There are countless questions looming coming into the 2022 regular season. One big question for the Steelers is, who will named starting quarterback? Will it be the rookie Kenny Pickett, NFL vet Mitch Trubisky, or Steelers vet Mason Rudolph?
Young Gun Starting Quarterback
Pickett looked very good this preseason, posting 261 passing yards with three touchdowns while completing 81% of his passes. In his senior season at Pitt, he threw for 4,319 yards and 47 TDs. Additionally, he had the best QBR in this year’s draft class, sitting at 81.2.
If Pickett is named started quarterback, it would be about as opposite as what we saw last year with 39-year-old Big Ben starting. The Steelers would definitely see more athleticism behind center, as Pickett was one of four QBs in this draft to rush for over 400 yards last season.
Experience at Starting Quarterback
Pittsburgh acquired Trubisky in free agency this offseason and he isn’t looking to be a backup again as he was last season in Buffalo. Trubisky spent his first four seasons in Chicago. He started 50 games over that span and posted a 29-21 record with 10,562 passing yards, 64 passing touchdowns, and a QBR of 87. He was even named to the Pro Bowl for the NFC in 2019.
Trubisky has the most experience by a landslide out of the three possible candidates for starting quarterback. Mike Tomlin gave him the nod at starting quarterback all three weeks this preseason. The Steelers will face three tough opponents immediately in the Bengals, Patriots, and Browns. Trubisky’s experience could prove vital in these games if he gets the nod.
Starting Quarterback Who Knows the System
Rudolph has been somewhat forgotten when thinking of the starting quarterback role. He only started two games over the past two seasons. However, he was thrust into a starting role for eight games in his rookie campaign with Roethlisberger sidelined due to injuries. In that season, he posted a 5-3 record with 1,765 yards and 13 TDs. Although he had a lackluster QBR of just 36.2 paired with 9 interceptions.
Certainly, Rudolph is the only player here that has experience with the system prior to this preseason. Additionally, that, paired with having Big Ben as his mentor, could help his case for QB1.
The Steelers are now a week away from their week one matchup against the reigning AFC champs, the Bengals. Tomlin had this to say when asked about making the decision for starting quarterback:
“Who said it isn’t settled?”
Tomlin might already have come to a decision. However, we will find out who will be named QB1 this week.
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1 Comment
This is a very well written article and hits all the key points facing the Pittaburgh Steelers. It should be an exciting year having QB options with very mobile QBs in Trubisky and Pickett.