About an hour ago
There is much speculation about what the signature of former Washington quarterback Dwayne Haskins “really” means for the Pittsburgh Steelers.
Is it an indicator that Ben Roethlisberger is retiring? Is Haskins being taken on board to go after Roethlisberger in that direction? Does that mean Mason Rudolph will be traded or cut?
My guess is none of the above. In my opinion, this is nothing more than Paxton Lynch 2.0. Which is a strange thing for me to type in, since it’s hard to even recognize that Paxton Lynch really existed as a Steeler in the first place.
He did. Trust me. I saw him in the fields of practice.
However, it is the same exercise with Haskins. They are simply bringing in another failed quarterback in the first round with an athletic edge and talent on their arm to see if they can find out what their first team hasn’t discovered.
And if they don’t, it’s as easy to silently allow Haskins to disappear in his one-year future contract as it is to get rid of Lynch. I mean, I noticed Lynch’s departure even less than I noticed his arrival. It is not?
Optimists about change may call it low risk and high reward. One team’s rejection is another’s treasure.
Yes OK. Perhaps. I am going on a more conservative path. I call it low risk, low reward.
In an absolute best case scenario, Haskins may prove to be a better backup than Mason Rudolph. Even though their numbers so far in the NFL do not suggest that.
Rudolph played in 15 games. Haskins at 16. Rudolph has more touchdowns, a better passer rating, less interceptions, a better completion percentage and fewer bags than Haskins.
In addition, you must consider why Washington got rid of an old QB chosen in the first round in just two years. It was not just slow development. It was off the field, too. How to violate the covid-19 protocols by not wearing a mask during a party after a game during the 2020 season. This act resulted in the removal of his captaincy. He was also reportedly dismissed because of inadequate habits and preparation.
Do the Steelers want that guy in your quarterback room during Roethlisberger’s past year?
Yes. I don’t think so either.
Also, I would hate to see the Steelers pass a potentially better option if they think one is available at a free agency or in the middle of the draft just because they have Haskins in the mix now. The quarterback is not like most other positions. You can’t just assemble as many as you like and let them fight for time and points on the depth chart.
At least not now, with Roethlisberger still under contract.
But maybe that’s the mindset. Perhaps that is the thought. Just gather a batch of defenders so that no one else can catch them for now. Give yourself as much choice as possible for a succession plan after the Roethlisberger contract expires in late 2021.
Like when the Steelers added Tommy Maddox to the mix in 2001 with Kordell Stewart and Tee Martin. In early 2002, Maddox was starting.
Or whatever the franchise was trying to do in the 1980s with whatever combination they had in any given year by Cliff Stoudt, Mark Malone, David Woodley, Bubby Brister, Scott Campbell, Todd Blackledge, Rick Strom and Steve Bono.
Wow!! It’s quite a list. Perhaps Lynch or Haskins had a chance to emerge as a member of that group.
For me, this is the most obvious indicator. Not so much that the hiring of Haskins will impact the Steelers in 2021. But from 2022, we can see the franchise wandering along the path of the 1980s from constantly putting together a hodgepodge of mediocrity from quarterback to stumbling over the next capable full-time beginner.
My guess is that Haskins’ role in the Steelers story will be almost a footnote like most of the names in that group. And trying to read the tea leaves for some deeper impact of that signature is a fruitless effort.
Let’s hope the Steelers don’t pass on someone who becomes another team’s treasure just because Haskins is here.
You know, like in 1983, when they felt good about having Stoudt and Malone behind the aging and surgically repaired Terry Bradshaw. So, in the draft, they took Gabe Rivera instead of Dan Mari….
Nevermind.
Tim Benz is an editor on the Tribune-Review team. You can contact Tim at [email protected] or via Twitter. All tweets can be posted again. All emails are subject to publication, unless otherwise specified.
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Sports | Steelers / NFL | Breakfast with Benz