Jerome Bettis believes his former workforce, the Pittsburgh Steelers, are “a sufferer of their very own success.”
The Steelers have been a successful franchise since Mike Tomlin was on the helm in 2007. Pittsburgh gained the Tremendous Bowl and gained two total, however hasn’t been in a position to try this in recent times. Actually, they haven’t gained the playoff sport earlier than TJ Watt’s arrival, returning in 2016.
Because of this the Steelers have misplaced 5 consecutive postseason video games.
Betis believes he hasn’t managed to get away with the franchise quarterback, which has been a transparent concern since Ben Roethlisberger’s retirement after the 2020 season.
“They’re the victims of their success and he by no means gained a dropping season,” Betis says in a one-on-one interview. “They could not draft the highest 5 or prime ten the place it’s important to get a quarterback. In order that they’re choosing 17, 18, 22, twenty fourth. At that time, they are going to choose the seventeenth, 18th, twenty second, twenty fourth. You are not going to get the quarterback you want. It is a 100% quarterback situation since you could not get that man.”
The Steelers have had some success this season, that includes veteran quarterback Russell Wilson. Wilson managed to steer the Steelers into the playoffs whereas having fun with his first Professional Bowl marketing campaign because the 2021 season, but it surely was revealed that he has a ceiling with him at quarterback.
Pittsburgh not solely rivaled the Lamar Jackson-led Baltimore Ravens within the wildcard spherical of the playoffs, but additionally misplaced their ultimate 4 regular-season video games. All of those video games have been towards prime tee quarterbacks of Jackson, Jalen Harts, Patrick Mahomes and Joe Barrow.
“I believe they want a quarterback,” Betis mentioned. “I believe that was the issue that saved them down. They do not have the quarterback play they should grow to be particular soccer groups, to allow them to grow to be championship caliber groups. I do not assume they have been. They’re playoff caliber groups, however not championship caliber groups.”
Bettis: Get a quarterback to “break the financial institution”
Steelers proprietor and President Artwork Rooney II just lately mentioned the workforce won’t solely reclaim both Wilson or Justinfield, however not each. Wilson gained the beginning quarterback job at coaching camp, however struggled with accidents initially of the season, beginning the primary six video games of the season, making it 4-2.
Subject truly performed the perfect and best soccer of his profession throughout that stretch, recording a career-high 93.3 passerby ranking and a league-high 0.6% interception fee. There have been even questions on whether or not the Steelers ought to transfer from the sphere to Wilson as a starter.
Anyway, Betis nonetheless feels just like the Steelers haven’t got that quarterback. He even pitches the concept Pittsburgh trades up within the draft and trades up within the draft to decide on between the highest two quarterbacks of the draft.
“If I have been GM, I might exit and see them drafting a quarterback on this draft,” says Betis. “If there’s one thing I actually like, I will break the financial institution, I will rise up and get him, after which signal a veteran quarterback like Russell Wilson to signal a two-year situation, You possibly can bridge the sport and put together this younger quarterback.”
“You’ll want to be keen to take a position,” says Betis. “If you happen to consider one in every of these guys is a man, it’s important to go exterior. If you happen to want three first spherical picks, then you do not have to call three first spherical picks. It will not be.
“However it’s important to exit and get the man you want,” Betis continues. “If you happen to’re one in every of these quarterbacks, you do not know who that man is. I do not know in case you’re mortgaging your future for these folks. I do not know. However in case you If you happen to like one in every of these guys, it’s important to get into all the things, as a result of what they’re doing now is not going properly. It is confirmed to be unhealthy. They’ll discover that quarterback You’ll want to recommit your self.”
Betis compares the Steelers scenario with when Kansas Metropolis chief moved to the No. 10 slot from the No. 27 choose to the Patrick Mahomes draft. If the Steelers consider that one in every of these guys can grow to be their franchise quarterback, the Corridor of Fame says, “It’s important to get him.”
“Kansas Metropolis went from twenty seventh to tenth within the 2017 NFL Draft and acquired the man they needed,” says Betis. “They needed Mahomes, they usually went and acquired him. If you happen to really feel that one in every of these guys is your man, it’s important to take him with you. .”
