Throughout the preseason, one of the most glaring holes for the Steelers’ has been the backup quarterback position; a problem that doesn’t seem bad but certainly can be catastrophic. Obviously Ben Roethlisberger is the team’s sure starter and will excel, but what happens if tragedy hits and he can’t play?
Landry Jones was drafted in the fourth round of the 2013 draft and expected to be groomed into the QB depth chart, first as a third stringer and eventually take over Bruce Gradkowski‘s spot as he aged. With Gradkowski’s injured shoulder this offseason, Jones was thrust into backup duties.
In three preseason games so far, Jones has been magnificently average; and even worse, the averageness has come facing second string defenses. He’s thrown 49 completions on 97 passes for 500 yards, three TDs, and two picks, all for a total QBR of 67.4. These mediocre stats have led the Steelers to look elsewhere for a backup.
Luckily, Pittsburgh may have found a solution to their QB conundrum: Michael Vick.
Dec 28, 2014; Miami Gardens, FL, USA; New York Jets quarterback
Michael Vick(1) prior to the game against the Miami Dolphins at Sun Life Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Brad Barr-USA TODAY Sports
Vick, who was thrown into infamy after the dog fighting scandal in 2007, skyrocketed to fame while in Atlanta and returned to the league after his arrest in 2009 where he put up solid numbers for the Philadelphia Eagles and New York Jets.
Now, the 35-year-old speedy QB is looking for a place to finish off his career in and he is currently meeting with the Steelers to discuss a contract. He would be a perfect fit into Todd Haley’s offense (as the offense thrives with a QB that can extend the play) and could be a great fill in under center if Ben can’t play for some reason.
However, there is a downside to signing Vick, his unpopularity with fans. The dogfighting scandal became an extremely publicized arrest and trail and Vick quickly became an enemy to most NFL fans and people in general. He has spent the last few years trying to mend these broken relationships and has relatively done so.
Despite his past, the scrutinized veteran QB could be the answer to all of the Steelers’ QB problems; but only time will tell if he will officially be coming to Pittsburgh or not.
Next: Steelers AFC North Preview
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