OT: The Pittsburgher Thread: Steelers need a new ball thrower for the handball game thingy

[DanielPlainview]

Idk something tells me Gretsky’s son is probably a douche. Maybe he had it coming

 

[Coastal Kev]

Idk something tells me Gretsky’s son is probably a douche. Maybe he had it coming

You're probably right, but I'll tell a story about Gretzky. They had a closed practice when he was in Pittsburgh for a game with the Kings at the Beaver County ice rink. He knew there was about 20 or so of us there to see him up close and personal...... he put on a pretty good show for us all. Afterwards, he took time to sign for all and have a moment before he exited. Pretty damn cool if you ask me.

 

[Andy99]

Yep, just my fear, Matt Williamson confirms Steelers will take Willis if he’s there…this guy isnt accurate and can’t read a defense…there’s only so much you can improve on that…

Tim Benz, Matt Williamson's draft preview: If Malik Willis is on the board at 20, Steelers 'will absolutely take him'

In the first of our annual series of pre-NFL Draft podcasts, Steelers Nation Radio host and TribLIVE Steelers film analyst Matt Williamson joined me to break down the quarterbacks in this year’s draft. Since Ben Roethlisberger retired, you may have seen — or heard — their names mentioned a few

triblive.com

 

[DanielPlainview]

Lions or Falcons or Panthers or Seahawks or Saints please do us a favor

 

[Goalie_Bob]

Yep, just my fear, Matt Williamson confirms Steelers will take Willis if he’s there…this guy isnt accurate and can’t read a defense…there’s only so much you can improve on that…

Tim Benz, Matt Williamson's draft preview: If Malik Willis is on the board at 20, Steelers 'will absolutely take him'

In the first of our annual series of pre-NFL Draft podcasts, Steelers Nation Radio host and TribLIVE Steelers film analyst Matt Williamson joined me to break down the quarterbacks in this year’s draft. Since Ben Roethlisberger retired, you may have seen — or heard — their names mentioned a few

triblive.com

I don't see any confirmation. It's all opinion because he says "And, more specifically, I don’t know what the Steelers think of them."

He also says this, and I agree with it:

“I just want home runs at quarterback,” Williamson said. “If the Steelers draft Willis at 20, and he is just god-awful, It doesn’t hurt you that bad. Get back in the well a year or two from now. Or get the next (Mitch) Trubisky. But if (Willis) hits? Wow! But I don’t want to be in Kirk Cousins land. And I think Pickett is in Kirk Cousins land.”

In other words, good enough to have a long NFL shelf life as a starter and put up some decent stats and a few winning seasons. Not good enough to win Super Bowls."

I just don't see the issue with them taking a QB at 20. People act like the team will cease to exist if they do and the guy flops.

 

[Coastal Kev]

I don't see any confirmation. It's all opinion because he says "And, more specifically, I don’t know what the Steelers think of them."

He also says this, and I agree with it:

“I just want home runs at quarterback,” Williamson said. “If the Steelers draft Willis at 20, and he is just god-awful, It doesn’t hurt you that bad. Get back in the well a year or two from now. Or get the next (Mitch) Trubisky. But if (Willis) hits? Wow! But I don’t want to be in Kirk Cousins land. And I think Pickett is in Kirk Cousins land.”

In other words, good enough to have a long NFL shelf life as a starter and put up some decent stats and a few winning seasons. Not good enough to win Super Bowls."

I just don't see the issue with them taking a QB at 20. People act like the team will cease to exist if they do and the guy flops.

It's easy to blast Kurt Cousins, but he played for a coach that didn't understand the position and a dumpster fire with the Redskins.

 

[The Old Master]

I don't see any confirmation. It's all opinion because he says "And, more specifically, I don’t know what the Steelers think of them."

He also says this, and I agree with it:

“I just want home runs at quarterback,” Williamson said. “If the Steelers draft Willis at 20, and he is just god-awful, It doesn’t hurt you that bad. Get back in the well a year or two from now. Or get the next (Mitch) Trubisky. But if (Willis) hits? Wow! But I don’t want to be in Kirk Cousins land. And I think Pickett is in Kirk Cousins land.”

In other words, good enough to have a long NFL shelf life as a starter and put up some decent stats and a few winning seasons. Not good enough to win Super Bowls."

I just don't see the issue with them taking a QB at 20. People act like the team will cease to exist if they do and the guy flops.

do you really want them to gamble with their top pick? not sure we can afford to do that.

 

[Andy99]

do you really want then to gamble with their top pick? not sure we can afford to do that.

Exactly…I see the Steelers as having so many needs…if Willis had excellent accuracy and decisionmaking and wasn’t as much of a project as he is, then you could feel safer projecting him as a franchise QB…I wouldn’t mind taking a chance on that, but as he currently is, he’s too much of a chance

 

[DanielPlainview]

There will be better players at their position in positions of need than Willis, that’s one of many concerns. Reaching in the draft never works out

 

[xlm34]

I don't see any confirmation. It's all opinion because he says "And, more specifically, I don’t know what the Steelers think of them."

He also says this, and I agree with it:

“I just want home runs at quarterback,” Williamson said. “If the Steelers draft Willis at 20, and he is just god-awful, It doesn’t hurt you that bad. Get back in the well a year or two from now. Or get the next (Mitch) Trubisky. But if (Willis) hits? Wow! But I don’t want to be in Kirk Cousins land. And I think Pickett is in Kirk Cousins land.”

In other words, good enough to have a long NFL shelf life as a starter and put up some decent stats and a few winning seasons. Not good enough to win Super Bowls."

I just don't see the issue with them taking a QB at 20. People act like the team will cease to exist if they do and the guy flops.

Yeah I don’t think missing on a QB at 20 will kill them. You just have to be willing to cut ties with the guy as soon as you realize he isn’t the solution like the Cardinals did with Rosen.

Sure they have needs but I don’t think anyone realistically expects them to compete next year. So you have rounds 2-7 this year plus free agency and the draft in 2023 next year to fill those needs. If they really think Willis has franchise potential, then take him.

 

[Peat]

do you really want then to gamble with their top pick? not sure we can afford to do that.

I mean, not really, but what are the other options?

At some point they need a QB who can win a super bowl. Barring an extraordinary and well timed collapse, whenever this team goes for that, they'll either be gambling with their top pick or paying a fortune for a veteran. Unless the plan is to explicitly build up the strongest team possible with a bunch of cap space, then swing that trade for a veteran, why not start gambling now?

I know the answer, that nobody likes the options, but if people loved the options they wouldn't be available.

So I'm okay with them gambling. They lose, they just try again in a few years. They win, it changes everything. They push the gamble back a year, it's the same story next year. I don't really see an alternative - do you?

The only thing where I disagree a little with the article is that it seems to be reckoning that what makes a great QB is athleticism before what's between the ears, and that you can't win a QB with an average but intelligent QB and a fantastic team - but you still might as well shoot for upside.

 

[Coastal Kev]

do you really want them to gamble with their top pick? not sure we can afford to do that.

QB is priority #1 at all times

 

[Mr Jiggyfly]

Yep, just my fear, Matt Williamson confirms Steelers will take Willis if he’s there…this guy isnt accurate and can’t read a defense…there’s only so much you can improve on that…

Tim Benz, Matt Williamson's draft preview: If Malik Willis is on the board at 20, Steelers 'will absolutely take him'

In the first of our annual series of pre-NFL Draft podcasts, Steelers Nation Radio host and TribLIVE Steelers film analyst Matt Williamson joined me to break down the quarterbacks in this year’s draft. Since Ben Roethlisberger retired, you may have seen — or heard — their names mentioned a few

triblive.com

The last week I have been reading that the Steelers only want Pickett.

Report: Steelers Only Sold On Pittsburgh's Kenny Pickett At QB, According To ESPN Draft Expert

Less than a week away from the start of the 2022 NFL Draft, the buzz regarding prospects, ideal landing spots and overall fits is through the roof at this point in time. For the Pittsburgh Steelers, all that buzz is focused on the quarterback position and who the Steelers will land in the first...

steelersdepot.com

As the draft nears, the momentum that swung Kenny Pickett (Pitt) and Malik Willis(Liberty) up the board seems to be swinging back the other way. In conversations with league sources this week, one told me that Pickett to the Steelers at No. 20 is the only Round 1 quarterback on which he would bet.

Lots of smoke blowing in various directions right now.

Willis will be the only pick that has ever truly pissed me off in all the years I followed the draft.

He has every red flag that suckers teams in and it always ends the same.

 

[Double-Shift Lasse]

The team has a scouting department. I assume they have some due diligence on all if these guys, including the QBs. If they take one at 20 it won’t be a “reach.” It will be in line with what their board looks like.

I mean, it’s fair to disagree but I don’t think “reach” is the way to look at it.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

QB is priority #1 at all times

Even if your not going to see that QB really compete for snaps until 2023 as a backup and starting in year 3 in 24 where you have to make a decision on the 5th year option after that season.

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

The team has a scouting department. I assume they have some due diligence on all if these guys, including the QBs. If they take one at 20 it won’t be a “reach.” It will be in line with what their board looks like.

I mean, it’s fair to disagree but I don’t think “reach” is the way to look at it.

The problem is their BPA's scores get inflated by what their needs are.

It's no surprise that Harris was the #1 pick last year when they had the worst stable of RB's entering the draft.
Muth was the same- they had no TE's to write home about

Last year's draft was "get weapons for Ben for 1 more kick at the can"

You can go back years and find that this is the Steelers' draft strategy. Back in the late 90's they could have had Jevon Kearse (who was clearly the better pre draft player) yet choose Troy Edwards after the run on WR's.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

Yeah I don’t think missing on a QB at 20 will kill them. You just have to be willing to cut ties with the guy as soon as you realize he isn’t the solution like the Cardinals did with Rosen.

Sure they have needs but I don’t think anyone realistically expects them to compete next year. So you have rounds 2-7 this year plus free agency and the draft in 2023 next year to fill those needs. If they really think Willis has franchise potential, then take him.

Willis isn’t the QB QB AR2 wants and we aren’t going to be drafting in the top 10 multiple years to just throw him away. At best he sits as the 3rd string guy this year but AR2 said they want a QB who can play in the pocket and attack all 3 levels that’s not him

 

[Buddy Bizarre]

I just don't see the issue with them taking a QB at 20. People act like the team will cease to exist if they do and the guy flops.

QB's are different- there's only 1 starter who gets 90%+ snaps the entire year.

If you pick one early, you likely won't pick another that high in the next 2-4 years bc you're seeing if your current guy is going to make it. This is the definition of opportunity cost: picking one now will bar us from taking a perhaps better one over the next 2-4 years.

This isn't like taking a RB or WR or Dline where you need multiple guys.

 

[bigdaddyk88]

The problem is their BPA's scores get inflated by what their needs are.

It's no surprise that Harris was the #1 pick last year when they had the worst stable of RB's entering the draft.
Muth was the same- they had no TE's to write home about

Last year's draft was "get weapons for Ben for 1 more kick at the can"

You can go back years and find that this is the Steelers' draft strategy. Back in the late 90's they could have had Jevon Kearse (who was clearly the better pre draft player) yet choose Troy Edwards after the run on WR's.

Except the TE room hasn’t been good since Heath retired they tried Ebron Macdonald. There’s reports Williams was the pick if Harris didn’t fall to them

 

[Coastal Kev]

Even if your not going to see that QB really compete for snaps until 2023 as a backup and starting in year 3 in 24 where you have to make a decision on the 5th year option after that season.

Yes

 

[Goalie_Bob]

QB's are different- there's only 1 starter who gets 90%+ snaps the entire year.

If you pick one early, you likely won't pick another that high in the next 2-4 years bc you're seeing if your current guy is going to make it. This is the definition of opportunity cost: picking one now will bar us from taking a perhaps better one over the next 2-4 years.

No matter when you pick them it is a crap shoot. Might as well get it started as soon as possible.

And that doesn't mean I would do it. I probably wouldn't. But if the Steelers think Willis can be a franchise guy, they should take him.

Another thing, there is nothing more exciting from a marketing standpoint than a team that needs a QB taking a QB in the first round. This is still a business and having an exciting story throughout the offseason and during the season can be gold for the team. Regardless of how good the guy is in the end.

 

[pistolpete11]

No matter when you pick them it is a crap shoot. Might as well get it started as soon as possible.

And that doesn't mean I would do it. I probably wouldn't. But if the Steelers think Willis can be a franchise guy, they should take him.

Of course, but thinking Willis is a franchise guy is the problem.

 

[Coastal Kev]

Of course, but thinking Willis is a franchise guy is the problem.

Of course, but thinking Willis is a franchise guy is the problem.

If you watch his film, it's either a go route or a run.
He tends to leave the pocket without pressure.
He has very inconsistent mechanics, throws off of his back foot a ton.

I see him as a 3-5 round project.

 

[xlm34]

QB's are different- there's only 1 starter who gets 90%+ snaps the entire year.

If you pick one early, you likely won't pick another that high in the next 2-4 years bc you're seeing if your current guy is going to make it. This is the definition of opportunity cost: picking one now will bar us from taking a perhaps better one over the next 2-4 years.

This isn't like taking a RB or WR or Dline where you need multiple guys.

I just struggle a little with this line of thinking. You’re definitely not wrong but it’s just such a gamble to pass up someone you may like in this year’s class and hope a better one is available sometime in the next couple of years. It’s so unlikely the Steelers will be in a position to take someone without some serious question marks.

I don’t want them to take a QB just to take one. So if they aren’t sold I hope they pass. But if they don’t, I think we’ll be having a really similar conversation next year, and the next year, and the next year until they just take a shot on one.

Roethlisberger falling into their lap was such a fluke. I hope they don’t wait another 20 years to try to find their guy.

 

[The Old Master]

I mean, not really, but what are the other options?

i'm fine with gambling with the lower picks not the first when we have so many other needs. when we have those filled and still need a QB i'm all for not only trading up for one but also taking a chance on one.