The Pittsburgh Steelers have an adult in the offensive room. That was clear when the official Mike McCarthy hiring press release went out in January and has become even more heightened with each training camp session. Fast forward to last night and every outsider got to see it in Thursday’s 28-9 preseason opener win over the Green Bay Packers.

Let’s not anoint the Steelers a Super Bowl Contender here but this is a talented ball club that has a lot of potential in 2026 just from the matter of change and a coaching bump. Coming from a Mike Tomlin supporter here who thinks in his next stop he has the chance of being perfect fit at the perfect time for somebody, his biggest assist to the organization was firing himself. If there was any chance for this current group to take another step, it was with a veteran new staff that isn’t trying to learn on the job and particularly an offensive staff. The Mike McCarthy hire was not popular with the social media fan base. That crowd is going to change their tune really quick……

The Steelers actually have a staff offensively that is going to elevate individuals. Dinosaur ball looks to be over.

Let’s get the QBs:

QuarterbacksStatsTidbits
QB 1: Mason Rudolph10/11, 93 Yards Buzz: Was in command of the offense, flashed why he’s their safe pick behind Rodgers and a belief among coaching staff they can bring more out of him
QB 2: Will Howard 7/9, 86 Yards Buzz: Shined in two-minute scoring drive to end half, using middle of the field
QB 3: Drew Allar 10/13, 153 Yards, 2 TD, 1 TD (Rushing)Buzz: Absolutely phenomenal debut.

The story of the night was obviously the quarterback play from Mason Rudolph down to Drew Allar. It was only the preseason, , yet, what a scene is seeing a scheme that used the middle of the field used and just a calmness and crispness from whoever was behind center. The Steelers internally believe they are going to be a Super Bowl Contender this year. Their starting quarterback is 42 years old and blew his Achilles three years ago. The starting QB who drives the bus behind the scenes has become really close to Mason Rudolph. There’s just no evidence that even if Will Howard is lights out in practices the rest of the way that Rudolph is going to be pushed out of the mix. And Rudolph for his part has been really strong throughout camp and showed Thursday how he might be having the best coaching of his career right now. It’s unlikely anything transpired Thursday Night at Acrisure that changed anything in the QB pecking order……..

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Will Howard in his first actual game action since college, also played well. He had some excellent reads down the middle of the field and is being applauded for his work in the two minute drill. A promising night of work for Howard who has been hit or miss in practice settings. As much as Howard is becoming a fan favorite for a town that loves the backups, this night, though, was really about Drew Allar.

The NFL is a QB1 league and you’re QB better have QB1 level tools. For all of Allar’s faults coming out of Penn State, Arm talent like he has doesn’t grow on trees. Allar has a had a number of wow moment throws in training camp. Under the lights Thursday Night was executing the simple reads at his disposal. Simple easy play, lead to big plays. He took the positive matchup situations and shredded the Packers. Will Howard can likely have a Kenny Pickett type career, go bounce around and be someone’s #2. But, I mean come on, if any long-term quarterback is on this roster right now Allar is the obvious chance of having a chance to being that guy. Allar can make type of throws that Howard just doesn’t have the ability to do. He was a late round pick for a reason……

“When we drafted Drew Allar we thought we were getting a first-round pick, Mike McCarthy said today on ESPN via Pat McAfee show. “Value our personnel department had on him coming out of his junior year.”

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