The Pittsburgh Steelers have definitely been linked to plenty of quarterbacks this offseason. There are the 2 starters from 2024: Russell Wilson and Justin Fields. The previous NFL MVP, Aaron Rodgers. Former sixth-overall decide within the 2019 NFL Draft, Daniel Jones. Tremendous Bowl winner Matthew Stafford. We all know Sam Darnold could possibly be a scorching commodity on the free agent market. And there’s even Kirk Cousins.
How do these quarterbacks match up towards a few of the Steelers’ offensive philosophies? And what the heck do I imply by these philosophies? Throughout coaching camp in 2024, offensive coordinator Arthur Smith talked concerning the have to be aggressive “but not reckless.” Meaning he is aware of the Steelers want to have the ability to push the ball down the sector with out being silly. Smith additionally loves to make use of play-action.
After which there’s head coach Mike Tomlin. He speaks about not eager to reside in his fears, however we all know crucial factor he values in an offense is defending the ball.
So, I’m going to guage every of the above quarterbacks in three main areas: throwing the deep ball, play-action, and turnovers. I’ll break down every of these areas additional to present us a greater image of how they carry out.
Going Deep
When the Steelers turned to Russell Wilson in Week 7, we noticed a distinction when it comes to the emphasis on throwing the ball deep. That speaks to Arthur Smith’s need to be neatly aggressive. How do all of those quarterbacks fare when throwing the ball 20+ yards by the air? Let’s check out completion proportion, adjusted completion proportion, and turnovers. Adjusted completion proportion takes under consideration all aimed passes and components in drops as properly.
Russell Wilson was essentially the most correct deep-ball passer within the league final 12 months. Whether or not you’re taking a look at common completion proportion or adjusted completion proportion, he was the perfect within the league. Not far behind him is without doubt one of the most intriguing potential free-agent quarterbacks, Sam Darnold. Whereas with the Vikings, Darnold was a top-five deep-ball passer when it comes to completion and adjusted completion proportion. Nonetheless, he threw the fourth-most picks on passes tried 20-plus yards downfield.
Justin Fields was truly one of many worst quarterbacks when it comes to completion proportion, each common and adjusted. Once I wrote about two issues the Steelers want to enhance on if they keep Fields, this was an space I discussed. Fields has been a greater deep-ball thrower prior to now, so it looks like there needs to be a possibility for enchancment if he comes again in 2025.
Play Motion
Play-action is a staple of Arthur Smith’s offense. Whoever the subsequent Steelers quarterback will probably be, he’ll must do job executing it. Let’s check out completion proportion when utilizing play-action, the distinction between completion proportion when utilizing play-action versus not, how usually they used it (proportion of whole dropbacks utilizing play motion), and common depth of goal (factoring in sensible aggression).
One factor that stands out is how not aggressive each Fields and Wilson have been when utilizing play-action in 2024. Each of them have been within the backside 10 amongst qualifying quarterbacks in ADOT. Wilson averaged an ADOT of 5.5 yards, fortieth. Fields solely averaged an ADOT of 4.9 (forty second). And Fields was certainly one of three quarterbacks we’re taking a look at who truly had a decrease completion proportion when utilizing play-action. That was one other space I mentioned the Steelers must give attention to bettering if they create Fields again in 2025.
Out of the listed quarterbacks, just one cracked the highest 10 in ADOT: Kirk Cousins. He averaged an ADOT of 10.0 yards, Seventh-best within the league. Nonetheless, we see that aggression labored towards him when it comes to completion proportion, as he solely posted a completion proportion of 58.5 p.c (fortieth). He truly had a completion proportion that was 9.8 p.c decrease when utilizing play-action in 2024.
However Sam Darnold posted the best completion proportion amongst this group of quarterbacks (and fifth-best amongst all qualifying quarterbacks) whereas nonetheless pushing the ball down the sector (9.8 ADOT). That’s a darn good job of taking sensible pictures and being aggressive with play motion.
Turnovers
With regards to evaluating quarterbacks for the Pittsburgh Steelers, there is no such thing as a larger standards than turnovers. It’s arguably crucial piece of the offensive puzzle for head coach Mike Tomlin. Let’s check out what number of interceptions these quarterbacks throw, how usually they throw passes thought-about interceptable (PFF’s Turnover Worthy Performs), and the way usually they fumble.
What stands out? Fields threw interceptions on fewer cross makes an attempt than every other quarterback on this record. He additionally threw interceptable passes at a charge decrease than all however two different quarterbacks on this record. Wilson additionally had a TWP charge decrease than any of the opposite quarterbacks on this record.
In the meantime, Cousins was on the prime of the record in all of the improper methods. He led the league in interceptions (16) and fumbles (13) whereas additionally throwing an interception on 3.5 p.c of all his passes. That’s essentially the most out of this group of quarterbacks. He additionally had a TWP on 4.6 p.c of all his passing makes an attempt.
Ultimate Ideas
There are some things which can be instantly apparent. At this level in his profession, Kirk Cousins is just not what the Steelers are on the lookout for in a quarterback. He was a turnover machine in 2024, by far the worst of the quarterbacks on the record.
In 2024, Russell Wilson was the perfect mixture of deep-ball passer and turnover-preventer out of the group. So, it is smart that there are these in Pittsburgh who would need to preserve Wilson for 2025. Justin Fields was a lot decrease on the record for each play-action and deep-ball metrics. Nonetheless, we’ve seen him carry out higher in each areas whereas he was in Chicago, so there’s nonetheless potential for enchancment there.
So, in case you’re making an attempt to determine the place the Steelers may go for a quarterback in 2025, it’s secure to say that they’ll begin with both of the beginning quarterbacks from 2024. That was the message from common supervisor Omar Khan on Tuesday when he spoke to media from Indianapolis for the NFL Mix.
However Khan additionally mentioned that the seek for 2025’s beginning quarterback wouldn’t cease there, both. He appears dedicated to exhausting all the accessible choices for locating an acceptable beginning quarterback. Whereas this record is just not exhaustive, it ought to give us all at the least an concept of who could possibly be appropriate candidates for the Steelers’ beginning quarterback spot in 2025.
