2023 Pittsburgh Steelers. Banged up team loses to Buffalo. Looking ahead to 2024 now (6 Viewers)

[5-ish Finkle]

If they stick with what we have at QB, I don't care who is OC because we will be bad. Maybe we just don't want to make the new guy look bad. 

I kinda agree with this, in spirit. 

Honestly, given the QB situation I could understand how the Steelers' OC gig may not be super attractive to "top" candidates at the moment.  Attracting one that's truly worth their salt/innovative might require waiting until they sort out a long-term QB...and that will almost certainly be '23 at the earliest.

I just hate the idea of sticking with "the devil we know" solely because of familiarity. Canada didn't do anything to really justify a second chance, bad OL/non-mobile QB arguments or not, and you can't really argue "continuity" since Ben's out and the OL should be(read: it better be) a good bit different. 

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

I kinda agree with this, in spirit. 

Honestly, given the QB situation I could understand how the Steelers' OC gig may not be super attractive to "top" candidates at the moment.  Attracting one that's truly worth their salt/innovative might require waiting until they sort out a long-term QB...and that will almost certainly be '23 at the earliest.

I just hate the idea of sticking with "the devil we know" solely because of familiarity. Canada didn't do anything to really justify a second chance, bad OL/non-mobile QB arguments or not, and you can't really argue "continuity" since Ben's out and the OL should be(read: it better be) a good bit different. 

To be clear, I want Canada gone. Hire me for a year. I can't be worse. 

 

[steelers1080]

It feels like this team needs a big shake-up but they're trying to keep as much stability as possible because Ben is leaving. Next year will have so many built-in excuses for a bad season, I'm not sure any major change would happen.

Art II should tell Tomlin right now, "You're the f'ing head coach, not the defensive coordinator. You can have input on the game plan but you hire someone to come in and craft the D and call plays." That gives us a shot at some great DCs that were just fired as head coaches, Zimmer, Fangio, Flores, etc, or Austin (though he was real bad in Cincy). Then we hire outside the organization for a new OC, preferably Pep Hamilton or Ken Dorsey, both experienced at developing young QBs. It's understood that we'll be bad next year, so they get a pass for a year until a new guy gets brought in at QB. 

If we keep Canada this year and draft a QB that won't be good for their development when he's fired 1-2 seasons from now and the new QB has to learn a new system. 

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

So, Ben's agent also represents Trubiski and Mariota . . . .

 

[crushedspirit]

Quite simply, if you do not possess a QB that can at least compete with Mahomes, Allen, or Burrow, you will not taste much success in the AFC going forward. If Herbert takes the next step, and if Watson stays in the Conference, then good luck to all the rest.

Please no Rodgers talk. He's getting too old, and isn't the playoff QB he once was. How many more home losses in the playoffs does one need to see from him? He always has as good a team as any, and the failures continue. He's a regular season hero, and that's about it. Wilson will kill your cap room, and is a tad overrated. The road to prolonged success at the QB position is to play the annual draft lottery until you find your guy. Scrap heap FAs won't get you there consistently.

As for this year, either roll with what they have, maybe pick up a Winston, Mariota, or Trubisky on the cheap as well, and build the rest of the foundation while trying to find that young gun in the draft. I know there's lots of draft miss examples out there, but look at the teams that found their guy after just one try. And if the Steelers see the guy they really want, and need to trade up to get him, then go for it. Mahomes and Allen were taken by two teams that made a decision, and went for it.

 

[5-ish Finkle]

To be clear, I want Canada gone.

Oh, I got that. I was meaning that I hated the idea of the Steelers FO using "continuity" or "familiarity" as an excuse to keep Canada. 
 

Hire me for a year. I can't be worse. 

Agreed. Fire him yesterday. Didn't do anything to earn a second attempt, IMO. Put in a refrigerator box on wheels with an iPad attached to call plays for a year. With Rudolph/Haskins and the same/similar OL to '21 it won't matter.

 

[belljr]

To be clear, I want Canada gone. Hire me for a year. I can't be worse. 

Question #1: 3rd and 8. On your 40, down 2. What play do you call?

 

[steelers1080]

Question #1: 3rd and 8. On your 40, down 2. What play do you call?

3 yard screen to Najee where every WR and TE stops less than 5 yards down field?

 

[belljr]

3 yard screen to Najee where every WR and TE stops less than 5 yards down field?

Also acceptable 4 yard outs

 

[Drunken Cowboy]

Question #1: 3rd and 8. On your 40, down 2. What play do you call?

Something that requires my 40 year old QB with no knees to roll out and has no routes deeper than 3 yds?

 

[belljr]

Something that requires my 40 year old QB with no knees to roll out and has no routes deeper than 3 yds?

You're hired!!

 

[Godsbrother]

While I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment here, part of the problem throwing downfield was a terrible offensive line. 

Also I must also say that throwing 3-4 yards short of the first down seems to be a trend in the NFL lately.  Not sure why but I've noticed it with other teams as well.

 

[steelers1080]

While I agree wholeheartedly with the sentiment here, part of the problem throwing downfield was a terrible offensive line. 

Also I must also say that throwing 3-4 yards short of the first down seems to be a trend in the NFL lately.  Not sure why but I've noticed it with other teams as well.

It works just fine when you have Deebo immediately getting up field, but with Diontae and Tyreek their first reaction is to run backwards. It's very odd. 

 

[steelers1080]

Khan didn't get the Bears job. The Bears' loss is our gain. I hope he doesn't just leave to go work elsewhere if he's not promoted to GM after Colbert retires. It might be tough to work for someone that you view as on the same level, if Hunt gets the job. 

 

[steelers1080]

Raiders interviewed Brandon Hunt for their GM opening yesterday. It sounds like the Steelers have not notified either Khan or Hunt that they're the heir apparent for Colbert. Khan didn't get the Bears job, but if the Steelers lost both of their in-line GM replacements because Colbert went year to year and waited to retire, that would be fubar. 

I love the success that Colbert has helped the team achieve, especially with late round picks and key FA signings, even if the recent crops have been weaker. But if he's planning to retire after this draft, or after 1 more draft, the Steelers need to communicate better with his replacement. I assumed that Hunt wasn't getting GM interviews because he was on lock as Colbert's replacement, but obviously that's not the case. 

I guess this could indicate that after Colbert leaves there will be an external search for a new GM, but that would be pretty shocking. He's not much younger, but John Dorsey would be an interesting replacement. He's been known to be brusque, not really a "people person", and be bad at managing the cap. So teaming him with Khan would be a boon. He helped draft the key components to the Chiefs run (Kelce, Hill, & Mahomes) and he provided the Browns with all of their top talent (even if it's wasted). 

I still think we promote from within for our next GM, but the fact that both prospective GMs are interviewing elsewhere surprised me. 

 

[steelers1080]

Tuitt just sold his house in Pitt. Could mean something, could mean nothing. Butler said he wasn't sure if Tuitt would play again. 

 

[Godsbrother]

Tuitt just sold his house in Pitt. Could mean something, could mean nothing. Butler said he wasn't sure if Tuitt would play again. 

If he is retiring isn't it more beneficial to the Steelers, like to the tune of $5 million,  if he waits until after June 1?   

 

[steelers1080]

If he is retiring isn't it more beneficial to the Steelers, like to the tune of $5 million,  if he waits until after June 1?   

Yes for this year's cap, but it just pushes money into the future. With $40+ million available this year not sure it matters either way. I did hear a rumor that he could get traded to a FL team to be closer to his family, but I don't put a ton of credence into it. 

 

[steelers1080]

John Clayton previously said it was 100% that Colbert was retiring after the draft. Yesterday he walked that back saying that Colbert hasn't made a decision and it's not 100%. As a fan the situation is definitely confusing and frustrating. The Steelers allegedly have these 2 great internal candidates that could be promoted after Colbert retires, and he's been on a year-to-year basis for several years now with his contracts expiring after the draft. 

It makes zero sense to have Colbert conduct a draft and free agency and then turn over the reigns to someone else and be like, "Now you deal with my decisions." One possibility is if we have a new official GM in place they could keep Colbert on in an advisory role, but for him to actually lead the process and then leave always seemed weird.

As a Steelers fan I don't think this is a good situation. He's obviously signed through this draft, but if I was ARII I would go to Colbert and say "Look, we've got these 2 great guys that other teams have been interviewing and we don't want to lose both of them while you waffle between retirement and returning. Either sign a 3+ year contract and make a decision to stay, or lets promote one of them and keep you in an advisory role on a year to year basis. You would no longer have decision making power, but would be there as a sounding board and for your valuable input."

 

[steelers1080]

Rams are up against the cap at the moment, it would be nice if we could poach their C and G who will be free agents this year. That could result in a relatively quick O-line turnaround... New starting line: 1st or 2nd round OT, Dotson, Brian Allen, Austin Corbett, Dan Moore, with Green as backup for interior linemen. 

 

[Godsbrother]

John Clayton previously said it was 100% that Colbert was retiring after the draft. Yesterday he walked that back saying that Colbert hasn't made a decision and it's not 100%. As a fan the situation is definitely confusing and frustrating. The Steelers allegedly have these 2 great internal candidates that could be promoted after Colbert retires, and he's been on a year-to-year basis for several years now with his contracts expiring after the draft. 

It makes zero sense to have Colbert conduct a draft and free agency and then turn over the reigns to someone else and be like, "Now you deal with my decisions." One possibility is if we have a new official GM in place they could keep Colbert on in an advisory role, but for him to actually lead the process and then leave always seemed weird.

As a Steelers fan I don't think this is a good situation. He's obviously signed through this draft, but if I was ARII I would go to Colbert and say "Look, we've got these 2 great guys that other teams have been interviewing and we don't want to lose both of them while you waffle between retirement and returning. Either sign a 3+ year contract and make a decision to stay, or lets promote one of them and keep you in an advisory role on a year to year basis. You would no longer have decision making power, but would be there as a sounding board and for your valuable input."

I have no idea on what is going on behind the curtains but I have to think that if Colbert is truly retiring after the draft he certainly will have significant input from whomever is taking over (assuming they promote from within) and of course Tomlin. 

My guess is that he is retiring and is there to advise and ease the transitioning until the draft process is complete.     

 

[steelers1080]

My guess is that he is retiring and is there to advise and ease the transitioning until the draft process is complete.     

I wonder if he's waiting for Ben to make his official announcement, give him a bit more time in the spotlight. If he is definitely retiring and ARII knows, it would be interesting to not inform one of the two internal candidates that they're the heir apparent. You're allowed to do that and bypass the additional interviews, see DeCosta and Newsome in Baltimore. It feels like it would be un-Steelers-like to bring in an external GM when we have 2 highly regarded internal people who know the organization inside and out. 

 

[Godsbrother]

I wonder if he's waiting for Ben to make his official announcement, 

This just happened

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/27/sport/ben-roethlisberger-retire-pittsburgh-steelers-spt-intl/index.html

 

[steelers1080]

This just happened

https://www.cnn.com/2022/01/27/sport/ben-roethlisberger-retire-pittsburgh-steelers-spt-intl/index.html

It's been a great run, hopefully we can rebuild the trenches and find a solid QB within the next 2-3 years to lead the Steelers into the future. The odds that the Steelers find another HOF QB any time soon are slim, but remaining hopeful!

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

Snipped from a PPG article interviewing Todd Haley regarding Mitch Trubiski:

“Mitch Trubisky … it’s so important to put these guys in a position to succeed, and I don’t know that he was given that in Chicago,” Haley said. “He was a young quarterback to begin with, hadn’t played a lot (one year as a starter at North Carolina), but his size, his athletic ability, his ability to throw the football. You need to have a characteristic that allows you to survive while you learn to be a real quarterback. What I saw in the preseason with the Bills, I was pretty impressed. I mean, he looked like a different guy.”

I’ve used this space to endorse Trubisky, not because I believe he’s the definite answer but because I’m intrigued with the talent and the numbers he put up in Chicago (29-21 record, 64 touchdowns against a still-too-high 37 interceptions), despite working under Matt Nagy.

I asked Haley to elaborate.

“In Chicago, how they were making him play — I mean, no disrespect to any coaches. I would watch that tape. Kurt Warner and I would do a Zoom call and watch it and sometimes it didn’t make a lot of sense. And some of the positions they were putting him in just weren’t fair. On top of (that), being in Chicago … not a fun place to be as a young quarterback. I think Mitch has a chance. I just think he needs to be in the right place with the right coaches that are able to nurture him and allow him to grow and develop.”

 The coaching issue is for another day, but I remain intrigued. Which is more than I could ever say for the possibility of starting Mason Rudolph.

Imagine being the alleged starter-in-waiting — the guy the Steelers put a “first-round grade” on — finally getting your chance and hearing your coach say “all options are on the table” for the position next season.

Have you heard anybody in the organization say, “Mason’s the guy now, obviously, and we can’t wait to ride with him.”

Me neither.

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

It is pretty amazing how fast players are given up on in the NFL anymore.  Trubiski could really be a great reclamation.  I remember watching him in pre-season his rookie year and being really impressed -- I didn't even know who he was, I was not paying attention to football much that year at all.  But he made an impression on me.  Then he looked like he had all of the tools his second year and a bright future.  He is worth a gamble for sure and seems to have less question marks than Haskins -- though he has a great arm and had a year to learn the system.

 

[steelers1080]

It's Official! Art confirmed that Colbert is stepping down as GM after this draft but will remain in the organization "in some capacity". Hunt and Khan have allegedly already been interviewed, but outside candidates will also be interviewed for the position. ARII reportedly said that if someone is brought in from the outside, they'll have to work with the current structure. Not sure if that means they can't make personnel changes or what, would seem to make it less likely that an external candidate takes over. But this would be a sought after job, the Steelers are known to have a lot of patience with personnel hires, especially at HC and GM, so you could craft the in-house team over time. 

 

[Godsbrother]

Art Rooney II seemed to confirm that Matt Canada will be back for a second season at OC.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Wow, a day after Big Ben retires, bridges collapse, Canada is back, and Colbert steps down.

 

[apalmer]

Wow, a day after Big Ben retires, bridges collapse, Canada is back, and Colbert steps down.

Must be a slow news day in Cleveland with no Mayfield twitter posts to laugh at

 

[Godsbrother]

I don’t get the trolling of Browns fans after another disappointing season.  What exactly do they have to crow about? 

 

[irish eyes]

Art Rooney II seemed to confirm that Matt Canada will be back for a second season at OC.

Of course he will.  And they will let Tuitt do what he wants and keep paying him his millions for being invisible.  It's a joke if that clown is still around next season. This franchise is going down a very bad path.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Touchy group, aren't we?

I've been saying for years that the Steelers hadn't done enough to plan for Ben's retirement and now it has come so the plan is what exactly? 

The fantasy of not having to pay and retrofitting Trubiski or Mason blossoming, or Haskins revival, or some other retread really isn't a great plan IMHO.  Considering what has happened I think this is the plan.

Colbert retirement insolates him, allows him to take a flyer on a 1st round QB.  The new GM would not have pressure because a rookie QB would buy him time and he wouldn't be tied to the outcome. 

Worst case scenario is a higher pick next year so he can choose his triggerman and isn't connected to Colbert's last 1st round pick.  

 

[Godsbrother]

Drafting a QB years ago would have been stupid. Gone are the days where you draft a QB and let him sit on the bench for a couple of years until your franchise quarterback retires.

Unlike the Browns, the Steelers don’t routinely draft in the top half of the draft.  When you look at the QBs attainable for the Steelers in recent years the list is not impressive.

I mean look at the Browns, they used the #1 pick overall on a QB and four years later are still unsure if he is a franchise QB

 

[Steeler]

I would disagree with this. I don't think its talked about enough how bad Roethlisberger was this season

And I disagree with this.  Ben was certainly diminished at 39 years old but he orchestrated 6 or 7 4th quarter comebacks this year.. using this metric you can extrapolate the Steelers would have only won 2 or 3 games.

 

[Steeler]

I haven't followed the last few pages of the thread and I don't follow college football but everything I am reading makes me want the Steelers to NOT draft a QB in round 1 this year.  They should take the PBA in the draft because they have so many holes to fill.

In recent years it's been possible to have a good team (except for QB), acquire a QB, and win it all.  I'm thinking of TB getting Brady and Seattle drafting Wilson.  I'm using these examples as a template the Steelers should follow in trying to get from where they are to where they want to go - build the best team possible and then get a QB to (hopefully) put you over the top.  QB can wait in 2022.

 

[apalmer]

Touchy group, aren't we?

I've been saying for years that the Steelers hadn't done enough to plan for Ben's retirement and now it has come so the plan is what exactly? 

The fantasy of not having to pay and retrofitting Trubiski or Mason blossoming, or Haskins revival, or some other retread really isn't a great plan IMHO.  Considering what has happened I think this is the plan.

Colbert retirement insolates him, allows him to take a flyer on a 1st round QB.  The new GM would not have pressure because a rookie QB would buy him time and he wouldn't be tied to the outcome. 

Worst case scenario is a higher pick next year so he can choose his triggerman and isn't connected to Colbert's last 1st round pick.  

It's nice to get advice from a fan of a team that's still trying to plan for Bernie Kosar's retirement. Maybe Rooney can get the Browns' front office to help them out.

 

[KingPrawn]

It's nice to get advice from a fan of a team that's still trying to plan for Bernie Kosar's retirement. Maybe Rooney can get the Browns' front office to help them out.

Hasn't the Brown's front office been helping the Steelers out for years?

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Drafting a QB years ago would have been stupid.

It would?  Over taking a 24-year-old RB in the 1st round with a 39-year-old starting QB?

A couple rookies were within range to move-up for, Fields/Jones.

The AFCN will be interesting because I expect the Ravens to come back with a vengance next year.  

 

[Steeler]

The AFCN will be interesting

.. for Cincy fans because J. Burrow appears to be the real deal, unfortunately for the rest of the division.

 

[travdogg]

And I disagree with this.  Ben was certainly diminished at 39 years old but he orchestrated 6 or 7 4th quarter comebacks this year.. using this metric you can extrapolate the Steelers would have only won 2 or 3 games.

They were coming back from his play in the first 3 quarters. Its not like the defense was the reason comebacks were needed. The Steelers had 1 win this season in a game the defense gave up over 20 points, and that was the Monday Night game against Chicago, which was a game the Steelers never trailed in until the final 2 minutes. 

Taking it game by game:

Week 1 Buffalo=Ben didn't do anything to lose the game, but the defense holding the mighty Bills offense to 16 is why they won.

Week 2 Las Vegas=Ben was ok, but didn't make any real plays, and only scored 17 in a loss against a pretty mediocre defense.

Week 3 Cincy=Ben was bad, and only led the team to 10 points. There was no Diontae Johnson that week, but 10 points is still unacceptable. 

Week 4 Green Bay=Ben was bad, and that was with Johnson back, and despite the defense doing a pretty good job against a top offense. 

Week 5 Denver=Ben played well in a win. 

Week 6 Seattle=Ben was ok, but didn't really do much in an OT win over a Wilson-less Seahawks. 

Week 8 Cleveland=Ben didn't do anything to lose the game, in a 15-10 win over the Browns, in which the defense played great. 

Week 9 Chicago=Probably Ben's best game of the season, though a game most would argue was decided by a horrible penalty call.

Week 10 Detroit=Rudolph started, and played poorly. The run defense was the biggest problem for the Steelers this week though, giving up 229 yards, including several 20+ yard runs. Also, soft fumbles from Diontae and Freiermuth. Honestly, kinda lucky this ended up being a tie.

Week 11 Chargers=Ben did nothing for 3 quarters, before making a game of it in the 4th. That said, I'd put this loss more on the defense, as they had no answers for the Chargers offense.

Week 12 Cincy=The worst game by any QB so far. Ben was awful here. 3 turnovers, including a pick-6. Only 3 points until a garbage TD with 3 minutes left. The defense wasn't good in this game either, letting Mixon go for 32-163-2 in total.

Week 13 Baltimore=A mistake free game from Ben, albeit one against a secondary that was running out of bodies. Great game by the defense, sacking Jackson 7 times. 

Week 14  Minnesota=Another garbage time special for Ben, as the offense was shut out until almost the 4th quarter. The defense got gashed by Davin Cook in the 1st half, but played much better in the 2nd half, including picking off Cousins twice to make it appear close. 

Week 15 Tennessee=Ben didn't lose this game, as the defense carried the Steelers to a 19-13 win. 4 forced turnovers for the defense was what won this game.

Week 16 Kansas City=The defense got destroyed here, but again 0 points until almost the 4th quarter. Ben was terrible in this game, and was rightfully pulled late. 

Week 17 Cleveland=Pathetic game from Ben. 123 yards on 46 attempts. This was the definition of winning in spite of your QB. Huge game from Najee(arguably his best) and a great defensive effort with 9 sacks and 2 INT's. 

Week 18 Baltimore=Ben didn't play well here either. Carried to a 16-13 OT win on the back of 3 Tyler Huntley turnovers. 

Wild Card Kansas City=A fitting end to the season, getting shut out until almost the 4th quarter. 2 garbage time TDs make his stat line look ok, but there was zero offense until then. 

All in all, I see a QB who rarely played well, and usually was below average or worse. As much crap as Rudolph gets I doubt he'd have been worse. Ben's 2021 and Rudolph's 2019 are actually very similar. The biggest difference is Ben had a much better skill position supporting cast in 2021, and Rudolph had a better OL in 2019. 

My biggest takeaway is that Mike Tomlin deserves all the credit on the world for getting this team into the playoffs. The defense carried this team all season, and pretty much any time the defense wasn't great, was a loss. I don't think it'll be difficult to replace Big Ben, it might be difficult to get worse. That said, its probably asking a lot for the defense to stay at this level as well, so the Steelers will likely need better QB play next year, just to make it back to the wildcard round again. 

 

[Godsbrother]

It would?  Over taking a 24-year-old RB in the 1st round with a 39-year-old starting QB?

A couple rookies were within range to move-up for, Fields/Jones.

The AFCN will be interesting because I expect the Ravens to come back with a vengance next year.  

The jury is still out for these two and at the moment I don’t think I would trade Harris and Freiermuth for either of them.

But what I can’t understand is you coming into this thread trying to break Steelers fans balls when the Browns spent a #1 overall for a guy they still don’t know they want to keep 4 years later.  

It seems weird to see a Browns fan dissing the Steelers for not getting a replacement for Ben given the Browns failures in getting a franchise QB over the past 3 decades despite a myriad of high draft picks.

 

[Bracie Smathers]

Oh, the jury is still out on rookie QBs?  Ahh, I didn't realize that you need Nostradamus prescience of years of NFL production before you take a QB.  No one knows but you never make a mistake if you never take a chance on a rookie QB.  

I have been saying for years they should start planning for Ben's retirement and needed to make a move and I'm not the only one. 

We know you want to build the O-Line before taking a shot at a rookie QB so I can see why you object to taking a shot at a QB.  Good luck with that.

 

[Steeler]

I don't think it'll be difficult to replace Big Ben, it might be difficult to get worse.

6 or 7 4th quarter comebacks is an actual stat.  He was put in a position to be trailing in the 4th quarter multiple times this season and delivered clutch performances in 6 or 7 of those opportunities.  The Steelers need a better QB than how Ben played last year to make noise in the playoffs, but that can be true without diminishing his contributions to the Steelers this season.

 

[Steeler]

But what I can’t understand is you coming into this thread trying to break Steelers fans balls

He needs to pounce now while the Steelers are temporarily down  

 

[Godsbrother]

He needs to pounce now while the Steelers are temporarily down  

  but still high enough to sweep the Browns

 

[Leeroy Jenkins]

It would?  Over taking a 24-year-old RB in the 1st round with a 39-year-old starting QB?

A couple rookies were within range to move-up for, Fields/Jones.

The AFCN will be interesting because I expect the Ravens to come back with a vengance next year.  

If Fields fell to the Chargers, a deal was in place to move up and get him there.

 

[steelers1080]

I have been saying for years they should start planning for Ben's retirement and needed to make a move and I'm not the only one. 

We know you want to build the O-Line before taking a shot at a rookie QB so I can see why you object to taking a shot at a QB.  Good luck with that.

Steelers fans are salty right now because the future looks uncertain and the team leadership appears to be making mistakes. The Owner and Head Coach are retaining an OC that most fans think is incompetent and the HC want's to keep defensive play calling control while trying to hire a decent DC, which seems incongruous. Also, we're moving on from the franchise QB that lead our team to a lot of wins over the last 18 years. It was a long time between Bradshaw and Ben, and I'm sure a good number of us are worried it will be equally long til our next great QB. 

For the QB situation hindsight is definitely 20/20. We probably should have moved on in 2017 and sold the farm to move up for Watson or Mahomes, but there was no way to know that at the time coming off a 13-3 record with the triple B's dominating other teams on offense. After the 2016 season it's been a downward slide as the triple B's fell apart, the O-line aged out, and our defense changed. The biggest mistake over the past 5 years was probably not taking Lamar Jackson instead of Terrell Edmunds...

Our team right now is not set up for success even if we got a solid top 10 QB, we have so many holes on our team especially if you include the free agents we are probably letting walk and the players that are aging out. We would be similar to the Chargers who have an excellent young QB, good RB, great WR, awesome pass rusher, and a playmaker in the secondary. The Chargers are good but they play in a division with a great team so they face an up hill battle and didn't even make the playoffs this year. 

This is projected to be a weaker QB class but a class with great OT depth and really great defensive players. As a team that needs to rebuild the offensive line and retool the defense, it just makes more sense to invest in those positions this year. The 2023 class is projected to be much better for the QB position, so if you're planning for the long term it makes more sense to rebuild in a way that has worked in the past. When Ben had the most success in his career our Defense was incredible, we had some good playmakers, and our O-line was solid. If we can rebuild those facets of our team it enables a decent QB the chance to improve and grow into a franchise QB. Ben was a game manager his first few years and he blossomed into something more, if we got a game manager right now they'd be mediocre and would be hamstrung by weakness in other areas of the team. 

Another item to note is that the Steelers will have tons of cap space starting in 2023, there will be opportunity for a quicker turnaround if they sign quality free agents. Most of us are hoping for 1-2 O-line free agent signings this offseason, especially at Center. They'll probably be more sought after with the Rams making the Super Bowl, but the Rams Center and Guard are going to be free agents and they're currently close to the cap limit so we might be able to make a better offer than they can. If we focus on O-line, WR, and Defense in the draft and free agency, it will set the team up to be ready for a QB and poised for sustainable success. 

 

[travdogg]

6 or 7 4th quarter comebacks is an actual stat.  He was put in a position to be trailing in the 4th quarter multiple times this season and delivered clutch performances in 6 or 7 of those opportunities.  The Steelers need a better QB than how Ben played last year to make noise in the playoffs, but that can be true without diminishing his contributions to the Steelers this season.

I feel like you missed the point I made completely. This 4th quarter comeback stat is basically meaningless, they were trailing almost entirely because of Roethlisberger. Hell, look at the games these 4th quarter "comebacks" came in. 

Week 1: They were down 10-6 against Buffalo going into the 4th, Ben threw a TD early in the 4th quarter, and then the Steelers blocked a punt for a TD. They won 23-16. 

Week 8: They were down 10-9 going into the 4th against the Browns. They scored a TD early in the 4th and won 15-10. 

Week 9: After leading the entire game, the Steelers fell behind the Bears 27-26 with about 2 minutes left. Ben drove them down for a FG, in what I would say was his best performance all season.

Week 13: Was down 10-3 going into the 4th quarter, against a really banged up Ravens team. Ben threw 2 4th quarter TD's in a 20-19 win. 

Week 15: Was down 13-10 going into the 4th against the Titans. Roethlisberger had nothing to do with this comeback, as the Steelers defense forced 3 turnovers in Titans territory. The Steelers got 17 yards, 4 yards, and 5 yards on those 3 drives. Steelers won 19-13.

Week 18: Was down 10-6 going into the 4th against the even more banged up than before Ravens. Led a TD drive late in the 4th, and a FG drive in OT to win 16-13. 

So maybe 2 or 3 actual comebacks. Even then, other than the game against the Bears, its usually Ben's fault they were down in the first place. All but 1 of these games the Steelers had 10 or fewer points going into the 4th. In all but 1 of these games, the defense was playing great, and had held the opponents to 13 or fewer. 

Ben's "contributions" were more negative than positive this year. He was the biggest problem the team had. You can't have 20 or fewer points in half your games, and expect to be any good. The defense fully carried this team, and while I agree they likely weren't beating KC even with a better QB, they had no chance with Ben. 

I stand by my statement from earlier. Ben will be very easy to replace. 

 

[Steeler]

I feel like you missed the point I made completely.  It's pretty clear you think Ben sucked, I got it.

Week 1: Ben threw a TD early in the 4th quarter. 

Week 8: They scored a TD early in the 4th and won 15-10. 

Week 9: After leading the entire game, the Steelers fell behind the Bears 27-26 with about 2 minutes left. Ben drove them down for a FG, in what I would say was his best performance all season.  So you are saying Ben saved the defense this game

Week 13: Ben threw 2 4th quarter TD's in a 20-19 win. 

Week 15: Was down 13-10 going into the 4th against the Titans. Roethlisberger had nothing to do with this comeback, as the Steelers defense forced 3 turnovers in Titans territory. The Steelers got 17 yards, 4 yards, and 5 yards on those 3 drives. Steelers won 19-13.  The D saved Ben this day.

Week 18: Ben led a TD drive late in the 4th, and a FG drive in OT to win 16-13. 
 

And you missed my point (apparently).  Even if Ben's play up to the 4th quarter directly led to the team being behind, he was able to make plays in many of the games - even by your own admission.  We agree his play wasn't the greatest this year, but you seem to be placing too much blame on him without recognizing he did make plays near the end of some games that helped the team win.