Ben Roethlisberger Revealing Steelers Will Go Back To Kenny Pickett Because "It Looks Really Bad"

The Pittsburgh Steelers are currently facing a quarterback dilemma, thanks to the impressive back-to-back performances of Mason Rudolph. In his two recent starts, Rudolph has thrown for 564 yards and two touchdowns, with the offense putting up 30 or more points in both games. This surge in offensive production has sparked a debate among Steeler Nation and analysts about who should be the team's starting quarterback moving forward.

Former Steelers legendary quarterback Ben Roethlisberger offered his insights on the situation during a live stream of the game against the Seattle Seahawks on his podcast Footbahlin With Ben Roethlisberger on Sunday. When asked what the team should do if Rudolph continues to excel, Roethlisberger provided a straightforward answer: they will go back to Kenny Pickett.

Steelers Assessment Of Pickett Isn't Over Yet

Roethlisberger's reasoning behind this prediction is rooted in the business aspect of football. He emphasized that the Steelers drafted Pickett in the first round, and typically, when an organization invests such a high pick in a player, they are inclined to give that player every opportunity to succeed. 

"They will go back to Kenny. This game is a business, and you drafted that guy in the first round. You are going to have to stick with him even if you don't want to because you don't want to quote-unquote 'make that mistake of drafting him in the first round.'"

According to Roethlisberger, the Steelers would be cautious about making any hasty decisions regarding Pickett, as they wouldn't want to admit to a potential draft bust too quickly.

"If you have a first-round guy at almost any position, you have to give him every opportunity because if it looks like a bust and you didn't make the right move, that looks really bad. If Mason plays well and wins, he's playing for him. He might get a contract from another team."

Roethlisberger suggested that, in the current situation, Rudolph is essentially auditioning for a contract in the offseason, and his performances in these final games could significantly impact his future in the league. Rudolph's ability to step in and help resurrect an underperforming Steelers offense has certainly caught the attention of both fans and potential suitors.

One of the notable changes in the Steelers' offense with Rudolph at the helm has been the emergence of second-year receiver George Pickens. Rudolph's connection with Pickens has allowed the talented wideout to finally showcase his abilities, recording back-to-back 100+ yard receiving games. This development adds another layer of intrigue to the quarterback debate.

The complexity of evaluating the quarterback situation is further complicated by the coaching changes that occurred during the season. Matt Canada, the former offensive coordinator, had presided over a struggling Steelers offense for several seasons before being fired. It's challenging to determine whether the offense was hindered by Canada's schemes or if Pickett was a contributing factor to the struggles.

However, when Canada was let go, the offense saw an improvement under new play-caller Mike Sullivan and interim offensive coordinator Eddie Faulkner. Unfortunately, Pickett's progress was curtailed by an injury he suffered against the Arizona Cardinals.

In the end, whether Pickett would have performed better, worse, or similarly to Rudolph under the new offensive system remains uncertain. As Roethlisberger indicated, the Steelers would likely afford Pickett a fair opportunity to showcase his abilities within the revised offensive framework before making a definitive decision about his future as the team's quarterback.

The team decided to stick with Rudolph in Week 17 and Pickett was the emergency quarterback. Surprisingly, Pickett wasn't even listed as active for the matchup against the Seahawks and Mitch Trubisky stepped in as the backup. This decision has added fuel to the ongoing drama and debates among Steelers fans and analysts.

As the Steelers prepare for their regular-season finale against the Baltimore Ravens, all eyes will be on head coach Mike Tomlin. The situation has become increasingly intriguing, with Pickett's absence due to injury no longer serving as an easy explanation for the quarterback choices. Tomlin's decision in Week 18 will undoubtedly be a pivotal moment in the ongoing quarterback debate in Pittsburgh. 

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