The Pittsburgh Steelers franchise is well versed in the dichotomy of competing now vs. preparing for the future. This is proven by the team’s overall record for the past two decades. Only three sub .500 seasons (’98, ’99, ’03), and two more where they finished that respective year at 8-8 (’06 & ’12). That leaves 15 winning seasons (I didn’t even need a calculator to figure that stat) out of 20. In case you are wondering, the team’s overall record over that time span, 1992-present, is 212-123. These numbers alone would place the Steelers on anybody’s list of perennial contenders. You don’t compete on that level, that consistently, without some serious forethought.
With this in mind, the Steelers must be putting some serious consideration into their offensive future, particularly under center. Ben Roethlisberger is only 31, granted, but the miles he’s travelled since 2004 could be definitively categorized as “city” miles, in keeping with the automotive metaphor. Tough as nails, he is for sure, but how much beating can one man take? The sack totals speak for themselves, and how many times have we, as fans, watched Roethlisberger make throws under serious physical duress, and along the same lines, how many times has he taken post-pass drubbings at the hands of opposing linemen? 31 doesn’t seem so young any more, does it?
This year, Kevin Colbert and Mike Tomlin made their fourth round draft choice, 115th pick overall, a four-year starting QB out of the Big 12. Landry Jones’ career stats at Oklahoma were nearing gaudy proportions by his senior year, 4,267 passing yards, 30 TD ands 11 Ints. He is a prototypical pocket passer, with the size to match (6’4″, 225ish). Jones’ arm is sufficient, and he is particularly accurate at short to mid range passes, with a quick release that lends itself to the “pocket passer” moniker. There are some glaring negatives to Jones that scare the bejeezus out of me, however. He’s not particularly athletic, is slow by any standards, and has a tendency to get rattled under pressure, going down rather easily in the backfield. This is something to which Steelers Nation is definitely not accustomed.
Current Offensive Coordinator (take the term “offensive” however you wish) Todd Haley has been preaching his desire to return to a run-based offense, and has sworn in no particular terms to take better care of his current starting quarterback. The steps taken toward shoring up the O-line are proof that he is a man of his word. With Roethlisberger’s history of stretching plays and taking hits, he is going to need some serious protection to stay healthy enough to finish his current contract with all of his limbs intact. This brings about the question, did the Steelers tap Landry Jones as successor to Big Ben?
