Mason Rudolph coming back

[Pabst]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

This won't answer your question, but I'll take this in a different direction: what happens after this season?

Trub and Mason are both likely gone next offseason. I would prefer that #3 QB (whoever that is) to at least know the offense so there's some continuity and he can assist KP.

On the scale of problems though this probably ranks like 15th on the list. So not a huge deal, but something to keep an eye on.

Quinten Dormandy
Cole Kelley
Alex McGough
Kenji Baharm
Case Cookus
Kory Curtis
Fred Payton
Conner Degenhardt
Kyle Vantrease
Chase Brice
Cephus Johnson
Matt McDonald
Austin Aune
Turner Pullen
Henry Ogala

^ They'll be able to bring in any one of these guys to training camp and/or sign them to the practice squad.

As i said earlier, could one of these guys be the next Kurt Warner? Maybe, but I wouldn't even consider betting on it. Kory Curtis (just to pull out one name) didn't get a rookie camp invite from a single NFL team. That speaks volumes.

[Smashmouth21]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

There are ALWAYS developmental guys available.

Bibbs as a #2 is genius: vet with starting experience and knowledge of the system who comes at league minimum.

Bibbs as #3 just standing in the way of developing a young guy that either might grow into a good backup or a tradeable asset.

Don’t overrate the developmental guys at risk of missing the big picture. There are always developmental guys, and will be next year too. Most of the developmental guys will strike out anyways because they suck and don’t develop. A developmental guy can wait until next year’s draft. Kenny is the guy. Much better to lock up a capable backup, have a deep QB room for a year, and say bye to Mitch’s bloated salary for the cap purposes next season. Solid move IMHO (pending contract details of course).

[Pabst]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

There are ALWAYS developmental guys available.

Bibbs as a #2 is genius: vet with starting experience and knowledge of the system who comes at league minimum.

Bibbs as #3 just standing in the way of developing a young guy that either might grow into a good backup or a tradeable asset.

Don’t overrate the developmental guys at risk of missing the big picture. There are always developmental guys, and will be next year too. Most of the developmental guys will strike out anyways because they suck and don’t develop. A developmental guy can wait until next year’s draft. Kenny is the guy. Much better to lock up a capable backup, have a deep QB room for a year, and say bye to Mitch’s bloated salary for the cap purposes next season. Solid move IMHO (pending contract details of course).

Thank you for stating that better than I could.

[Ice]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

There are ALWAYS developmental guys available.

Bibbs as a #2 is genius: vet with starting experience and knowledge of the system who comes at league minimum.

Bibbs as #3 just standing in the way of developing a young guy that either might grow into a good backup or a tradeable asset.

Exactly. If the plan is to lose Trubisky, I'm fine with it. Otherwise, not so much.

[K_C_]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

There are ALWAYS developmental guys available.

Bibbs as a #2 is genius: vet with starting experience and knowledge of the system who comes at league minimum.

Bibbs as #3 just standing in the way of developing a young guy that either might grow into a good backup or a tradeable asset.

Exactly. If the plan is to lose Trubisky, I'm fine with it. Otherwise, not so much.

I don't know if bringing back Mason was because they want to get rid of Trubisky.

I believe they brought back Mason to get Trubisky to, at the very least, cut his salary in half.

I think the Steelers want Trubisky to be Kenny's back up, just not at his current price.

[Ice]

There are ALWAYS developmental guys available.

Bibbs as a #2 is genius: vet with starting experience and knowledge of the system who comes at league minimum.

Bibbs as #3 just standing in the way of developing a young guy that either might grow into a good backup or a tradeable asset.

Exactly. If the plan is to lose Trubisky, I'm fine with it. Otherwise, not so much.

I don't know if bringing back Mason was because they want to get rid of Trubisky.

I believe they brought back Mason to get Trubisky to, at the very least, cut his salary in half.

I think the Steelers want Trubisky to be Kenny's back up, just not at his current price.

Cutting the salary in half would be beneficial, but there's no reason (aside from the QB face-planting into a Buick in the offseason) to go into the season with multiple vet backups on the roster, particularly when it's painfully obvious they could have called up Bibbs (or whenever) in December without too much problem should anything have happened to the top two.

[Obviously]

Awesome! Mason > Mitch

#cuttrubisky

[bradshaw2ben]

This won't answer your question, but I'll take this in a different direction: what happens after this season?

Trub and Mason are both likely gone next offseason. I would prefer that #3 QB (whoever that is) to at least know the offense so there's some continuity and he can assist KP.

On the scale of problems though this probably ranks like 15th on the list. So not a huge deal, but something to keep an eye on.

Quinten Dormandy
Cole Kelley
Alex McGough
Kenji Baharm
Case Cookus
Kory Curtis
Fred Payton
Conner Degenhardt
Kyle Vantrease
Chase Brice
Cephus Johnson
Matt McDonald
Austin Aune
Turner Pullen
Henry Ogala

^ They'll be able to bring in any one of these guys to training camp and/or sign them to the practice squad.

As i said earlier, could one of these guys be the next Kurt Warner? Maybe, but I wouldn't even consider betting on it. Kory Curtis (just to pull out one name) didn't get a rookie camp invite from a single NFL team. That speaks volumes.

Oddly, if you look at who was signed or invited to camps, teams are really risk-averse for those camp arms. They picked guys who played at big schools or perhaps FCS standouts in certain categories. I don't think QBs in particular are seens as developable talents in a certain way if they aren't from the right pool of known prospects. We'll see those guys cycle through the XFL/USFL/CFL and some will pan out and then get a chance, but NFL teams seem reluctant to even tryout certain kinds of guys.

[bradshaw2ben]

Pardon the snark, but who is this budding star of a developmental QB that's still out there waiting to be signed?

There are ALWAYS developmental guys available.

Bibbs as a #2 is genius: vet with starting experience and knowledge of the system who comes at league minimum.

Bibbs as #3 just standing in the way of developing a young guy that either might grow into a good backup or a tradeable asset.

Don’t overrate the developmental guys at risk of missing the big picture. There are always developmental guys, and will be next year too. Most of the developmental guys will strike out anyways because they suck and don’t develop. A developmental guy can wait until next year’s draft. Kenny is the guy. Much better to lock up a capable backup, have a deep QB room for a year, and say bye to Mitch’s bloated salary for the cap purposes next season. Solid move IMHO (pending contract details of course).

I mean, Kenny is hardly proven to be the guy. I understand that's their intention, but teams who win this QB business tend to keep adding talent at the position until they are 100% sure they have the guy AND a solid young backup.

As I said, Mason as #2 is great resource management. But the QB3QB4 spots spot should be for someone you're developing/taking a chance on. 49ers last year had Lance, Garropolo, a bounced-around Nate Sudfield... they added Brock Purdy with a draft pick. Do you think they're glad they added Purdy? Should they have just assumed Lance was their guy and Jimmy G would be a fine backup? That Sudfield was a perfectly fine QB3?

[Scunge]

Bibbs as #3 just standing in the way of developing a young guy that either might grow into a good backup or a tradeable asset.

Honestly, I don't see how a #3 QB develops at all in todays game. Your #3 QB does not typically dress for games, is not active and throughout the week the #1 gets the majority of the reps, the remaining go to the #2 and then the #3 twiddles his thumbs, playing with the scout team.

The most action that #3 QB gets is the last preseason game because they don't want to risk injuries to #1 and #2.

I think it will be telling what Rudolph signs for, one year or a two year deal. If it is two years then they must have knowledge that Trubisky intends to play out his contract and try again in free agency next offseason. If it is one year for Mason, then maybe they have had talks with Mitch and he is considering a backup job long term with the team. Either way, the Steelers are playing this right and giving themselves options and depth.

[cop1211]

Trade Trubisky when another teams QB gets hurt.
Is hopefully the plan.
Ideal situation before trade deadline they deal Dionte Johnson for a 2nd, and Trubisky for a 3rd to teams in the playoff hunt who need a WR, and another team who’s QB is hurt.

1. ILB
2a SS
2b RT
3a WR(outside)
3b DE
4.CB(slot)
5.Wr(slot)
6.OLB
7.LT
Free agency sign a good #3 OLB, solid CB.

Looks good doesn’t it?

[bradshaw2ben]

Trade Trubisky when another teams QB gets hurt.
Is hopefully the plan.
Ideal situation before trade deadline they deal Dionte Johnson for a 2nd, and Trubisky for a 3rd to teams in the playoff hunt who need a WR, and another team who’s QB is hurt.

1. ILB
2a SS
2b RT
3a WR(outside)
3b DE
4.CB(slot)
5.Wr(slot)
6.OLB
7.LT
Free agency sign a good #3 OLB, solid CB.

Looks good doesn’t it?

Well, I will say: IF the Steelers get off to a bad start before the trade deadline, they'll have some very attractive pieces to trade:
Highsmith
Trubisky
Johnson
whichever backup OL don't get traded or released before the season

Like, if they start 2-5 or something, all options are on the table.

[stillthere]

I like Rudolph coming back. Mitch probably still thinks he can be more than a #2, so he will move on after this season.

This is just smart business. If I were the Steelers I would give Mason a two year deal. If Mitch leaves after the season, you still have an experienced backup.

And if you have Mason locked up as the potential backup QB for 2024, and injuries happen in 2023 elsewhere around the NFL and teams come sniffing around at Trubisky? Sure, if the offer is right the Steelers can trade him and get a draft pick.

Lastly, somebody needs to say this and so here it is. Accusing somebody of being a racist, of saying a slur, the N-word, whatever, and then for that to be such a national headline, to be talked about and scrutinized, etc, can be devastating for a player like Mason Rudolph.

I think there are many, many teams that will not touch Rudolph at all simply because of that Garrett incident. Doesn't matter that the NFL did an investigation and can't find any evidence that backs up Garrett. Unfortunately for Rudolph, the damage is done and it will forever hang over him in the NFL.

Well said, Scunge -- especially the bolded.

I think Mason coming back is more about Mitch than Kenny. If they keep Mitch and he has a 21 year old UDFA QB3 'pushing' him then how motivated is he really? Mason will keep Mitch on his P's & Q's, imo.

This team makes calculated moves/decisions when it comes to it's younger, developing future leaders. They want to challenge them, but not bring in someone that threatens them as they develop their leadership chops. Case in point, MT so desperately wants Najee to be a team leader -- face of the franchise -- that I doubt he'd bring in a previously proven star RB, like Zeke, Fournette, Hunt or deal for Cook, to push Naj. He'll stick with guys that aren't a threat to someone like Naj, just so he can have an easier time of establishing himself as a leader (something that's isn't natural for him).

Mitch pushes Kenny...just enough, and Mason pushes Mitch...just enough.

And, MT did the opposite for JPJ, imo. The minute he got Pat Pete, I thought to myself, a big (side)reason was for him to mentor JPJ if/when they drafted him. Give him the best possible start to his long NFL career, if you will. MT was partially preparing to do his boy, Peezy, a solid -- if it somehow worked out...and it did.

The red part is an angle I had not considered and it makes sense. Actual competition even slight competition is better than playing against someone that has pretty much zero chance of making you expendable.

The blue section is similar to the BR7 situation surround him with vets early in his position room and allow him to grow mentally in the classroom and physically on the field.

[stillthere]

There are ALWAYS developmental guys available.

Bibbs as a #2 is genius: vet with starting experience and knowledge of the system who comes at league minimum.

Bibbs as #3 just standing in the way of developing a young guy that either might grow into a good backup or a tradeable asset.

Don’t overrate the developmental guys at risk of missing the big picture. There are always developmental guys, and will be next year too. Most of the developmental guys will strike out anyways because they suck and don’t develop. A developmental guy can wait until next year’s draft. Kenny is the guy. Much better to lock up a capable backup, have a deep QB room for a year, and say bye to Mitch’s bloated salary for the cap purposes next season. Solid move IMHO (pending contract details of course).

I mean, Kenny is hardly proven to be the guy. I understand that's their intention, but teams who win this QB business tend to keep adding talent at the position until they are 100% sure they have the guy AND a solid young backup.

As I said, Mason as #2 is great resource management. But the QB3QB4 spots spot should be for someone you're developing/taking a chance on. 49ers last year had Lance, Garropolo, a bounced-around Nate Sudfield... they added Brock Purdy with a draft pick. Do you think they're glad they added Purdy? Should they have just assumed Lance was their guy and Jimmy G would be a fine backup? That Sudfield was a perfectly fine QB3?

While Kenny has not proven to be the guy in the 10ish games he has played in the NFL so far is a fair statement but we all got to see development over the course of the weeks.

Brock Purdy is winning a scratch off lottery ticket I am sure they are glad they got him but Purdy was close to being a UDFA as anyone has ever been. The pieces of the SF offense were a slight bit different than the situation KP8 was in last year and the play calling and scheme a little different in SF as well. There is a reason SF has been deep into the playoffs recently. They have a talent laden team it is probably a more similar situation in SF now to what PIT had in 2004/2005

[K_C_]

Trade Trubisky when another teams QB gets hurt.
Is hopefully the plan.
Ideal situation before trade deadline they deal Dionte Johnson for a 2nd, and Trubisky for a 3rd to teams in the playoff hunt who need a WR, and another team who’s QB is hurt.

1. ILB
2a SS
2b RT
3a WR(outside)
3b DE
4.CB(slot)
5.Wr(slot)
6.OLB
7.LT
Free agency sign a good #3 OLB, solid CB.

Looks good doesn’t it?

Well, I will say: IF the Steelers get off to a bad start before the trade deadline, they'll have some very attractive pieces to trade:
Highsmith
Trubisky
Johnson
whichever backup OL don't get traded or released before the season

Like, if they start 2-5 or something, all options are on the table.

If nobody traded for Mitch after 2 playoff seasons and a Pro Bowl in Chicago, after he was the second overall pick, you and I have as good as chance at being traded for by another NFL team as Trubisky does.

Buffalo gave up nothing for him.

The Steelers gave up nothing for Trubisky.

Trubisky has zero trade value.

[Kodiak.]

Trubisky has zero trade value.

I tend to agree. You have to win a lot of "coin flips" for a situation to arise where it would make sense for a team to trade a 3rd or 4th for Trubisky. The starter would have to be hurt, but only lost for a 2-5 weeks. Mitch would have to be able to step in immediately to give them a chance to win games, which depends in part on their schedule. Then they have to be in contention and have a cushion.

And even then, Trubisky over 5 games might be worth 1 more win than their backup. OK, maybe they ALSO lost their backup. Still, they have to be somewhat on the bubble to even consider dealing a 3rd or 4th for, at most 2 more wins, and that would probably involve PIT eating some of his salary.

There isn't a SB-contender that loses their QB early in the year that thinks "yeah, I'll trade a 4th for Trubisky and we can still compete for the SB". No, they are more likely to do what PIT did in 2019 and leverage an expected higher pick into a player like a Fitzpatrick that helps them long-term.

Teams still value those R3 and R4 picks. There's not a ton of interest in grabbing a backup player that isn't going to make a big difference for them over a handful of games. Best example is probably Claypool. CHI was dumb, but even then Claypool was still technically a #2/#3 receiver at that point. And also a guy some still thought could produce in the right system (maybe true, unlikely but certainly not in CHI)

[W&M_Steeler]

Trade Trubisky when another teams QB gets hurt.
Is hopefully the plan.
Ideal situation before trade deadline they deal Dionte Johnson for a 2nd, and Trubisky for a 3rd to teams in the playoff hunt who need a WR, and another team who’s QB is hurt.

1. ILB
2a SS
2b RT
3a WR(outside)
3b DE
4.CB(slot)
5.Wr(slot)
6.OLB
7.LT
Free agency sign a good #3 OLB, solid CB.

Looks good doesn’t it?

Well, I will say: IF the Steelers get off to a bad start before the trade deadline, they'll have some very attractive pieces to trade:
Highsmith
Trubisky
Johnson
whichever backup OL don't get traded or released before the season

Like, if they start 2-5 or something, all options are on the table.

If the Steelers start 2-5, it will be the Steelers trading away picks for players in a desperate attempt to preserve NHALS.

Pickett - Trubisky - Rudolph... does it really make a difference? I don't think those guys are that far apart in talent, though Pickett hopefully has some room to develop. The Steelers almost certainly have the worst QB situation in the AFC North except for perhaps Cleveland if Watson can't get back to speed.

[rooneytunes]

People treat this dude like Ryan Leaf or Manzel



Career stats
Year Team YDS TD INT Rating
2021 PIT 277 1 1 70.8
2020 PIT 324 2 1 87.7
2019 PIT. 1,765 13 9 82.0
Career. 2,366 16 11 80.9


Career record 9-7-1

[SteelerDayTrader]

People treat this dude like Ryan Leaf or Manzel



Career stats
Year Team YDS TD INT Rating
2021 PIT 277 1 1 70.8
2020 PIT 324 2 1 87.7
2019 PIT. 1,765 13 9 82.0
Career. 2,366 16 11 80.9


Career record 9-7-1

Not the issue IMO.

I rate Rudolph and Trubisky about the same……

A career backup capable of beating lesser teams if everything else goes well and you don’t need the QB to do too much

Imo why have 2 of those guys ??

Why not take a big swing on someone like Kory Curtis Cole Kelley or Cepheus Johnson etc etc ???

Is the drop off really gonna be that much if they end up playing to their downside ??

Won’t Rudolf most likely be waiting by the phone ??

I’d just like to see more possible upside from the part of the roster you don’t intend to play.

What would be the harm ??

If you develop a UDFA type and somehow end up getting a 7th that’s a huge win

If you develop a 7th and get a 6th it’s a huge win

Or if you merely make your roster better it’s a win

[Ice]

Exactly. If the argument is "there will always be a developmental QB waiting by the phone," well, we've already seen that there will always be a Bibberty waiting by the phone, so why not spend the limited time you have with QB3 developing a young guy with upside?

[anpsteel]

My first reaction was, why??

Seriously


Why would you have 2 very mediocre veteran QBs earning apx $8+ mil, to sit?? When neither of them are going to be anything more than we've already seen?


Answer: Pickett had 2 concussions in his first season. Suppose that isn't a fluke but a trend.

I still don't like it, because I don't think either Trubiski or Rudolph give you anything- (Mitch has a slight advantage because of greater mobility) but I get it.


I'd still be looking for other options throughout the off season and roster cut downs, but I think that's the logical reason.

[K_C_]

My first reaction was, why??

Seriously


Why would you have 2 very mediocre veteran QBs earning apx $8+ mil, to sit?? When neither of them are going to be anything more than we've already seen?


Answer: Pickett had 2 concussions in his first season. Suppose that isn't a fluke but a trend.

I still don't like it, because I don't think either Trubiski or Rudolph give you anything- (Mitch has a slight advantage because of greater mobility) but I get it.


I'd still be looking for other options throughout the off season and roster cut downs, but I think that's the logical reason.

I don’t buy the Kenny had 2 concussions thing. He was back at practice in a few days and didn’t miss a game.

He was definitely concussed by Roquan Smith but I’m not concerned. Kenny isn’t Tua Tagovailoa.

[Pabst]

I don’t buy the Kenny had 2 concussions thing. He was back at practice in a few days and didn’t miss a game.

He was definitely concussed by Roquan Smith but I’m not concerned. Kenny isn’t Tua Tagovailoa.

I wonder if the Tua situation impacted Kenny getting pulled from the Bucs game. That was right in the aftermath of the NFL getting a heap of shit for rushing Tua back too quickly.

[Kodiak.]

Ben had 2, maybe 3 (counting the bike), concussion in 2006. Had another a year or two later. And I was concerned that was going to be a trend. I think he had only 1 more the rest of his career (officially).

Supposedly you more susceptible to further concussions after each one. Not sure that's really observed in the NFL, but I'm not worried about this becoming an issue with Kenny.

[Smashmouth21]

This thread is going off the rails. For those thinking the Steelers will be 2-5 by week 8, you’ve gone fully to the dark side and accepted the purest of pessimism — I feel sorry for you. This team is closer to contender than basement dweller.

For those clamoring for an unproven, trash heap developmental QB this season, please name the last developmental QB the Steelers, you know, developed. Ever. It is a complete aberration across the NFL if it happens as these types do not typically develop. Hence why QBs are drafted high. Mason is better than the QB gum you want the Steelers to scrape off the bottom of their shoe. If the plan is to hold onto Mitch and trade him if you can (good luck) or have him play out one last season with Mason as the #2.5 and the long term backup, I think that’s solid process. You can scrape the developmental gum off your shoe next year. No loss.

[bradshaw2ben]

The Steelers started 2-6 just last year.

This year, they start with San Francisco–- a top 5 team in the league who'd have a chance to beat the Steelers even if the 49ers started Duck Hodges at QB. The Browns look better on paper, so could go either way. The Raiders and Texans are unlikely to be good, but that's also two trips west of the Mississippi and one vs a Raiders team who always seems to find a way to beat the Steelers, no matter the talent disparity. Ravens will be favored; at best this game is a tossup. Rams won't be good but trips to California rarely end well for PIT. Then you've got a fully re-loaded Jacksonville with a better QB and the same DVOA last year as PIT.

I don't think you have to be some wild pessimist to think a poor start is a possibility.

[Kodiak.]

This team is closer to contender than basement dweller.

I think you're splitting hairs. Mediocre is about exactly halfway between contender and basement dweller. And that's pretty much what I see - a fairly young team with a young unproven QB. Some talent. But we've been saying those things for years and expecting young guys to take the next step. They mostly haven't, because the coaching and schemes are deficient.

It's kind of like investing. If you take a really conservative approach, you might be able to avoid a losing year. But you'll never outperform anyone. To truly contend, you have to take big swings and you have to take risks. That's not NHALS.

[K_C_]

The Steelers started 2-6 just last year.

This year, they start with San Francisco–- a top 5 team in the league who'd have a chance to beat the Steelers even if the 49ers started Duck Hodges at QB. The Browns look better on paper, so could go either way. The Raiders and Texans are unlikely to be good, but that's also two trips west of the Mississippi and one vs a Raiders team who always seems to find a way to beat the Steelers, no matter the talent disparity. Ravens will be favored; at best this game is a tossup. Rams won't be good but trips to California rarely end well for PIT. Then you've got a fully re-loaded Jacksonville with a better QB and the same DVOA last year as PIT.

I don't think you have to be some wild pessimist to think a poor start is a possibility.

Dude, c'mon. Last year was a little bit of an outlier.

First, we not only started Mitch Trubisky, which was the worst idea in modern football history, at QB early in the season. That idea was pure idiocy. I don't need to tell you how the first game of the season, in Cincinnati, went. We sacked Burrow like 6 times. Turned him over like 7 times (including getting a fucking Pick Six) and because Trubisky was so utterly fucking awful, the game had to go to overtime before Mitch actually did something positive and the Steelers won. Probably the costliest win of the last 20 years. We only lost the reigning defensive player of the year in overtime, because Trubisky being awful caused our defense to be on the field far too long. Watt missed close to half a season. The 1 fucking guy the Steelers couldn't lose. Their best player since he's been on the roster, was gone. Then they soon faced a murderer's row of a schedule after Trubisky was so terrible, Tomlin was forced to go with the rookie.

Kenny isn't a rookie anymore and ended the season playing good, winning football and looking much more comfortable. I don't need to tell you the improvements they've made to the roster. They're significant, especially on the offensive line.

The only way this team starts 2-6 this year is if a massive injury outbreak takes place in several key areas.

[bradshaw2ben]

Those teams down the stretch last year were a mirage. That's my trouble with buying in. The offense is still deficient. If they're going to run a lot on early downs, they probably won't score a lot of points, and may very well put their defense in situations where they have little margin for error.

I don't see a lot of daylight between the work Trubisky did and the work Pickett did, especially when you factor in the opponent at the time they were faced.

So, Steelers again starting a season with questions at QB, a terrible OC, a HC who wants to make every game close and or hard to win, and a defense that relies on the league MVP to succeed.

That's not a recipe for success.

Maybe the QB will surprise. Maybe someone else on defense will step up to greatness. Maybe there will actually be effective play action. Maybe the HC will reinvent his ideas about how to win. I'm not counting on any of that.

Yes, the Steelers got better in the offseason and the new additions are promising. Problem is: most of the other division teams also got better, and the already elite teams got to have a draft of BPAs instead of worrying about filling certain positions. It's going to be tough to get to the 7th seed unless Kenny Pickett explodes into Joe Burrow territory.

[gojira5150]

The Steelers started 2-6 just last year.

This year, they start with San Francisco–- a top 5 team in the league who'd have a chance to beat the Steelers even if the 49ers started Duck Hodges at QB. The Browns look better on paper, so could go either way. The Raiders and Texans are unlikely to be good, but that's also two trips west of the Mississippi and one vs a Raiders team who always seems to find a way to beat the Steelers, no matter the talent disparity. Ravens will be favored; at best this game is a tossup. Rams won't be good but trips to California rarely end well for PIT. Then you've got a fully re-loaded Jacksonville with a better QB and the same DVOA last year as PIT.

I don't think you have to be some wild pessimist to think a poor start is a possibility.

Dude, c'mon. Last year was a little bit of an outlier.

First, we not only started Mitch Trubisky, which was the worst idea in modern football history, at QB early in the season. That idea was pure idiocy. I don't need to tell you how the first game of the season, in Cincinnati, went. We sacked Burrow like 6 times. Turned him over like 7 times (including getting a fucking Pick Six) and because Trubisky was so utterly fucking awful, the game had to go to overtime before Mitch actually did something positive and the Steelers won. Probably the costliest win of the last 20 years. We only lost the reigning defensive player of the year in overtime, because Trubisky being awful caused our defense to be on the field far too long. Watt missed close to half a season. The 1 fucking guy the Steelers couldn't lose. Their best player since he's been on the roster, was gone. Then they soon faced a murderer's row of a schedule after Trubisky was so terrible, Tomlin was forced to go with the rookie.

Kenny isn't a rookie anymore and ended the season playing good, winning football and looking much more comfortable. I don't need to tell you the improvements they've made to the roster. They're significant, especially on the offensive line.

The only way this team starts 2-6 this year is if a massive injury outbreak takes place in several key areas.

This 100%. The Steelers beat Cincinatti & Buffalo the last 2 years with the 1st game of season. This D will be better, and the offense will be better as well. Who's going to QB the 49ers. Whoever it is will be under pressure all game long. I'm actually optimistic for the upcoming year.