The selection of Quarterback Landry Jones of Oklahoma in the fourth round of the 2013 NFL Draft shocked many fans; many were disappointed that other play-makers were available in positions of need still on the board, others were confused at the selection. Kevin Colbert had said during his rounds with the media that no position was off the table as far as far as the Steelers were concerned, hinting that a Quarterback may indeed be selected this year.
Many expert opinions doubted that the Steelers would select a Quarterback in 2013; with so many positions of need glaring from the 8-8 record of 2012, it would have been smart money to bet that the Steelers would foster the “best player available at a position of need” philosophy during the 2013 Draft. I tend to agree, that appeared to be the case.
The drafting of Jarvis Jones, potentially the best pass rusher in the draft with the first overall selection after the release of James Harrison in the off-season filled an apparent need. Le’veon Bell, a “big” back selected with the second pick could easily jump-start a lackluster running game behind a less than productive offensive line. All the selections throughout the draft appear to fill positions of need, be it starter capable or to provide depth. Even the undrafted rookie free agent signings pointed to positions of need, mainly offensive line.
So if the 2013 Draft was indeed coordinated with the philosophy of “best player available at a position of need”, why then did the Steelers select Landry Jones with so many other capable play-makers left on the board? Could it be that the Steelers have determined that the depth chart at Quarterback behind starter Ben Roethlisberger is a liability?
Byron Leftwich’s first run with the Steelers as the number two man in the depth chart began with his signing in 2008 to fill in for injured back up Charlie Batch. He again signed as the backup in 2010. Since his return, Leftwich has been plagued by injuries. In 2010, he injured his knee in the preseason. In the 2011 preseason, he broke his left arm. In 2012, after the injury to Ben in week 10, Leftwich was named the starter against the Baltimore Ravens the following week. After a career long 31 yard rush, Leftwich injured his rib in what many fans called a “stunt”, needlessly somersaulting into the end zone in the eventual loss to the Ravens. Steeler Nation clamored for the end of Leftwich in Pittsburgh, citing his inability to remain healthy.
Many have also called for the retirement of Charlie Batch, his ten seasons in Pittsburgh as the backup culminating with the win over the Baltimore Ravens last season. It was a career highlight for Batch and kept the Steelers in the hunt for the Playoffs when they needed it most. His play however, is more indicative of his three interceptions the week prior in the loss to the rival Cleveland Browns, clearly pointing out that Batch’s better days are behind him. Batch has been a serviceable back up for the Steelers and has probably been more valuable with a clipboard assisting and mentoring Ben more so than any play he has made on the field.
As the starter in Pittsburgh, Ben Roethlisberger has been a member of the NFL’s “Elite” club since his arrival in the 2004 season. Named rookie of the year, two time Superbowl winner, and endeared to the hearts of Steeler Fans everywhere. Ben has been known to suffer injuries himself that have kept him off the field, sometimes missing entire stretches of the season. Most recently, Ben sat out late in the 2010, 2011 and 2012 seasons with nagging injuries and the Steelers have suffered in his absence. Many attribute Ben’s injuries to a lack of protection from a patchwork Offensive Line that suffers from its own plague of injuries across the board.
With both backup Quarterbacks pinged as liabilities, and Ben’s recent record of injury during the season, the Quarterback position may have been the most important position need for the Steelers to fill this off-season if they plan to compete now for another Lombardi. So what did the Steelers do to address this need?
The signing of Bruce Gradkowski falls in line with Coach Tomlin’s record of Quarterback depth. He apparently likes veteran experience behind Ben. The drafting of Landry Jones gives us another serviceable if not NFL ready Quarterback on the depth chart. Gradkowski’s age and his lack of injury concerns makes it unlikely that the Steelers will need to call upon Jones this season, allowing Jones to mature into a quality backup for Ben in future seasons in Pittsburgh.
Some talking heads predict that Landry Jones is the heir apparent for Ben. Even Charlie Batch predicts that Jones could be the future starter in Pittsburgh, drafted to groom behind Ben for the eventual starting job. However, before we crown Jones as the next savior of the organization, let’s keep in mind that Jones has yet to take a snap in an NFL practice, let alone a regular season game.
Jones may yet prove to be the eventual replacement for Ben, but that is hopefully a long way off. Ben, by all reports, has several years left in him as the starting Quarterback in Pittsburgh. How likely is it, if Jones should prove to be NFL starting material, he will last that long as a number two on the Steelers roster? Given rookie contracts are usually only three to four years in duration, by the time Ben is ready to hang up his cleats, Jones will surely have been snatched away as a restricted free agent. Given that scenario, it is unlikely that Jones was drafted to be the heir apparent for Ben, rather, he was drafted to provide quality depth on the chart for the Steelers in the future.
Of course let’s hope that we don’t have to learn, first hand, the abilities of Jones as an NFL starting Quarterback. That would mean that a bunch of things have gone terribly wrong and our chances to compete for a seventh Superbowl are all but over. It is possible that if all hell breaks loose that Jones could have a miracle season the way Ben did his rookie year, but let’s hope we don’t have to find out, and that is a topic of discussion for another post.
With the injuries Ben has been known to suffer over the course of the last several seasons and the age and season ending injuries suffered by the backups on the roster, Quarterback may have been the biggest position of need this off-season for the Steelers.
