Making Lemonade from Lemons

[SteelerFan448]

So you've already given up on Howard....based on what?

Where did I say I gave up on Howard? I want to throw darts until we find a guy. I mean, I literally said the hope would be one of the young QBs would flash enough to start for most of the season.

What's the point of a Flacco or Mariota? This isn't a Super Bowl roster, you're just doing what we've been doing for years.

Realistic thinking. The Steelers aren't going to go into the season with Howard as the starting QB. Flacco or Mariota would be an easy vet to bench after a few weeks.

 

[topseed]

Where did I say I gave up on Howard? I want to throw darts until we find a guy. I mean, I literally said the hope would be one of the young QBs would flash enough to start for most of the season.

When you said that you preferred bringing in Joe Flacco or Marcus Mariota to start ahead of Howard, I made that assumption.

Realistic thinking. The Steelers aren't going to go into the season with Howard as the starting QB. Flacco or Mariota would be an easy vet to bench after a few weeks.

And then you just said that.

 

[SteelerFan448]

When you said that you preferred bringing in Joe Flacco or Marcus Mariota to start ahead of Howard, I made that assumption.

And then you just said that.

Lol, come on. What I think the Steelers should do versus what they WILL do are two different things. Do you honestly think they'll go into the season with Will Howard as the starter? No chance.

Rather than bring back Rodgers-who they'll start all season--bring in a scrub starting QB who they can bench after 3-4 weeks.

 

[slashsteel]

Lol, come on. What I think the Steelers should do versus what they WILL do are two different things. Do you honestly think they'll go into the season with Will Howard as the starter? No chance.

Rather than bring back Rodgers-who they'll start all season--bring in a scrub starting QB who they can bench after 3-4 weeks.

Howard would have to beat whomever in preseason but I agree it wouldn’t start out as him being their number 1 option. They damn sure wouldn’t put all their eggs in that basket.

 

[topseed]

Lol, come on. What I think the Steelers should do versus what they WILL do are two different things. Do you honestly think they'll go into the season with Will Howard as the starter? No chance.

Rather than bring back Rodgers-who they'll start all season--bring in a scrub starting QB who they can bench after 3-4 weeks.

I do think there's a chance Howard will get a chance to compete for the job if Rodgers doesn't come back. Absolutely. And I'm hoping he will be the starter. I don't want any weeks of Joe Flacco, not 3, not 4, none.

 

[slashsteel]

I do think there's a chance Howard will get a chance to compete for the job if Rodgers doesn't come back. Absolutely. And I'm hoping he will be the starter. I don't want any weeks of Joe Flacco, not 3, not 4, none.

Sure will get a chance under certain circumstances like they don’t bring in Willis or A ARon and another starter target.

Right now the odds aren’t in his favor.

 

[ExUSAF]

Okay... the die has been rolled and we now have McCarthy for the next 4 years.

What are "best case scenarios" at this point (and I'm trying to be as realistic as possible)

1. At QB, I do think the best case scenario is now Rogers comes back. I say that only because there is NO WAY McCarthy is going into 2026 with only Rudolph and Howard. Or somehow thinking he sees a starter between those two. Every other option that isn't Rogers seems bad to me and potentially REALLY bad. Like forcing a QB at pick #21 or 2nd rounder and McCarthy hitching his wagon trying to make a fringe B prospect into our franchise QB. I mean, we have to understand that is a very real possibility. We force a QB like we forced Pickett and we are wallowing in QB hell for the this entire 4-year experiment.

2. If Rogers does return, that also means we likely use "best player available" in this years draft, where we potentially have 5 picks in the top-100. We need speed and skill in my opinion. WR, DB are top priorities for me. Maybe some 3rd round talent depth at OL and DL.

3. Let's say we go into 2026 with Rogers. I'm not one to root for injuries but the guy is 43 and there is a very real possibility he doesn't last 2026 as our starter. We use our backups and the season goes to **** anyhow. Hello 2027 high draft pick.

4. If we do start to tank with an injured Rogers, the potential to trade Watt becomes very real.


So look, I wanted a "project 2027" type of attitude around here and there is a very real path I see to get there, maybe unintentionally because our franchise can't see two weeks ahead.

I think Rogers comes back and that in itself has the potential to really help a project 2027 attitude even if by mistake. Omar has had good drafts in the past couple years. Take forcing a QB off the table and I suspect he could do well again. The roster isn't all that bad. Needs a lot of depth, but draft picks will help.

This is what I am realistically hoping.

The nightmare scenario is we force someone like Simpson or Beck at pick #21. I think we all know that's a real possibility. And unless the tape and general internet opinion of those two prospects is wrong and either/or is a real franchise guy, think of how that will dictate our next 3-4 years around here.

All the other roster decisions are pretty much minor internet fodder. Sure we can cut this guy, sign this free agent, fill in this hole with someone different or the same, but the BIG decisions, the decisions that are going to make or break this franchise over the entire McCarthy era, start with what we do at QB right now, who we draft (how well Omar/McCarthy work) and what we do with Watt (i.e. can we get anything of worth for him, do we, and when). Those are the big three decisions in my opinion. Those are the game changers.

Where do you see McCarthy for the next 4 years? If you're just talking about the contract length we all know how that works around here. He's here till he decides to quit.

 

[slashsteel]

Where do you see McCarthy for the next 4 years? If you're just talking about the contract length we all know how that works around here. He's here till he decides to quit.

More than likely.

I have no faith in anything Rooney does.

There is no desire for greatness.

 

[deljzc]

Where do you see McCarthy for the next 4 years? If you're just talking about the contract length we all know how that works around here. He's here till he decides to quit.

Based on this hire, I don't think it works that way anymore. That's just my opinion. HIring a 2-time head coach that is age 62-63 does not smell like a guaranteed job until you want to hang it up type of agreement to me, either spoken or non-spoken. I think this reeks of Rooney being so butt hurt Tomlin left him, he just wanted to fill in with the next best thing exactly like him.

Look.... this could be bad. And I just don't see McCarthy as the guy to duct tape enough "locker room love" and "motivation" to turn 7-10 teams into 10-7 teams like Tomlin had some kind of magic to do.

If the wheels come off, they are going to come off in spectacular fashion. And instead of just a few friends of ours laughing about this hire Art Rooney Jr. just pulled, the entire league is going to start laughing at him. And even I think that will cause him to change his mind rather quickly.

But again, I don't know. Do you see him here until he's 70? 75?

The coach has been picked. Now the next big question is quarterback. And that could take a few years to figure out. But make no mistake, this is ALL ABOUT the coach and QB tandem that is formed out of this hiring.

Those have a tendency of either being magic or downright garbage. I'm hoping for magic. But if it's garbage, I don't think McCarthy gets a contract extension. Thus, a 4-year time frame and we have a new coach in 2030.

 

[deljzc]

First of all, "Rodgers" has a "d" in it.

What's WRONG with another year of Rodgers is that you don't find out if Will Howard is any good or not. Yeah, he was a sixth-round pick. I don't care. Purdy was the last guy taken in the 2022 draft, and he's turned out all right. You let Rudolph and Howard compete for the starting job. If Rudolph wins it, or Howard wins it but shlts the bed during the season, you have your answer, and you take a QB in a rich 2027 draft. If Howard succeeds, then you proceed with him.

Bringing back Rodgers makes absolutely zero sense to me. His advanced age was evident by the end of this season. I don't want to watch another version of him which is shorter of breath, and one year closer to death.

I think one year closer to death is exactly what this franchise needs. Now that Tomlin is gone and the "no losing season" BS is finally gone, maybe we can actually suck enough to fix the QB situation around here. That's what it took to get Bradshaw and Roethlisberger. And that's normally what it takes historically around the league.

It takes a top-10 pick in the right draft. There are exceptions. There are times pick #15 or pick #20 work. There are times non-first rounders work (rare). But if we want it to happen sooner rather than later, 2026 HAS to be a disaster. And I say bring it on.

Because all signs are pointing to a bunch of the same BS that drove me away from this team for a decade. Maybe that's good enough for you guys. Maybe nonsense and undisciplined football that gets you blown out in the playoffs is exactly what everyone wants around here. But I don't want that at all. I want suckage. I want to see the worst disfunctional crap all year. I want Watt to demand a trade. I want Heyward to get so frustrated he retires.

Let's blow this **** up.

I just see no other way to get good. You guys might. Hell, some think you already have Brock Purdy on the roster and we are a WR and some magic free agent away from being a Super Bowl champion. I don't see any of that. Not even close.

 

[slashsteel]

I think one year closer to death is exactly what this franchise needs. Now that Tomlin is gone and the "no losing season" BS is finally gone, maybe we can actually suck enough to fix the QB situation around here. That's what it took to get Bradshaw and Roethlisberger. And that's normally what it takes historically around the league.

It takes a top-10 pick in the right draft. There are exceptions. There are times pick #15 or pick #20 work. There are times non-first rounders work (rare). But if we want it to happen sooner rather than later, 2026 HAS to be a disaster. And I say bring it on.

Because all signs are pointing to a bunch of the same BS that drove me away from this team for a decade. Maybe that's good enough for you guys. Maybe nonsense and undisciplined football that gets you blown out in the playoffs is exactly what everyone wants around here. But I don't want that at all. I want suckage. I want to see the worst disfunctional crap all year. I want Watt to demand a trade. I want Heyward to get so frustrated he retires.

Let's blow this **** up.

I just see no other way to get good. You guys might. Hell, some think you already have Brock Purdy on the roster and we are a WR and some magic free agent away from being a Super Bowl champion. I don't see any of that. Not even close.

Well one way is for the owner to value SBs over regular season wins and to be ok with rebuilding.

The man in charge is holding this team back from greatness.

 

[SteelerFan448]

I do think there's a chance Howard will get a chance to compete for the job if Rodgers doesn't come back. Absolutely. And I'm hoping he will be the starter. I don't want any weeks of Joe Flacco, not 3, not 4, none.

And that there is exactly why you bring in a bad stopgap QB that is easily benched, not Rodgers.

 

[slashsteel]

And that there is exactly why you bring in a bad stopgap QB that is easily benched, not Rodgers.

Why not just draft a QB and let him compete for the start. Let them fight it out however long it takes and if that fails you probably are in a better position to draft a QB the following season.

If someone isn’t the answer they are just wasting time..

 

[SteelerFan448]

Why not just draft a QB and let him compete for the start. Let them fight it out however long it takes and if that fails you probably are in a better position to draft a QB the following season.

If someone isn’t the answer they are just wasting time..

Because ARII would rather go 9-8 and miss the playoffs with a veteran than see if they have a potential QB of the future on the roster at the risk of finishing below .500. Unless there's a more viable option, give me Willis on a 2 or 3-year deal or go with Howard/rookie. They just don't operate that way and they're going to try to sneak into the playoffs just to lose in the first round again.

 

[slashsteel]

Because ARII would rather go 9-8 and miss the playoffs with a veteran than see if they have a potential QB of the future on the roster at the risk of finishing below .500. Unless there's a more viable option, give me Willis on a 2 or 3-year deal or go with Howard/rookie. They just don't operate that way and they're going to try to sneak into the playoffs just to lose in the first round again.

Exactly. If they would have done right by us, I wouldn’t have been half as vocal.

It is ok for fans to want SB appearances or victories or being competitive enough to believe they have a chance at greatness.

When prompted Rooney doesn’t believe in rebuilding? His whole conversation revolved around winning. Where some owners will tell you we are here to win super-bowls.

Not sure how their outcomes will be better with him scaling down his preferences.

 

[Gildong Sack]

Not seeing Simpson as a nightmare situation. He has a good release and is accurate. I think he is a solid option now that he has dropped to late teens early twenties..

Whatever they do Rudy needs to be off the roster. Enough is enough. I prefer to let two young QBs fight it out for the job..

I think this is the plan with McCarthy, or the only way it makes sense to me. He's 62...he fulfills his 5 year contract and hopefully in that time helps us develop a new franchise QB. I'm thinking that's what the F.O. was thinking. Whether it's Howard(long shot) or someone they acquire or draft.

That is the BIG difference between the old Mike and the new Mike. The ability to fix our glaring flawed position.

 

[Gildong Sack]

And that there is exactly why you bring in a bad stopgap QB that is easily benched, not Rodgers.

That's a great point. The advantage of having GOAT back though is Howard gets one more year of the best tutor anyone in the NFL could have.

 

[Ron Burgundy]

Because ARII would rather go 9-8 and miss the playoffs with a veteran than see if they have a potential QB of the future on the roster at the risk of finishing below .500. Unless there's a more viable option, give me Willis on a 2 or 3-year deal or go with Howard/rookie. They just don't operate that way and they're going to try to sneak into the playoffs just to lose in the first round again.

Yup. I've been saying for a couple years now that if you look at it through the lens of "Short-term-get-to-nine-wins" then everything they do makes sense.
I'd say blow the whole mother up and start over, but that's not the "Steeler Way". Instead, stay mid-pack and draft mid-pack.

 

[Black & Gold Bleeder]

That's a great point. The advantage of having GOAT back though is Howard gets one more year of the best tutor anyone in the NFL could have.

and whomever else is in the qb room

 

[stuntmanmike]

I doesn’t take much quarterback to run the dink dink doink then punt west cost offense fathead Mike runs. What will be interesting is the wrs they bring in… we need a #1 in the worst way! the big man is an outstanding #2 receiver but we need a dependable #1 that can catch 10 balls a game a wr that can carry the team. Cuz this team isn’t going to be running the ball anywhere soon the wr position is critical. They need 2 receivers 2 dbs bad or a safety+ db. 5 picks in top 3 rounds they’ll be in the market for speed for sure. As to a qb just depends who’s available when they draft but I doubt they shoot very high for a qb in this draft. Cardboard's are just bare for qbs and They have plenty of other needs. They could bring in Wilson from Miami with new coach down there he might be available. With Rodgers and Mike working with him he could rehabilitate. Dude had a very strong arm and no worse than darnold! Rodgers struggled in that crap jets offense as much as Wilson be interesting.

 

[Aussie_Steeler]

Okay... the die has been rolled and we now have McCarthy for the next 4 years.

What are "best case scenarios" at this point (and I'm trying to be as realistic as possible)

1. At QB, I do think the best case scenario is now Rogers comes back. I say that only because there is NO WAY McCarthy is going into 2026 with only Rudolph and Howard. Or somehow thinking he sees a starter between those two. Every other option that isn't Rogers seems bad to me and potentially REALLY bad. Like forcing a QB at pick #21 or 2nd rounder and McCarthy hitching his wagon trying to make a fringe B prospect into our franchise QB. I mean, we have to understand that is a very real possibility. We force a QB like we forced Pickett and we are wallowing in QB hell for the this entire 4-year experiment.

2. If Rogers does return, that also means we likely use "best player available" in this years draft, where we potentially have 5 picks in the top-100. We need speed and skill in my opinion. WR, DB are top priorities for me. Maybe some 3rd round talent depth at OL and DL.

3. Let's say we go into 2026 with Rogers. I'm not one to root for injuries but the guy is 43 and there is a very real possibility he doesn't last 2026 as our starter. We use our backups and the season goes to **** anyhow. Hello 2027 high draft pick.

4. If we do start to tank with an injured Rogers, the potential to trade Watt becomes very real.


So look, I wanted a "project 2027" type of attitude around here and there is a very real path I see to get there, maybe unintentionally because our franchise can't see two weeks ahead.

I think Rogers comes back and that in itself has the potential to really help a project 2027 attitude even if by mistake. Omar has had good drafts in the past couple years. Take forcing a QB off the table and I suspect he could do well again. The roster isn't all that bad. Needs a lot of depth, but draft picks will help.

This is what I am realistically hoping.

The nightmare scenario is we force someone like Simpson or Beck at pick #21. I think we all know that's a real possibility. And unless the tape and general internet opinion of those two prospects is wrong and either/or is a real franchise guy, think of how that will dictate our next 3-4 years around here.

All the other roster decisions are pretty much minor internet fodder. Sure we can cut this guy, sign this free agent, fill in this hole with someone different or the same, but the BIG decisions, the decisions that are going to make or break this franchise over the entire McCarthy era, start with what we do at QB right now, who we draft (how well Omar/McCarthy work) and what we do with Watt (i.e. can we get anything of worth for him, do we, and when). Those are the big three decisions in my opinion. Those are the game changers.

I don't agree the roster needs a lot of depth. I think it has plenty of depth, but needs a couple more quality starters, mainly in the secondary and offensive skill positions (RB and WR - I'm ignoring QB for 2026 as the draft options suck). If the Steelers do get the projected compensatory picks. I'd like to see them use a few picks to move from the third round to the second and fourth round to the third. Given it would probably take two thirds to move up to the second, that would leave a first, 2 seconds and 2 thirds (plus 2 or 3 third day picks).

 

[Aussie_Steeler]

He has a faster release than Kenny, he doesn’t drift into sacks, as far as I know he doesn’t have midget hands but that is a wait and see…

Kenny has some peeps snake bitten, I don’t think this guy is Kenny. Will he be a starter ? Possibly. A franchise? I don’t know but we can’t go into this process and never swing. You don’t get home runs sitting in the dugout…

And swinging at everything you strike out a lot more than you get home runs - just ask the Browns and the Jets. Better to build the team that will be around the quarterback and only swing on days one and two of the draft when you believe that you're a great chance of connecting. History shows more home runs are scored with a quarterback who comes into a good situation than by those who keep swinging for the sake of it.

 

[slashsteel]

And swinging at everything you strike out a lot more than you get home runs - just ask the Browns and the Jets. Better to build the team that will be around the quarterback and only swing on days one and two of the draft when you believe that you're a great chance of connecting. History shows more home runs are scored with a quarterback who comes into a good situation than by those who keep swinging for the sake of it.

Browns and Jets are in the positions they are from being inept.

I don’t suggest that they swing at everything.

They should stick to their evaluations and swing when they are more confident vs less confident.

As far as odds go I will let them decide when to pull the trigger in what round. I am for trade ups and downs as well as standing pat for BPAs.

I never forget that time the Redskins drafted two QBs . And know teams that have drafted QBs in two consecutive years…whatever it takes.

 

[fedderone]

Based on this hire, I don't think it works that way anymore. That's just my opinion. HIring a 2-time head coach that is age 62-63 does not smell like a guaranteed job until you want to hang it up type of agreement to me, either spoken or non-spoken. I think this reeks of Rooney being so butt hurt Tomlin left him, he just wanted to fill in with the next best thing exactly like him.

Look.... this could be bad. And I just don't see McCarthy as the guy to duct tape enough "locker room love" and "motivation" to turn 7-10 teams into 10-7 teams like Tomlin had some kind of magic to do.

If the wheels come off, they are going to come off in spectacular fashion. And instead of just a few friends of ours laughing about this hire Art Rooney Jr. just pulled, the entire league is going to start laughing at him. And even I think that will cause him to change his mind rather quickly.

But again, I don't know. Do you see him here until he's 70? 75?

The coach has been picked. Now the next big question is quarterback. And that could take a few years to figure out. But make no mistake, this is ALL ABOUT the coach and QB tandem that is formed out of this hiring.

Those have a tendency of either being magic or downright garbage. I'm hoping for magic. But if it's garbage, I don't think McCarthy gets a contract extension. Thus, a 4-year time frame and we have a new coach in 2030.

And maybe that is when Art II hands it over to Danny and we get a TOTAL house cleaning.....like we needed when Tomlin stepped down.

 

[timsim00]

Now that he is here, McCarthy, we make the most of it, right? No going back now. He is an offensive minded coach, has groomed some known QB's, and can pull in quality coaches to be on his staff.

Another plus, we didn't hire Shula. I was on the Shula train, I think he will be a great coach, but man his defense over the past two weeks has been very disappointing. We were not going to get the best coach available because our situation is not great....aging players, QB questions, missing key player positions, etc.

For now, it is Coach Mike (thankfully no longer Mike Tomlin) so let's make that damn lemonade.