Jerome Bettis believes his former staff, the Pittsburgh Steelers, are a “sufferer of their very own luck.”
The Steelers had been a profitable franchise ever since Mike Tomlin took the helm in 2007. Pittsburgh has gained a Tremendous Bowl and been to 2 general, however they haven’t had a lot luck in recent times. In truth, they haven’t gained a playoff sport since earlier than T.J. Watt’s arrival, which was once again in 2016.
That suggests the Steelers have misplaced 5 consecutive postseason video games.
Bettis attributes that loss of luck not to having a franchise quarterback, which has been a evident factor since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement after the 2020 season.
”They’re a sufferer of their very own luck as a result of he’s by no means had a shedding season,” says Bettis in a one-on-one interview. “They’ve by no means been in a position to draft within the height 5 or height 10 the place you gotta move get a quarterback. So, they’ve been choosing seventeenth, 18th, twenty second, twenty fourth. You’re now not gonna get the quarterback that you want at that time. It’s 100% the quarterback state of affairs since you haven’t been in a position to move get that man.”
The Steelers had some luck this season, choosing up veteran quarterback Russell Wilson. Whilst Wilson was once in a position to guide the Steelers to the playoffs whilst taking part in his first Professional Bowl marketing campaign because the 2021 season, it become transparent there was once a ceiling with him at quarterback.
Now not most effective was once Pittsburgh outmatched by means of the Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens within the wild card around of the playoffs, they misplaced their ultimate 4 common season video games. All of the ones video games had been towards top-tier quarterbacks in Jackson, Jalen Hurts, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Burrow.
”I simply assume they want a quarterback,” says Bettis. “I believe that’s been the problem that’s been retaining them up is that they don’t have the quarterback play that they wish to need to be a unique soccer staff. I believe on account of that, they haven’t been in a position to be a championship-caliber staff. They’re a playoff-caliber staff, however now not a championship-caliber staff.”
Bettis: “Ruin The Financial institution” To Get A Quarterback
Steelers proprietor and president Artwork Rooney II just lately mentioned the staff will most effective carry again both Wilson or Justin Fields — now not each. Even if Wilson gained the beginning quarterback activity in coaching camp, he struggled with accidents initially of the season, which ended in Fields beginning the primary six video games of the season and going 4-2.
Fields in reality performed the most efficient and most productive soccer of his profession all through that extend, posting a career-high 93.3 passer score at the side of a league-best 0.6% interception charge. There have been even questions as as to whether or now not the Steelers will have to shift clear of Fields and onto Wilson because the starter.
Regardless, Bettis nonetheless feels just like the Steelers don’t have that quarterback to get them to that championship degree. He even pitches the theory of Pittsburgh buying and selling up within the draft to make a choice both Cam Ward or Shedeur Sanders — the highest two quarterbacks within the draft — in the event that they really feel like both man is usually a franchise quarterback.
“If I had been the GM, I might move out and have a look at drafting a quarterback on this draft,” says Bettis. “If there’s person who I truly truly like, then I cost a fortune and I’m going up and get him. After which I signal a veteran quarterback like Russell Wilson to a two-year state of affairs the place he can lend a hand bridge the sport and get this younger quarterback able.”
“It’s important to be prepared to take a position,” says Bettis. “If the sort of guys you consider is the fellow, you then gotta move out. If it takes 3 first-round selections, you gotta give them 3 first-round selections.
“However you’ve gotta move out and get the fellow you favor,” Bettis continues to mention. “I don’t know who that man is that if it’s any of those quarterbacks. I don’t know in the event you loan your long term for any of those guys. I don’t know. However in the event you do like the sort of guys, you gotta move all in. As a result of what they’re doing presently, is not going to paintings. It’s confirmed that it doesn’t paintings. They have got to re-commit themselves to discovering that quarterback.”
Bettis compares the Steelers’ scenario to when the Kansas Town Chiefs moved as much as the No. 10 slot from the No. 27 select to draft Patrick Mahomes. The Corridor of Status working again says “you gotta move get him” if the Steelers consider the sort of guys may also be their franchise quarterback.
“You noticed Kansas Town went from No. 27 to No. 10 within the 2017 NFL Draft and so they were given the fellow they sought after,” says Bettis. “They sought after Mahomes and so they went and were given him. If you are feeling the sort of guys is your man, you gotta move get him.”