Tomlin might have found his qb

[DP39]

The latest update.....read it and weep, boys....read it and weep..... Make no mistake, Tomlin's gonna get his 'Revis' this time....just like he did with Bush two years ago.....


NBC Sports Edge's Thor Nystrom reported last week that the Steelers prefer Liberty QB Malik Willis to Pitt QB Kenny Pickett.

Willis was the talk of Mobile after his enormous showing at the Senior Bowl. The Steelers made no secret of their interest, with HC Mike Tomlin, OC Matt Canada and GM Kevin Tolbert openly chatting up Willis and his family after one practice. At this time it would appear that the Steelers are more locked-in on the dynamic dual-threat than the pocket-passing local product in their search for a long-term answer at the position following Ben Roethlisberger's retirement. The question: Are they picking high enough to have a shot at Willis?

SOURCE: Thor Nystrom on Twitter
Feb 7, 2022, 11:23 AM ET

[El Kabong]

He better be able to pass accurately. Just say NO to athletes who can't pass at the QB position!

[langer]

I don't trust the judgment of those idiots because of the glaring deficiencies of the shit they put on the field. It's crazy.

I can hear Coach Top Three now..."we like what he brings and so forf, to the table if you will, the untangibles and things of that nature, that you can't explain. I could explain it to you but I don't have time right now to elucidate and educate you, however, we like what he does on the football fielt and what he can contribute to the team and his team-mates and the city of Pittsburgh."

[Jobu]

Willis had an “enormous showing”???

[anpsteel]

This is just media speculation

There is no way the front office would actually start blabbering about the QB they intend to select, and drive up competition for said player.

Unlike last year and RB, which is a lower valued position AND that had 3 fairly equal players available; QB is in high demand, always- so you can't start parading around your intentions.

IF they are actually talking about Willis, it is, imo, an intention to create buzz and maybe get someone to take Willis ahead of where they might normally. Also, to hide their real intention, so another team doesn't trade up ahead of them to select their real target.

You have to assume the real target is a player at an impact position that there are only a few available and likely highly coveted. Also of a position that is difficult to fill in FA.

So, IMO the real target is still BPA: OL, ILB, S, CB

Rebuild the team. Fill QB with a Mid Tier FA or Rudolph. Go get your QB next year.

[Mick]

To be fair, if they spent senior bowl week meeting with a player who has been at their home facility for like six years now, people would be right to skewer them for it.

[Ice]

Willis had an “enormous showing”???

I'm obviously going to have to re-watch.

[RemoAZ]

To be fair, if they spent senior bowl week meeting with a player who has been at their home facility for like six years now, people would be right to skewer them for it.

Yeah let's just hope this is a smoke screen. Would Tomlin/Colbert be smart enough to do that?

[Stlcrtn1974]

Willis had an “enormous showing”???

I'm obviously going to have to re-watch.

There's nothing to rewatch. He ran around alot for 50 yards and completed 2 of 4 for 11 yards. My 40+ years of watching the Steelers may be over if I have to watch Korky part 2 again.

[Ice]

Willis had an “enormous showing”???

I'm obviously going to have to re-watch.

There's nothing to rewatch. He ran around alot for 50 yards and completed 2 of 4 for 11 yards. My 40+ years of watching the Steelers may be over if I have to watch Korky part 2 again.

I should have thrown the sarcafont on that I wasn't impressed, and I was hoping to be. Definitely didn't match some of the games I saw the last couple seasons, and really definitely didn't match the highlight reels. Maybe next draft on the QB. Not a huge deal, got a whole roster to build.

[Stlcrtn1974]

I'm obviously going to have to re-watch.

There's nothing to rewatch. He ran around alot for 50 yards and completed 2 of 4 for 11 yards. My 40+ years of watching the Steelers may be over if I have to watch Korky part 2 again.

I should have thrown the sarcafont on that I wasn't impressed, and I was hoping to be. Definitely didn't match some of the games I saw the last couple seasons, and really definitely didn't match the highlight reels. Maybe next draft on the QB. Not a huge deal, got a whole roster to build.

Yes.
I pray they rebuild the lines before taking a qb

[langer]

There is no way the front office would actually start blabbering about the QB they intend to select, and drive up competition for said player.

I believe they are this stupid and are only getting dumber.

[Kodiak.]

There is no way the front office would actually start blabbering about the QB they intend to select, and drive up competition for said player.

I believe they are this stupid and are only getting dumber.

Nothing to see here. Steelers are probably the only team with a first round grade on him.

[Ice]

There's nothing to rewatch. He ran around alot for 50 yards and completed 2 of 4 for 11 yards. My 40+ years of watching the Steelers may be over if I have to watch Korky part 2 again.

I should have thrown the sarcafont on that I wasn't impressed, and I was hoping to be. Definitely didn't match some of the games I saw the last couple seasons, and really definitely didn't match the highlight reels. Maybe next draft on the QB. Not a huge deal, got a whole roster to build.

Yes.
I pray they rebuild the lines before taking a qb

Could go almost any position but starting RB, LOLB or starting FS at this point, honestly. This isn't going to be a one draft process. Patience and BPA. Neither thing is something they've shown willingness to exercise recently.

[yygy]

I’ll take the risk with Willis if it means rudy won’t be the season starter.

Still looks to me like Caroll will be the best one this draft. But go to a shit org like Washington probably have a shit career.

Also hoping no qbs go in round one because it’s an awful year for qbs (did you hear?) and everyone copies the bungs and goes wr

[steelmann58]

Strong in round 2-3 or Kelly in round 6

[Ice]

Of those two choices, I'll take the lottery ticket in the 6th over Strong. Don't see enough better in Carson to justify the pick.

[jebrick]

This is stuff from @AlbertBreer

Some NFL Exec’s believe there is not one QB in this draft worth a 1st round pick: #Steelers pic.twitter.com/7iXvRcIXvF
— Mike Nicastro (@MikedUpSports1) February 7, 2022

[COR-TEN]

This is stuff from @AlbertBreer

Some NFL Exec’s believe there is not one QB in this draft worth a 1st round pick: #Steelers pic.twitter.com/7iXvRcIXvF
— Mike Nicastro (@MikedUpSports1) February 7, 2022

That's what I've been reading. I think all this Willis talk is a smokescreen. And why wouldn't the media be running with this after an 18 year period where the steelers didn't even sniff a real QB in the draft? Makes for good headlines. "Steelers Without a QB for 18 Years! Trip Over Themselves for a QB!!"

[anpsteel]

There is no way the front office would actually start blabbering about the QB they intend to select, and drive up competition for said player.

I believe they are this stupid and are only getting dumber.

This Malik Willis crap is really growing legs

The idea of trading draft picks to move up, to select Willis is absolutely discouraging.

[anpsteel]

This is stuff from @AlbertBreer

Some NFL Exec’s believe there is not one QB in this draft worth a 1st round pick: #Steelers pic.twitter.com/7iXvRcIXvF
— Mike Nicastro (@MikedUpSports1) February 7, 2022

That's what I've been reading. I think all this Willis talk is a smokescreen. And why wouldn't the media be running with this after an 18 year period where the steelers didn't even sniff a real QB in the draft? Makes for good headlines. "Steelers Without a QB for 18 Years! Trip Over Themselves for a QB!!"

I really hope so

[Ice]

Steelers rumors grow internet legs fast, because we're a clickbait bonanza.

[DP39]

We go through this almost every year.

Under Tomlin, can someone please tell/show me where we purposefully put up major pre-draft smoke screens, seriously?

I can't think of any, but I can certainly remember where he let his love affair with certain prospects be pretty well known. (D. Revis, Frank Summers, Jason Worilds, Sean Spence, Ryan Shazier, Edmunds, Bush....to name a few).

[gojira5150]

I don't trust the judgment of those idiots because of the glaring deficiencies of the shit they put on the field. It's crazy.

I can hear Coach Top Three now..."we like what he brings and so forf, to the table if you will, the untangibles and things of that nature, that you can't explain. I could explain it to you but I don't have time right now to elucidate and educate you, however, we like what he does on the football fielt and what he can contribute to the team and his team-mates and the city of Pittsburgh."

Sounds about right. That's awesome Wordsmiffin right there.

[fractalsteel]

We go through this almost every year.

Under Tomlin, can someone please tell/show me where we purposefully put up major pre-draft smoke screens, seriously?

I can't think of any, but I can certainly remember where he let his love affair with certain prospects be pretty well known. (D. Revis, Frank Summers, Jason Worilds, Sean Spence, Ryan Shazier, Edmunds, Bush....to name a few).

Agree on both counts.

The one instance(amongst many) was the 2016 draft when MT let everyone that would listen know how much he coveted Jackson the CB out of Houston. The Bengals, the pick before the Steelers took him even though CB wasn't the biggest need on the team.
That led to Artie Burns, the BIG reach with the next pick.
Panic pick? Probably.

If that was a smoke screen on MT's part to get to Burns then he really is lost in the draft game. I doubt that was the case more likely they got caught with their pants down and panicked.

[steelmann58]

They Panicked with Artie and to an extent with Bush IMO

[COR-TEN]

We go through this almost every year.

Under Tomlin, can someone please tell/show me where we purposefully put up major pre-draft smoke screens, seriously?

I can't think of any, but I can certainly remember where he let his love affair with certain prospects be pretty well known. (D. Revis, Frank Summers, Jason Worilds, Sean Spence, Ryan Shazier, Edmunds, Bush....to name a few).

Agree on both counts.

The one instance(amongst many) was the 2016 draft when MT let everyone that would listen know how much he coveted Jackson the CB out of Houston. The Bengals, the pick before the Steelers took him even though CB wasn't the biggest need on the team.
That led to Artie Burns, the BIG reach with the next pick.
Panic pick? Probably.

If that was a smoke screen on MT's part to get to Burns then he really is lost in the draft game. I doubt that was the case more likely they got caught with their pants down and panicked.

It might not be a smokescreen, but the media is all over this since the steelers really have no bonafide starting QB. And haven't had to look for one for at least 16 years. I somehow think the steelers are happy with MR and haskins along with a cheap vet QB until they shore up the O and D line - among other holes - with either draft picks or FA. Taking willis would be a gamble they can't afford to take unless they think he's the next mahomes, herbert, or allen. Even Lamar Jackson. And by all accounts, nobody in this draft class is up to that expectation. Also, do other teams make their intentions known by meeting with draft prospects and their families?

I'll be happy to eat crow if the steelers select willis. It would be a mistake imo. Yeah. I know. Tombert and dunce. . .

[Kodiak.]

Tomlin's buddy said Tomlin doesn't want to start over with a rookie. I don't think that story was made-up. It may not be 100% set in stone, but I think Tomlin is unlikely to reach for a rookie early in the draft.

I'm sure Tomlin loves the whole NHALS thing. There's not a QB in the draft that is going to help them win this year. And with all the holes to plug, I doubt he spends a premium pick that can't contribute for a year or two.

The path of least resistance to 9-8 next year is run the ball and stop the run. I expect the draft and FA to focus on that. It's going to be a vet FA at QB because neither Haskins nor Rudolph have the mobility they want for their offense. While it's pretty shitty if Canada can't run an offense with a pocket passer, the reality is they HAVE to get the type of QB he wants to run his offense.

Plus, what coach doesn't want to be the smartest guy in the room with a reclamation project at QB?

[Pabst]

We go through this almost every year.

Under Tomlin, can someone please tell/show me where we purposefully put up major pre-draft smoke screens, seriously?

I can't think of any, but I can certainly remember where he let his love affair with certain prospects be pretty well known. (D. Revis, Frank Summers, Jason Worilds, Sean Spence, Ryan Shazier, Edmunds, Bush....to name a few).

Actually, the Shazier pick is a pretty good example of the Steelers laying down a smoke screen. The broad consensus that year was that the Steelers would take a corner, with the outside possibility of OBJ (the entire steelers staff went to the LSU pro day), Eric Ebron, or CJ Mosely. I don't recall a single mock draft that year projecting Shazier to Pittsburgh.

Another good example is David Njoku. Remember that the Browns jumped ahead of Pittsburgh to take him (thanks, Cleveland!). That said, the Steelers were heavily linked to Watt as well (and there were very mixed opinions about that pick around here).

One example of Tomlin/Colbert being in love with a player pre-draft and having it work out is Leveon Bell. I wish we could look back on the Bell vs Lacy discussions.

[cop1211]

I called it months ago.
Willis=bust.