Pittsburgh Steelers: Evaluating backup quarterback battle

With Ben Roethlisberger still at the helm, questions surrounding the state of the Pittsburgh Steelers second-string duties need answering.

In day-to-day life, insurance is one of the most important assets to have. Nobody is certain of the events that will follow next, and having a fallback plan to rescue you in a time of need is second to none. The same logic applies to the gridiron, a concept the Pittsburgh Steelers are all too familiar with. In-depth analysis simply isn’t needed to justify how different of a team the Steelers are without starting quarterback Ben Roethlisberger.

Yet with Big Ben eyeing retirement and only playing a full 16-game schedule a mere three of his 13 seasons, 2017 arrives as a pivotal time for the Steelers, and any quarterback not named Roethlisberger. Pittsburgh hopes to not see action from either Landry Jones or Josh Dobbs until Big Ben decides to hang his cleats up for good, although no person or magic 8-ball may hold the answer to when that may be.

What would happen should the Steelers lose Big Ben? Who would be the man to take the field and attempt to lead the offense? These are questions coaches must be able to answer, and answer sooner rather than later.

More from NFL Spin Zone

Let’s evaluate the back-up quarterback position battle.

Evaluating Josh Dobbs

By selecting Josh Dobbs in the fourth round in the 2017 NFL Draft, the Steelers showed they took Roethlisberger’s retirement talks serious and drafted a potential suitor to man the ship once Big Ben’s set sail for the retirement home (or broadcast booth, up to you Ben). Fresh out of the University of Tennessee, Dobbs was heralded by many scouts as being a mentally tough quarterback that is able to make plays with his legs. However, decision-making and foot mechanics were enough to drop Dobbs to 135th overall.

The preseason has certainly provided Dobbs a short but accurate dose of the roller coaster life of a quarterback in the NFL. At times Josh has flashed his potential as a viable option for the Steelers moving forward, throwing excellent balls down the field and showing true poise in the pocket by stepping into throws while under pressure. However, for every substantial play Dobbs has made, there appears to be an equal play off-setting the rookie’s excellence by poor decision-making and apparent inexperience against NFL defenses.

Dobbs can appropriately be labeled as a project, with no negative connotation attached. Should the Steelers chose to play him over Jones this season, it’s a sign of confidence in the future. Completing just 22-of-41 passes with a 3-1 interception-touchdown ratio and a QBR of 44.2 in the preseason, Dobbs still plays with a question mark looming above him. However, Dobbs still remains a versatile option behind center, and provides a higher ceiling than fellow quarterback Landry Jones despite a lack of experience.

Evaluating Landry Jones

Jones, also a fourth-round pick out of Oklahoma in the 2013 NFL Draft, has also seen his fair share of the good and bad side of being a quarterback at the professional level. Entering his fifth season, Jones brings experience and knowledge of the playbook as his main proprietors of sitting second in command to Roethlisberger.

As experienced as Jones is, it’s apparent he still struggles with consistency. Too many times when Jones has led the offense, a drive stalls due to his inability to go through his progressions and make the right throw. Jones just doesn’t have the poise nor the play-making ability to serve as a steady starting quarterback, although he has become a serviceable second-string player, which may explain why the Steelers signed him to another two seasons this past off-season.

Make no mistakes, Jones has made plenty of throws that show he still belongs on the roster. He has made strides in his game since arriving as a rookie five seasons ago, but are they sufficient enough to lead the Steelers to where they need to be? Past endeavors tell us probably not, but we have yet to see the full arsenal of what Jones can do.

Verdict

By now, you see the dilemma Pittsburgh faces. The importance of the backup position, especially at the quarterback spot, can not be taken for granted. The significance of the battle can extend far beyond the present season when considering your franchise quarterback is liable to retire at any given moment. Both Jones and Dobbs still have questions about their game that need to be answered.

Next: NFL Power Rankings 2017: Preseason Week 4

However, with the present talent that’s on the roster, the Steelers are ready to make a run for a title now. With a roster that has big plans for 2017, a gunslinger with experience in the offense would be preferred, and thus Jones would resume a slight edge over Dobbs. It’s perfectly reasonable to expect either quarterback to take over the back-up role over the season, yet with Dobbs still on his learning curve, it’s likely Jones’ job to lose.

Home/Pittsburgh Steelers