PHOENIX — Via one means or another, the Pittsburgh Steelers are making their rounds through the incoming draft class of quarterbacks.
One by one, be it at the combine or pro days or via official visits to their South Side facility, Steelers coaches and management are performing their due diligence at the sport’s most important position. Name a draft-eligible prospect, and there’s an excellent chance the Steelers have talked with him.
Because they hold an inordinately high number selections (12) in next month’s draft, don’t be surprised if the Steelers select a quarterback at some point.
And that’s regardless of whether Aaron Rodgers re-signs for a second season with the team.
“I’m hopeful there’ll be a quarterback at the right time there for us (during the draft) to possibly add to our roster,” coach Mike McCarthy said from the site of the NFL owners meetings Monday.
McCarthy said he keeps in contact with Rodgers and that Rodgers — who went 10-6 as the Steelers starter last season — is “really engaged” with how the team is conducting its offseason.
No decision from Rodgers on whether he will play a 22nd NFL season for the Steelers is expected to emerge publicly any time soon. But, in the meantime, the Steelers join 31 other teams in preparing for the Pittsburgh-hosted draft that commences less than 3 1/2 weeks from now.
Would the Steelers still consider spending a draft choice on a quarterback even if Rodgers comes back to play at age 42?
“Yeah,” general manager Omar Khan said Monday. “All options are on the table.”
During the combine in Indianapolis some five weeks prior, a handful of quarterbacks mentioned having interviews with McCarthy and how he would quiz them on formations or routes or situational QB decision-making.
Speaking to a handful of Pittsburgh-based reporters who traveled to the posh Arizona Biltmore resort, McCarthy on Monday said he goes into meetings with draft prospects armed with very position-specific questions.
“And, obviously, the quarterback position is (special),” McCarthy said.
McCarthy then snapped his fingers to signify how quickly a young quarterback could fire back an answer to a specific question he had about a certain offensive concept or scheme.
“The importance of immediate recall,” McCarthy said while snapping his fingers, “is to me what I’m looking for (from a quarterback).
“I’ve been around long enough to know the different languages. … You call it certain digits. (For example) there’s nine routes, (aka) go routes (and) seven routes, (aka) corner routes, so you want to be able to jump in there and speak their language and have a conversation.
“My goal when the quarterbacks come in was, ‘Let’s have a conversation like if I was coaching you.’ And all the guys with the combine were all excellent. They were awesome.”
Among the quarterbacks McCarthy was known to have spoken with at the combine were Penn State’s Drew Allar, LSU’s Garrett Nussmeier and Alabama’s Ty Simpson. Carson Beck of Miami and Cole Payton of North Dakota State have been to the Steelers’ UPMC Rooney Sports Complex as “top 30” visitors, with more of those still to come.
Outside of presumed No. 1 overall selection Fernando Mendoza, Simpson is the only other quarterback projected as a first-round pick. Beck, Allar, Nussmeier and Payton are expected to be drafted in the middle rounds.
McCarthy, however, said that more than two decades as an NFL head coach taught him to approach the evaluation of draft prospects with an open mind free from preconceived notions from the outside.
“It’s something I learned at a young age from grading quarterbacks,” McCarthy said.
Though this year’s QB draft class is largely regarded as lacking, McCarthy is coming away impressed.
“These kids today are well-schooled,” McCarthy said, referencing an increasing complexity in college offenses and heightened levels of coaching given to college quarterbacks. “They can speak it. And then you put the video on, and if what they’re saying is also on the video, then now you’re on to something.
“I enjoyed every one of those guys. I thought they all they all did a really nice job. I was impressed.”
