Steelers Now
The Pittsburgh Steelers kept the light on for Aaron Rodgers. After now-former longtime head coach Mike Tomlin walked away in January, it felt as if the team would go in a different direction at quarterback this upcoming season.
Mike McCarthy came to town, however, and brought back the four-time Associated Press MVP — though after nearly four months of waiting.
Rodgers went 10-6 as the Steelers’ starter last season, throwing for 3,322 yards, 24 touchdowns and seven interceptions. Even with the team’s receptions leader from last campaign — tailback Kenneth Gainwell — out the door, the general conception before McCarthy’s crew descends on St. Vincent College for training camp next month is that Rodgers should be better off this time around.
Yahoo Sports’ Nate Tice believes the 42-year-old signal-caller is what will hold the Steelers’ attack back.
“I’m gonna put a pin in that Steelers conversation. I’m still (skeptical),” Tice said last week on the “NFL Daily” podcast. “It’s the quarterback, man. It’s the quarterback. … Which is funny because I think most people don’t think that’s the thing that’s limiting it. It’s like, ‘No.’ At least for me.”
Tice anticipates the Steelers’ defensive, offensive line and ground game will be good, along with calling Pittsburgh’s weapons “solid.” McCarthy and general manager Omar Khan added some promising depth behind No. 1 wideout DK Metcalf, who led the team with 850 receiving yards last season, by swapping for fellow big-bodied target Michael Pittman Jr. and drafting Germie Bernard in the second round.
Rodgers turns 43 in December. He said last month that this will be his last go-round.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now: Analyst Not Sold on Steelers QB Aaron Rodgers
