2012 position-by-position review: Quarterback
Well, the Ravens are the Super Bowl champions, while the Steelers didn’t even make the playoffs. That’s not quite a zombie apocalypse, but it’s close.
But despite the despair that we all feel, life must go on. So it’s time to review the Steelers 2012 team. Let’s start at the quarterback position.
It might be easier if I just pulled out last year’s quarterback review and re-posted it. After all, not much has changed. Ben Roethlisberger is still the entrenched starter, and Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch are still the aging backups who are only called upon in dire emergencies.
So let’s start with the backups and work our way back to the starter.
Charlie Batch
I know everyone loves Charlie Batch. So do I. He’s a great guy. He gives back to the community. And he’s from Pittsburgh.
But let’s face it. Charlie’s old. In fact, he’s practically prehistoric by NFL standards.
Most NFL quarterbacks are out of the league long before they reach their 38th birthday. But Charlie’s still holding on. Unfortunately, it’s time for that to end.
The Steelers need backup quarterbacks who are in their 20′s, not approaching their 40′s. Fans are quick to point out that Charlie beat the Ravens this year. But they’re just as quick to forget that he lost to the Browns.
After 14 seasons in the NFL, it’s time to say “goodbye”. Sorry Charlie.
Byron Leftwich
I used to be a big supporter of Byron Leftwich. But not anymore. Frankly, if I had to choose between Byron Leftwich and Charlie Batch, I’d choose Batch.
Byron just doesn’t seem to have it anymore. He’s always had problems with his slow delivery. But he threw the ball so hard, that the zip on his passes made up for his slow delivery. But these days, it seems like Byron is more of a liability than an asset.
Is it just me, or does it seem like Byron’s accuracy has completely left him? His QB rating this year was only 54.9. That’s JaMarcus Russell territory. Not good.
In the two games that Byron appeared in this year, he completed less than half of his passes, threw 1 interception, was sacked 3 times, and threw no touchdown passes. Couldn’t a 24 year old developmental backup give us that same level of production? He’d be much less expensive than Byron, and he’d give us just as much on the field.
It’s time for the Steelers to once again do what they did when they brought in Byron and Charlie. It’s time to sign a veteran to be the Steelers’ primary backup. Then they need to add a developmental quarterback who is in his 20′s to be the team’s third string QB.
Ben Roethlisberger
Big Ben is the Steelers’ starting quarterback, and he will be for the foreseeable future. He’s the team’ best hope of picking up a 7th Lombardi Trophy.
Ben Roethlisberger
Ben had a good, but not great season in 2012. But much of that wasn’t under his control. Ben was having a stellar season until he got hurt. when he came back from his injury, he didn’t seem to be the same quarterback.
But the biggest issue with Ben this season was his adjustment to new offensive coordinator Todd Haley. Haley’s system was both a blessing and a curse for Ben. It made him a more efficient quarterback, and it drastically reduced the number of times Ben was sacked. But it also took away what made Ben great in the first place.
Ben is a strong-armed quarterback who loves tossing passes waaaaaaay down the field. But Haley seems to have eliminated that portion of Ben’s game. And both Ben and Mike Wallace have suffered because of it. Ben had the 2nd lowest yards-per-pass average of his career, and Mike Wallace was rendered ineffective as a possession receiver.
Ben also got rid of the ball a lot sooner than he had in the past. He threw the ball away, or dumped it off to a running back, rather than scrambling around and playing “sandlot football” like he’s done for most of his career.
Frankly, I like the changes. I never liked seeing Ben take 40+ sacks per season. But I do miss the long passes to Wallace. That had become my favorite part of the Steelers’ offense.
In summary, I think the Steelers should only bring back one of the three quarterbacks currently on their roster. Do you agree? If not, why not?
I agree with your assessment of all 3 QBs. However I do think they should bring ONE and only one of the backups back, just to give some continuity at the position. Two guys, new to the system would concern me.
If Charlie can still do it, I’d prefer him. Leftwich, when called on, has almost never been healthy. He had his first start for the Steelers EVER this past season. And got hurt. On the first drive. He got hurt the year Ben was suspended. As the line from “Any Given Sunday” goes: What, did he fall off the bench?
I thought they had a couple of interesting guys last season (Johnson in preseason, Hoyer during). Remember these are backing Roeth, so they don’t have to be great, but they do have to be available to play, and not have been a backup for Joe Namath.
1Jim,
I actually thought about bringing one of them back too. But then I realized that would mean that we’d have to keep Byron or Charlie for one more year. And the idea of doing that just seemed unacceptable.
If we brought in a veteran, he would be able to go through training camp, so it shouldn’t be so bad. Same with a rookie.
Besides, they’re backing up Ben Roethlisberger. That means that they’ll never set foot on the field anyway. As you know, Big Ben doesn’t come out of the game even if it’s a blowout.
2@ Admin
“Besides, they’re backing up Ben Roethlisberger. That means that they’ll never set foot on the field anyway. As you know, Big Ben doesn’t come out of the game even if it’s a blowout.”
Or if he can only stand on one leg. Good point! Maybe two new is the way to go.
3Leftwich is made from tissue paper at this point. No point in having an injury prone #2 QB. I think Charlie’s win against the Ravens was his swan song. He wanted that one more that I think I’ve seen anyone want anything. I wouldn’t be surprised if he retires.
I wouldn’t mind Brian Hoyer. He isn’t bad, The Pats got rid of him due to Ryan Mallett’s potential. The Cardinals picked him up, though that team was a waste. Or even better, how about Matt Moore?
I don’t like the idea of a young guy to “groom”in Pittsburgh yet, because he’ll probably just rot on the bench at 3rd string. Ben only comes off if he’s injured, and with a franchise guy in place, you want a reliable veteran to back him up. When it is time for the Steelers to get a young QB, it will probably be a fairly high draft pick. And this year is not the year to do that, due to still having Ben, having many other holes, and this year’s QB class being downright abysmal.
4Dan,
I agree. Leftwich is just too injury prone. I still don’t understand how a quarterback can always be hurt, even though he never plays.
there’s something fundamentally wrong with that.
I’m not looking for the Steelers to draft a franchise quarterback who will eventually be Ben’s replacement. I’m just looking for them to pick up a Cliff Stoudt (remember him?). A dependable guy who can play in a pinch, but who will qualify for his NFL pension before he makes his first NFL start (like Cliff Stoudt so famously did). He would be the #3. He could even be an undrafted free agent. Then I’d sign a veteran free agent QB to be the #2 guy.
5Jim,
6It always irritated me that Ben didn’t come out of games when he was obviously hurt. He cost the team more than a few games by doing that. I wish the coaches had the courage to stand up to him and tell him that he’s not playing when he’s hurt (or when the team is leading by 21 points in the 4th quarter).
@Admin-
I think you are right about standing up to Ben. Ultimately Tomlin has the final call. It was the 49′ers game in 2011 that blew my mind. And it was the Browns game that cost us a real shot at the playoffs, with little chance of anything to gain in that one.
It’s was one of the few times I was very critical of Tomlin.
He doesn’t let Ryan Clark play in Denver, but he let’s Ben play whenever he wants?
Do you recall a few years ago, when Ben finally switched to the new (safer / less concussion) helmet? He said it made him feel uncomfortable, but he was finally going to wear it.
I can’t figure him out sometimes.
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