Tuesday, Jan 18, 2022. 6:39 PM
PITTSBURGH — For the first time since his long reign at the helm of the Pittsburgh Steelers, Mike Tomlin enters the offseason uncertain of the identity of his quarterback next fall.
The only certainty is that it won’t be Ben Roethlisberger, who by all indications he himself has given will end an 18-season career in the National Football League.
Perhaps it will be Dwayne Haskins, quarterback of the Pittsburgh Steelers, died: he was 24 years old”>Mason Rudolph, who spent four years in a backup role with mixed results and is the only quarterback on the current roster already under contract. Maybe it will be Dwayne Haskins, who failed in Washington before Tomlin opened the door to him from the Steelers last January. Maybe it will be a rookie. Or a veteran free agent looking for a job.
For Tomlin, the situation is exciting and yes, maybe a little weird.
“It’s a challenge,” he admitted Tuesday, two days after a thaw at the hands of the Kansas City Chiefs in the first round of the playoffs that ended his 15th season in charge of the Steelers.
“It puts you in an uncomfortable situation. But I have learned to face these challenges. I have learned to appreciate these challenges. The uncertainty around them inspires me in terms of producing work. »
Rudolph has a career-high 5-4-1 record as a starter, but has struggled with his only long field goal this season.
Called on to replace Roethlisberger, who was absent after testing positive for COVID-19, Rudolph threw a touchdown pass and was the victim of an interception in an unsightly tie against the Detroit Lions in November.
Haskins hasn’t done anything worthwhile in less than two seasons with Washington, who claimed him 15th overall in the 2019 draft. In 2021, he was the Steelers’ third quarterback.
“These are guys who started (games),” Tomlin said. of the competition. »
Tomlin has never made a secret that he would like to find a quarterback who can move, a quality that was not part of Roethlisberger’s arsenal for several years.
“Quarterback mobility is seen not only by me, but by everyone, as a growing part of football today,” Tomlin said.
While mystery surrounds the identity of the Steelers’ future quarterback in 2022, it seems the picture is a little clearer about the team’s offensive coordinator.
Tomlin admitted the offense hasn’t produced as much as he would have liked under Matt Canada in his first year in that role. The Steelers finished in the bottom half of the NFL standings in yards gained and points scored.
However, Tomlin hinted that Canada will be given another chance.
“I don’t show full satisfaction with any element (of the attack). I’m just acknowledging that it brings aspects that are appealing. Also, we have to be better and we will be. »
