Steelers Owner Art Rooney II: PIT Need ‘Quality Play at the Quarterback Position’

Paul KasabianFeatured Columnist IIJanuary 31, 2024

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Pittsburgh Steelers owner Art Rooney II didn’t mince words with reporters during his annual “State of the Steelers” address with reporters Tuesday, telling them the team needs better play at quarterback.

“I think the biggest thing we need is quality play at the quarterback position,” Rooney said, per The Athletic’s Mark Kaboly.

“Mason Rudolph came in and showed, I think, what we’re capable of when we do get quality play at the quarterback position.”

Rooney’s commments were in reference to starter Kenny Pickett, the No. 20 overall pick in the 2022 draft.

This past season was not a good one for the ex-Pitt star, who only threw for six touchdowns (four interceptions) in 12 games. He finished 30th among all NFL quarterbacks in passing yards per game (172.5), 28th in QBR (38.2) and 27th in quarterback rating (81.4).

Pickett suffered a high ankle sprain that forced him out from Weeks 14-17. Mitch Trubisky started in two of those games but struggled, leading to Mason Rudolph taking over.

Rudolph fared quite well in Weeks 16-17 with Pickett out, completing 68.6 percent of his passes for 564 yards and two touchdowns. Pittsburgh also averaged 32.0 PPG with him under center, winning twice.

Pickett was good to go in Week 18, when Pittsburgh visited the Baltimore Ravens for a must-win game to make the playoffs. But Rudolph stayed under center and completed 18-of-20 passes for 152 yards and touchdown in rainy conditions.

Pittsburgh won and made the AFC Wild Card round, facing the Buffalo Bills. Rudolph wasn’t as successful in a tough Buffalo environment but still made some plays and kept Pittsburgh in it, completing 22-of-39 passes for 229 yards, two touchdowns and one pick in a 31-17 loss.

The offense was a sticking point all year for Pittsburgh, which fired offensive coordinator Matt Canada on Nov. 21. The previous regime and the midseason change probably didn’t help a young quarterback much, although the Steelers clearly had better results under the tag team of interim OC Eddie Faulkner and playcaller Mike Sullivan with Rudolph under center, though.

Ultimately, Rooney and the Steelers still have faith in Pickett, who is still just 25 games into his career and has plenty of room for growth.

“What I think we need him to be is just continue to develop, to be a quarterback that can, you know, read a defense quickly and get the offense into the best play for a given situation when he comes out of the huddle,” Rooney said.

“We still feel good about Kenny Pickett and his future. But he knows he needs to work hard to take the next step, and we’ve talked about that.”

Pickett will work next year under new offensive coordinator Arthur Smith, the recently fired Atlanta Falcons head coach who notably shepherded the Tennessee Titans to some solid offensive seasons under his watch as OC in 2019 and 2020.

Quarterback Ryan Tannehill notably excelled under Smith, throwing for 55 touchdowns and 6,561 yards in 28 games on his watch.