Steelers Sign Tajh Boyd. Goodbye Landry Jones?
By Zack Goncz
The Pittsburgh Steelers signed former Clemson star Tajh Boyd Friday morning as reported by ESPN. ESPN reporter Scott Brown wrote, “The Pittsburgh Steelers added an intriguing quarterback to their roster Friday when they signed Tajh Boyd to a one-year contract.” Intriguing indeed.
It’s intriguing because the young QB has a great deal of talent and could be the future number three QB, and in the more distant future number two QB on the roster. The mere fact that his name is not Landry Jones is enough to make Steelers fans happy.
Now we all have to remember athletes are human beings too. They have feelings and I’m sure Landry Jones is a nice guy. There’s a reason I personally don’t do business with friends or family however, because things like that should not factor into business decisions.
Landry Jones has had plenty of opportunity. He was drafted with the intent of eventually making him the number two behind Roethlisberger and maybe even taking the reigns of the offense whenever Roethlisberger retires. Take a moment to think about that. He has not even come close to living up to those expectations. He hasn’t even dressed for a game in the past two seasons despite Roethlisberger’s injury history.
Since being drafted in the 4th round in 2013 he’s been featured prominently in the preseason. I would argue that’s part of the reason our preseason record has been so poor the past couple of years. In the last two years Coach Tomlin has won 1 single preseason game.
That’s the worst record of any coach who has coached in both of those years. Much of that is due to Landry Jones. Tomlin has rightfully placed the ball in his hands in crunch time to develop him. The record speaks for itself. He neither delivers nor develops.
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No one expects the third string QB to throw 400 yards. He doesn’t need to have off the charts talent. Bruce Gradkowski has been a serviceable backup and he does not have particularly good stats (52.9% career completion percentage). The difference is Gradkowski has poise, confidence, and leadership.
Jones looks scared, frustrated, and confused out there. It reverberates through the rest of the offense when he’s behind center. Every pass feels like a prayer.
Boyd is more than just the obligatory 4th training camp QB. He’s got a solid college background. He’s the all-time ACC leader in passing yards (11904 yds) and passing touchdowns (107 TDs). Boyd also had an additional 1164 yards and 26 touchdowns on the ground. He clearly has the skills to at least compete and is already familiar with one of the receiver’s on the roster, Clemson alum Martavis Bryant.
Now to be fair, Boyd was only a 6th round pick while Jones was a 4th. Also, Boyd was cut from the Jets last year. His stats in college were also buoyed by throwing to the likes of Sammy Watkins, DeAndre Hopkins, and Bryant. Its not a done deal that he’ll take the 3rd QB spot on the roster.
However, if the Steelers’ logic is anything like mine they’ll stick with Boyd unless Jones shows a complete 180 in how he plays the game. Maybe he will.
The offensive line is improved without a doubt. Maybe that’s what he needs. He’s certainly a pocket passer and there hasn’t been much of a pocket for most of his time here. We’ll find out this August though.
If you’re a gambler, which I would never endorse, you’re better off taking a bet you don’t know the odds for over one that you do, provided you know the odds of the latter bet are poor. What’s the worst that could happen? He could be as bad as Jones, then you’re just in the same position again.