A weekly feature with Steelers Contributing Writer/Editor Brian Batko's thoughts, analysis and commentary on the Steelers. Four downs' worth of insight, and always going for it: no punting allowed.
First down: Room at the quarterback inn. Think back to a time long, long ago — middle of July, perhaps — and the questions on your mind as the Steelers departed for Saint Vincent College. One at the top of the mind and the top of the roster centered around the progress of the two young quarterbacks, Will Howard and Drew Allar. Is it possible to develop two at the same time, and get reps for three backups, and enough snaps for four quarterbacks in all?
In a Mike McCarthy training camp, the answer is yes, definitively. Two fields running 11 on 11 at the same time, McCarthy calling plays for Howard and Allar, and carving out time for quarterback-specific training whenever possible during individual drills. There's still one more preseason game to evaluate the 2025 and 2026 draft picks, of course, but they did not lack for learning or teaching in August.
"With Coach McCarthy and his track record of developing quarterbacks — personally, I saw it firsthand in New Orleans when I was down there 26 years ago in 2000," said assistant general manager Andy Weidl. "Mike [McCarthy] was our offensive coordinator and [senior offensive assistant] Frank Cignetti [Jr.] was on the staff, too. I saw the work and the development they did with Jake Delhomme, and how Jake grew and developed there. He was able to leave in free agency, watched him go to Carolina and how he elevated Carolina to the Super Bowl. Mike did a great job down there, I always thought, with the growth and the development of Jake Delhomme."
Second down: What a difference a year makes. Speaking of quarterbacks, Aaron Rodgers and his returning pass-catchers are on the same page. That's been easy to see since the first practice in Latrobe.
Michael Pittman Jr. and Germie Bernard still can contribute, and they will, but Rodgers appeared to have an even stronger connection while running it back with the likes of DK Metcalf, Pat Freiermuth, Roman Wilson and Darnell Washington. It wasn't all smooth sailing in their first season together. Rodgers wants routes run a certain way, pre-snap coordinator is key and communication is paramount. That being said, they've all seemed to click quickly this time around, be it on short, intermediate or deep throws. Don't just take my word for it, though.
"It's year two with Aaron, so the relationship, you can see the chemistry on the field," Weidl said of Wilson, in particular. "You guys have been up there to watch them. He's playing fast. He's playing with confidence. He's winning [matchups]."
Third down: There's an imaginative defensive stew cooking. When Patrick Graham took the reins as defensive coordinator, any number of adjectives were attached to his reputation from teammates and fellow coaches. Adaptable, evolving, fluid, you name it.
But now having actually seen his ideas in action, it's even more clear that he's bringing a fresh set of eyes to the proceedings. T.J. Watt and Alex Highsmith flip-flopped plenty at outside linebacker. Nick Herbig, with new contract in hand, looks to be a wild card who can be put down on the edge or in the middle.
Elandon Roberts, who was with Graham last year with the Raiders, called him a "brainiac for football." He doesn't even consider the system he played in last season to be the same one Graham will use in Pittsburgh.
The possibilities are greater once Jalen Ramsey is back to provide an X-factor presence in the secondary. This is a malleable defensive roster and it's matched with a flexible play-caller. The signs were already there on the grass at Chuck Noll Field.
Fourth down: Pillars are in place for the next generation. Herbig and Washington cashed in on their improvement back in June with new five-year deals. Now one more foundational piece is locked in through the 2020s, with defensive tackle Keeanu Benton.
Benton was wishing and waiting on an extension, knowing that negotiations were in the works. He might've been a bit nervous about his future. But he simply put his head down and kept working, fitting in wherever needed in Graham's defensive front, getting to know new position coach Domato Peko and defensive assistant Shawn Howe.
Now it's the Steelers' future that is coming into focus, too. Herbig, Washington and Benton are a significant part of it.
