Potential weak links for Steelers playoff hopes in 2022
By Shayne Kubas
Steelers have uncertainty at QB
The most important position battle that the Steelers have in training camp this season is at QB. Three players are in the running, a very rare thing to see so close to the start of the season. The front runner so far seems to be Mitchell Trubisky, but reports about him from camp so far have been very up and down. Mason Rudolph has been the best QB in practices so far, but he already knows the offense and the roster. Pickett has slowly been mixed in with different units but hasn’t separated himself from the others.
It’s hard to say who will end up winning the job, but it may end up not meaning much. None of these players have established themselves as starting-caliber passers. Trubisky has the most experience, but his results to this point are mixed at best.
Rudolph is who he is at this point: a good backup but lacks the traits to be a good starter. Kenny Pickett was considered the most pro-ready QB in this class by many evaluators, but the Steelers are trying to win right now. Asking a rookie QB to lead you to a winning season is rarely a good bet.
That being said, that is exactly what Ben Roethlisberger did back in 2004. The league is very different now, however, and Pickett isn’t exactly the caliber of QB prospect Ben was. The most likely outcome is that Trubisky begins the season as the starter, with Rudolph and Pickett battling for the backup role. The Steelers are hoping one of these guys can be the answer for at least this year, but it wouldn’t be surprising if they all struggle. Even if the defense, weapons, and special teams are all great, having unreliable QB play can easily sink the Steelers season.
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It’s likely that at least one of these positions turns out to be fine, but if that doesn’t happen things could get ugly for the Steelers this season. Hopefully, they can add more players in the secondary and the offensive line before the season kicks off. If not, one or two injuries could become a huge problem.