Pittsburgh Steelers' quarterback room saw a massive upgrade over the 2024 offseason. While many in the media believe the Steelers improved drastically, one media member who covers the Cleveland Browns thinks the Steelers actually got worse by moving on from Kenny Pickett.
The Steelers made significant quarterback moves, as they traded Pickett, allowed Mason Rudolph to depart in free agency and released Mitch Trubisky. They also signed Russell Wilson to a one-year deal at the veteran minimum and acquired Justin Fields via a trade, a promising 25-year-old quarterback once hailed as the future of the Chicago Bears. While many have lauded the excitement and value these acquisitions bring, not everyone is convinced that the Steelers have improved with their new quarterbacks.
Dave Bacon and Quincy Carrier, hosts of a show on Cleveland.com, delved into discussions about their AFC North rivals, particularly focusing on the Steelers and their offseason maneuvers. Bacon posed a question to Carrier, inquiring about the increased potency of the Steelers' offense following the departure of Pickett. Carrier answered Bacon's question with an example involving the Browns previous quarterback struggles.
“When the Browns moved on from Johnny Manziel and Josh McCown and brought in Cody Kessler and Kevin Hogan, they did get better. It didn’t matter.”
Carrier referenced Johnny Manziel and Josh McCown, former quarterbacks on the Browns roster who failed to meet expectations. He highlighted how the Browns believed they had made improvements by bringing in upgrades, yet ultimately remained unsuccessful. Despite their efforts to upgrade, the Browns continued to struggle, demonstrating that mere changes in personnel didn't significantly alter their performance.
"Not every upgrade at quarterback is clean, and also, I would question: Can Russ play better quarterback than Kenny Pickett? Sure. But does having Russ and the baggage it entails, as your quarterback, take you away from playing Pittsburgh football? Does it actually make you a worse team?"
Carrier's belief is that naming Wilson as the starter actually diminishes Pittsburgh's performance. His argument centers around the notion that under Pickett, the Steelers had the freedom to execute their offense as they pleased. However, with Wilson, that flexibility is lost, leading to a departure from traditional Pittsburgh football strategies.
“At least with Kenny you can run the ball as much as you want and you don’t have to worry about anybody complaining about anything because it’s Kenny Pickett and ain’t nobody care what he thinks.”
Bacon countered Carrier's sentiments by emphasizing the significance of the Mike Tomlin factor. However, Carrier rebutted, expressing skepticism towards praising Tomlin, asserting that he hasn't been the guiding force for the Steelers in recent seasons. In fact, Carrier went so far as to characterize the Steelers as an "entertaining mess".
While Carrier wasn't quick to praise Tomlin, he did acknowledge Tomlin's credit for maintaining a streak of never having a losing season and consistently keeping the Steelers competitive. However, Carrier holds the belief that Tomlin may not be the ideal candidate to manage the Steelers' new quarterback situation.
Steelers' Russell Wilson Is The Designated Starter
The Steelers hinted that Wilson would be the 2024 starter right after his signing, and the Pickett trade enhanced that despite the Fields trade. Media rumors persist, however, suggesting Fields could potentially oust him, even leading to Wilson's release if outplayed in preseason.
Though the Steelers downplay their quarterback competition, it's actually a favorable predicament. Unlike debating Trubisky, Pickett, or Rudolph, it's between a 35-year-old NFL veteran with two recent down seasons. Yet, he is still boasting 42 touchdown passes in those down years and a Super Bowl title earlier in his career.
Alternatively, if Wilson falls short, they have a 25-year-old renowned as one of the league's premier athletes. Comparing Wilson and Fields to lesser quarterbacks like Cody Kessler or Kevin Hogan doesn't hold much weight. Regardless, the Steelers are better equipped for a Super Bowl run now. With 10 wins last year, imagine their potential with Wilson or Fields?
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