Road to Replacing Roethlisberger Could Be Treacherous One

[Steeler Nation]

Amidst all the worrying, finger-pointing, and looking ahead being done within the Pittsburgh Steelers organization right now, there is one universally accepted point: the Steelers need a new franchise quarterback.

Super Bowl betting odds show there is a correlation between having a strong quarterback and bringing home Lombardi Trophies. How to replace a multiple-time Super Bowl champion and future Hall of Famer under center isn’t something Steelers fans of a certain age will be un-accustomed to.

What Pittsburgh hopes for is less of a sustained search than last time around. After Terry Bradshaw retired in 1983, the Steelers would only make one Super Bowl appearance before Ben Roethlisberger fell in their laps during the first round of the 2004 NFL Draft. The Steelers’ methods of doing so after Bradshaw deserve some examination, as Pittsburgh tried every method of bringing in the next guy.

Malone Had Great Mustache, Questionable Passing Acumen​

Following a 31-19 win over the Rams in Super Bowl XIV, the Steelers took a forward-thinking approach to the 1980 NFL draft and selected Arizona State quarterback Mark Malone with the final pick of the first round. This is notable because Malone would be the last first-round pick the Steelers used on a quarterback until Roethlisberger showed up. Malone played sparingly in his first three seasons but would set Pittsburgh’s record for longest touchdown catch when he hauled in a 90-yard touchdown pass in a 1981 game against the Seattle Seahawks.

Malone did break into the starting lineup during the 1984 season and showed some promise. He led the Steelers to the AFC championship game, upsetting the Broncos in the divisional round with 224 passing yards and a touchdown. However, Pittsburgh would get pasted in the championship game against the Miami Dolphins, who were led by Pittsburgh native Dan Marino, who passed for 421 yards and four touchdowns.

Malone countered with 312 yards and three touchdowns of his own but also threw three interceptions in a 45-28 loss. Malone, however, was often beset by injury and never started a full season with the Steelers. In seven seasons with the Steelers, Malone compiled a 21-24 record as a starter, throwing 54 touchdowns and 68 interceptions.

Stewart an Innovator No One Knew What to Do With​

Kordell Stewart came to the Steelers in 1995 as a second-round pick out of Colorado who had loads of potential. Finding an offensive coordinator who could tailor a scheme around Stewart proved to be a challenge. Stewart played under Chan Gailey, Ray Sherman, Kevin Gilbride and Mike Mularkey.

Stewart had his best season in 2001 under Mularkey, finishing fourth in MVP voting. Stewart compiled 3,109 passing yards and threw 14 touchdown passes in addition to rushing for 537 yards and five scores. Kordell, who compiled a 46-29 record as a starter in Pittsburgh, just couldn’t make the tight passes in the playoffs.

In the 1997 and 2001 postseasons, where the Steelers lost in the AFC title game to the Denver Broncos and New England Patriots, Stewart threw four interceptions against one touchdown pass and only completed 48.6 percent of his passes.

Tommy Gun​

The Steelers tried many times through free agency to get a quarterback, but retreads like Mike Tomczak, Kent Graham, David Woodley, and Todd Blackledge only had cups of coffee with the organization. Former XFL champion and first-round pick of the Broncos Tommy Maddox, however, had one season to remember.

Maddox, who was drafted out of UCLA by the Denver Broncos to replace John Elway, came on to replace Stewart in 2002 and compiled a 7-3-1 record under center. Maddox passed for 2,836 yards and threw 20 touchdowns that season to help the Steelers reach the divisional round. After leading the Steelers to an improbable, come-from-behind win over Cleveland in the playoffs, he was named Comeback Player of the Year.

The shine quickly came off the apple the next year. Maddox tossed 17 interceptions and the Steelers fell to 6-10 despite his 3,414 passing yards. Maddox’s injury in the 2004 season gave way to Roethlisberger becoming the full-time starter through this season. Maddox’s ineffectiveness as a backup would lead to him being passed on the depth chart by Charlie Batch.

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[FSF]

Mark Malone was far worse than this article describes. The only reason he was drafted in 1980 is because he was an incredible athlete—his ability to play QB wasn’t in the Steelers forefront. Just consider that in 1983; he wasn’t even considered to be the starter when Bradshaw was hurt. They traded for David Woodley to compete (and he won) the starting job in 1984. His only success came when Stallworth and Lipps were out of this world.

The guy was so bad he drove a man to drive his truck into Three Rivers Stadium, literally inside and nearly hit employees until he went on the field and went through the motions of kicking phantom field goals until the police came to arrest him.

All he could say when being taken away by the police was “I can’t take Mark Malone anymore.”

 

[FSF]

Kordell wasn’t some QB “ahead of his time” or someone who they didn’t know what to do with. Simply put, he was limited as a passer. He just was not that accurate & made terrible decisions.

His two quality seasons, he had Yancey Thigpen/Charles Johnson & Hines Ward/Plaxico Burress as WRs—Thigpen set the team yardage record and Ward set team reception record.

Jerome Bettis had his two best seasons as a pro, finishing 3rd in 1997 and was leading the NFL in rushing on pace to hit 1700 before a groin injury sidelined him rest of the season.

The OL in 1997 was incredible and even better in 2001.

Kordell had all of the advantages to take the Steelers to the Super Bowl, but threw 6 (not 4) INTs in two AFCCGs. Against Denver he threw 2 in the End Zone (a Bill Cowher said he thought of all the teams the 1997 team had the best chance of winning the Super Bowl).

Stewart couldn’t even make it 3 games into 2002, despite the stacked offense he had. They put a lot of non into Stewart after 1997 and it got him more chances than he really earned.

 

[SteelBuckeye]

Mark Malone was far worse than this article describes. The only reason he was drafted in 1980 is because he was an incredible athlete—his ability to play QB wasn’t in the Steelers forefront. Just consider that in 1983; he wasn’t even considered to be the starter when Bradshaw was hurt. They traded for David Woodley to compete (and he won) the starting job in 1984. His only success came when Stallworth and Lipps were out of this world.

The guy was so bad he drove a man to drive his truck into Three Rivers Stadium, literally inside and nearly hit employees until he went on the field and went through the motions of kicking phantom field goals until the police came to arrest him.

All he could say when being taken away by the police was “I can’t take Mark Malone anymore.”

Malone was so bad he drove a man from Wintersville, OH to drive to Three Rivers at half-time of a game and sit in the parking lot waiting for Malone to head to his car. When Malone emerged, the guy gunned his car and drove past, barely missing Malone. The fan was leaning out of his driver's side window cussing Malone and yelling about how he was upset he missed him.
Even Graham, Tomczak and Kordell didn't have people literally try to kill them.

 

[livingthrudying]

Left out O'Donnell

 

[troymania]

I still believe to this day, that if Stewart would have stayed at WR he could have had an all-pro career.

 

[FSF]

Malone was so bad he drove a man from Wintersville, OH to drive to Three Rivers at half-time of a game and sit in the parking lot waiting for Malone to head to his car. When Malone emerged, the guy gunned his car and drove past, barely missing Malone. The fan was leaning out of his driver's side window cussing Malone and yelling about how he was upset he missed him.
Even Graham, Tomczak and Kordell didn't have people literally try to kill them.

I had not heard that one… wow.

Kordell suffered booing & the perpetuation of rumors about his sexuality, but he faced nothing remotely close to that of Malone.

The signs that once hung in Three Rivers celebrating Franco’s Italian Army & more were replaced with Dear Santa, Get us a QB: Ours is Broken, QB Rating 46.2, Malone: Stay on Strike.

Tomczak didn’t get the terrible treatment that others did because he was really like Charlie Batch, no one expected him to be the answer but was liked for the backup role ever since he replaced Neil O’Donnell for 2 games in 1994 and not only went 2-0 in the two of the toughest games of the season (vs. Miami for best record in Conference & vs. Raiders who were white hot) but did so with probably the best passing games all year. Tomczak outplayed Marino in OT win — it’s very possible the limited O’Donnell might not have won both.

Graham wasn’t around long enough to get the treatment & I can’t help but think he was a bit of the sacrificial lamb that enabled Kordell to come off bench and succeed (and it did work).

 

[suncitysteel]

I will always remember Tomczak for the hit he took from the Lions...



"Keep your head on a swivel".

 

[Drink IRON City]

Don't sell Kordell short as he most certainly was one of the most exciting players in the NFL. His SLASH role was unmatched. He was also the first QB for the STEELERS to have over a 60% season completion rating.

I'm not saying Kordell was a great QB but I am saying he was not as bad as some like to think he was.




Salute the nation

 

[FSF]

Don't sell Kordell short as he most certainly was one of the most exciting players in the NFL. His SLASH role was unmatched. He was also the first QB for the STEELERS to have over a 60% season completion rating.

I'm not saying Kordell was a great QB but I am saying he was not as bad as some like to think he was.




Salute the nation

Tommy Maddox took over for him and he proceeded top 62% in 2002 and for 3414 yards in 2003 (at the time 2nd highest in franchise history only to Bradshaw in 1979).

When under center for effectively the same core of players—Maddox far outplayed Kordell.

At his best, Stewart could throw it to a spot but not to hit someone in stride. He couldn’t mount anything on offense vs. Patriots in 2001 - and the Steelers were far a better team. Stewart would never bring you back from trailing, he had no margin for error, and his being the first to top 60% speaks more to how bad our QBs were vs. how good he was.

No, Kordell was as bad as remember. I’ve often said if it were Stewart that got hurt instead of Brady in 2001 AFCCG, Steelers would have won & stand by that