OT: rank the post-Ben Steeler QBs

[Fk_Pitt]

Another Kenny thread relevant for a Pitt board.

How would you rank the Steeler QBs since Ben retired? In my opinion, very little separates 1 through 4. # 5 is a slam dunk. I could see a Russ and Kenny flip flop in my list. But here goes mine:

1) Mason
2) Fields
3) Russ
4) Kenny
-
-
-
5) Mitch


What say you?

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

​

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

1) Russ
2) Fields
t3) Pickett/Rudolph
(maybe Rudolph based on strict results, but I think Pickett has more talent so I'd choose him if the criteria is who you'd rather have playing the position)
5) Did Boswell throw any passes?
6) Direct snap to Najee or Friermuth (I assume we've done it at least once)
7) Mitch

 

[Fk_Pitt]

1) Russ
2) Fields
t3) Pickett/Rudolph
(maybe Rudolph based on strict results, but I think Pickett has more talent so I'd choose him if the criteria is who you'd rather have playing the position)
5) Did Boswell throw any passes?
6) Direct snap to Najee or Friermuth (I assume we've done it at least once)
7) Mitch

Rudolph had the benefit of pushing the ball down the field the last three games last year post Canada that might skew things in favor of him. Whether it was a post Canada offense or a “nothing to lose” attitude that he worked outside of Tomlin’s shackles remains a mystery. But I think he was 8-4 or something as a starter. Kenny had a pretty good record too, but his numbers are way too bad outside of 4th quarters for me to put higher. Russ was good for a couple of games but then fell off a cliff. Fields had a small sample size and a 4-2 record with much better TD numbers in 6 games than Kenny had in 20+. Fields legs account for a lot of production in my eyes. I’d feel differently about him overall if the ball bounced the other way on all those fumbles he had. But they bounced his way so I’ll put him near the top of the list.

All of this being said, Mason at 4 million per year as a starter provides way more value than Russ at 20+ million and Justin at 20+ million. And Rodgers at whatever he commands.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

Rudolph had the benefit of pushing the ball down the field the last three games last year post Canada that might skew things in favor of him. Whether it was a post Canada offense or a “nothing to lose” attitude that he worked outside of Tomlin’s shackles remains a mystery. But I think he was 8-4 or something as a starter. Kenny had a pretty good record too, but his numbers are way too bad outside of 4th quarters for me to put higher. Russ was good for a couple of games but then fell off a cliff. Fields had a small sample size and a 4-2 record with much better TD numbers in 6 games than Kenny had in 20+. Fields legs account for a lot of production in my eyes. I’d feel differently about him overall if the ball bounced the other way on all those fumbles he had. But they bounced his way so I’ll put him near the top of the list.

All of this being said, Mason at 4 million per year as a starter provides way more value than Russ at 20+ million and Justin at 20+ million. And Rodgers at whatever he commands.

i actually like Fields but that colts game was sooooo bad that its impossible for me to not over evaluate that game to his detriment. unfair i know..

Honestly, if i had to pick one for the steelers, in 2025, forgetting about everything that happened in the past for them all, good or bad, with our two WRs in DK and Pickens, i honestly think i'd choose Rudolph with his actual ability to throw the ball downfield and in the middle of the field with his accuracy.

Followed closely behind with Fields and Pickett as 2a and 2b. i want nothing to do with Russ, i have him as 4th. that trubisky clown doesnt even deserve my acknowledgement or recognition to be on this list..

 

[TheWerewolfFromTwilight]

Rudolph had the benefit of pushing the ball down the field the last three games last year post Canada that might skew things in favor of him. Whether it was a post Canada offense or a “nothing to lose” attitude that he worked outside of Tomlin’s shackles remains a mystery. But I think he was 8-4 or something as a starter. Kenny had a pretty good record too, but his numbers are way too bad outside of 4th quarters for me to put higher. Russ was good for a couple of games but then fell off a cliff. Fields had a small sample size and a 4-2 record with much better TD numbers in 6 games than Kenny had in 20+. Fields legs account for a lot of production in my eyes. I’d feel differently about him overall if the ball bounced the other way on all those fumbles he had. But they bounced his way so I’ll put him near the top of the list.

All of this being said, Mason at 4 million per year as a starter provides way more value than Russ at 20+ million and Justin at 20+ million. And Rodgers at whatever he commands.

Pickett Trigger Warning (though I'm trying to be as nice as possible)
In my opinion, it wasn't that Pickett wasn't allowed to push the ball downfield. Of course he was! Tomlin talked a few times about them wanting to get him playing in the first 3 quarters like he did in some 4th quarters. They just couldn't figure it out. I'm sure they've also restricted him at times; I'm just saying I don't think they had some rule where he wasn't allowed to throw downfield. He also seemed very uncomfortable to me with the pre-snap stuff and reading defenses. One of the things Russ was hailed for was calling out the protections, etc. And it kind of seemed like that lauding was based on the previous guy(s) not doing such a good job with that.

I don't like Rudolph because of the eye test. I'm not pretending to be some football guru, but there are certain people I can just look at and know I never want them playing for my team. Joey Yellen at Pitt was one. Yeah, they might make some plays. But Rudolph lacked athleticism and arm talent (in my opinion), so that's a hard pass. Not saying he couldn't throw a deep ball well, but that's not always one of the more difficult throws to make. If he makes any starts this season I simply won't watch. I'm not going to subject myself to any more Mason Rudolph.

And yeah - he, at like 1/5 - 1/8th the cost, might technically be better value than guys like Wilson or Rodgers... but I don't mind going all in on the better player if it's just a one (or maybe even two) year deal. Cause you don't get any rewards if you don't spend right up to the cap. I guess that argument becomes a little more convoluted if we're talking about Rudolph + other big free agents vs Rodgers/Wilson.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

Pickett Trigger Warning (though I'm trying to be as nice as possible)
In my opinion, it wasn't that Pickett wasn't allowed to push the ball downfield. Of course he was! Tomlin talked a few times about them wanting to get him playing in the first 3 quarters like he did in some 4th quarters. They just couldn't figure it out. I'm sure they've also restricted him at times; I'm just saying I don't think they had some rule where he wasn't allowed to throw downfield. He also seemed very uncomfortable to me with the pre-snap stuff and reading defenses. One of the things Russ was hailed for was calling out the protections, etc. And it kind of seemed like that lauding was based on the previous guy(s) not doing such a good job with that.

I don't like Rudolph because of the eye test. I'm not pretending to be some football guru, but there are certain people I can just look at and know I never want them playing for my team. Joey Yellen at Pitt was one. Yeah, they might make some plays. But Rudolph lacked athleticism and arm talent (in my opinion), so that's a hard pass. Not saying he couldn't throw a deep ball well, but that's not always one of the more difficult throws to make. If he makes any starts this season I simply won't watch. I'm not going to subject myself to any more Mason Rudolph.

And yeah - he, at like 1/5 - 1/8th the cost, might technically be better value than guys like Wilson or Rodgers... but I don't mind going all in on the better player if it's just a one (or maybe even two) year deal. Cause you don't get any rewards if you don't spend right up to the cap. I guess that argument becomes a little more convoluted if we're talking about Rudolph + other big free agents vs Rodgers/Wilson.

Nothing triggering about your post. You were rougher on Mason than Kenny.

And I’m not going to disagree on the Kenny stuff. I remember a time where we thought Kenny’s pre-snap reads were really good. Turns out that was in preseason with vanilla defenses. That said, I’ll die on the hill that Kenny would have been able to develop as a young QB if he had decent interior pass protection. We knew at Pitt that he didn’t perform as well when he had pressure up the middle and the steeler oline, especially at center, played right into Kenny’s weakness.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

When Aiyuk rumors were flying, I was refreshing twitter constantly hoping for confirmation that the deal was done.

Now with Rodgers, it feels the same and I’m refreshing Twitter waiting for confirmation. Only this time I’m hoping to see he signed with the Giants.

Only thing that would prove me wrong is an AFC championship game appearance. Anything short of that I’d rather do with Rudolph.

 

[Conemaugh]

I will answer it a different way.

Given the opportunity to throw the football beyond 20 yards and just maybe once in a while over the middle.... here are the quarteback rankings

1. Wilson until opposing defenses realized they couldn't just crash down and cover 20 yards of field from the line of scrimmage like the previous 6 years of Steeler football. After his first few games, he drops to the bottom of the list.

2. Rudolph which surely pissed off Tomlin after he threw a pick.

3. Pickett which surely pissed of Tomlin after he threw a pick.

4. Mitch threw picks all over the field seemingly just to piss Tomlin off. I can't believe how many games he started in that regard.

5. Fields.... unknown. Tomlin just wouldn't allow it.

 

[Zeldas Open Roof]

im more concerned about the question of, "can any qb succeed in this system, with tomlin and arthur smith calling the shots?"

 

[Conemaugh]

im more concerned about the question of, "can any qb succeed in this system, with tomlin and arthur smith calling the shots?"

I would take my chances with Arthur Smith over Tomlin. Quarterbacks seemingly say "anything but Tomlin" despite the national media ball washing.

I guess if we luck into a Marino/Jackson hybrid we could score a couple touchdowns a game with Tomlin..... assuming there isn't an ill advised turnover on an early drive.

 

[Usuallyunusual-partdeux]

Picking are getting slim around here. It's going to be a long off season. Hopefully spring ball gives us something exciting because these topics lately have been cheeks. No offense to the one who started the thread.

 

[Fk_Pitt]

I will answer it a different way.

Given the opportunity to throw the football beyond 20 yards and just maybe once in a while over the middle.... here are the quarteback rankings

1. Wilson until opposing defenses realized they couldn't just crash down and cover 20 yards of field from the line of scrimmage like the previous 6 years of Steeler football. After his first few games, he drops to the bottom of the list.

2. Rudolph which surely pissed off Tomlin after he threw a pick.

3. Pickett which surely pissed of Tomlin after he threw a pick.

4. Mitch threw picks all over the field seemingly just to piss Tomlin off. I can't believe how many games he started in that regard.

5. Fields.... unknown. Tomlin just wouldn't allow it.

Not being critical here, but the Steelers lost every game Mitch played in last year. That has to count for something. In other words, if Kenny stays healthy and Mitch doesn’t lose games, including the two home games against the two worst teams in football, the Steelers probably win 11 games, maybe even 12, and get a home playoff game. —

fields was 4-2 as a starter.

Therefore I don’t see how Mitch can be anywhere other than last on the list. The other 4 are interchangeable in plenty of ways.

 

[Burgh15]

1. Russ - for a short period of time the offense was actually fun to watch for the first time in years
2. Mason - limited action, but the last time he played he injected some energy into the offense
3. Fields - slightly better passer than Kenny, not by much, his legs made a difference
4. Pickett - found ways to win, just didn't throw enough TDs
5. Trubisky - just bad

 

[Joe the Panther Fan]

I agree with the title of the thread. Post-Ben Stiller quarterbacks have been rank.

 

[PittPharm2002]

I agree with the title of the thread. Post-Ben Stiller quarterbacks have been rank.

Post shoulder injury Ben , as well
But still the best of the bunch