If you dumped him on a great team with better coaching would his accuracy and anticipation improve? Would the arm strength grow? Would he become an elite athlete?
I have not given up on Kenny like many on this site.
I can not say he is the guy.
I will give him more time.
I always give young guys more time. Into their 3rd season.
With Ben,
It only took me week 6, Bens 5th game, and only 4th start.........
That is the rare one. The HOFer.
Steelers vs. Cowboys, watching game with my brother, as big a Dallas fan as I am Steelers.
This was the game .....
That i screamed out loud...............
"We have ourselves a fucking QB"
That was week 6 vs. Dallas,
Down 20-10 late 3rd quarter..........
Ben completed his last 11 passes for 90 yards and a TD pass, ran once for 9 yards.
Steelers win 24-20.
Yes, hell of a supporting cast of veterans.
Hines, Plax, Randle El, Staley, Bus,
Top OL.....run heavy team. PA passing for the element of surprise in pass plays.
Killer defense......Casey, Smith, Kimo, Farrior, Foote, Porter, Troy,
Perfect spot for a young QB
Hence..........
Kenny could not be in a far different spot.
An OL that is disappointing to say the least, as I had higher hopes for this unit.
Maybe they build on getting Jones in at LT., and a bye week to work Jones, Seumalo, Cole, get Daniels back and Chuck / Moore.
Can anyone remember seeing an OL pull and lead a RB around end.
Do we trap block? Does the center pull?
Do we ever pull a guard and tackle at the same time?
Counter?
What happened to that TE counter in motion, in combo with a pulling guard.
We have straight ahead.
With a RB that lacks vision, burst,
With a #2 that does not get enough touches.
a #3 that is not in the same zip code or state on game days.
But I still do not see the explosion and confidence, decisiveness, with quick execution in this unit that I see while watching other run games.
I could watch some of these teams hand the ball off every single play, all game long. That is how well the plays are designed and executed. Beauty.
I would say a good part of our problem is poor coaching, poor practices, lack of cohesive, repetition, execution in practice.
As far as the passing game.
It is literally a bottom of the barrel NFL passing game.
From scheme, to play design, to routes, to pace and tempo, to timing, to lack of surprise, to precision and execution.
To use of player personnel and the predictable routes we put each individual in.
Robinson runs his routes, in specific locations of the field. Curls to the right, 6-8 yards.
Pickens runs sideline patterns, back shoulder throws.
Austin has been a back shoulder target more than not.
How the hell is the smallest and fastest guy on the team always battling to make 50/50 back shoulder throws. Insanity.
He should not be close contact battling CB's
He'd be running all over the field in KC or Miami. I believe Tyrek runs 6 miles in a game, motion, crossers, etc....Austin had 1 target I'm 37 snaps. Fastest guy on team. In the NFL?
Both Austin and Pickens should be catching several 7-10 yard curls, outs per game..........in setting up plays, deeper shots.
We do not set up plays with plays.
Boykin comes on the field....mostly on run downs / run plays. Do tell. Defenses know this.
Gunner also comes on the field on run downs / run plays.
When DJ is healthy and playing, 90% of his routes are underneath.....5-8 yard range, on come backers.
We will not get flagged for illegals picks or rubs, because we rarely run them.
We do not scheme players open.
The TE's have become non-existent. ....as has the middle of the field. Freak athlete Darnell as #1 te., 46 snaps...2 targets.
Imagine Austin running full speed in motion, right to left, Kenny taking snap with Austin running a moving bubble screen. Kenny pumps that way, while Darnell chips / misses block and steaks deep with the LBs and DB flying towards Austin.
THE U SHAPED OFFENSE IS ALIVE AND WELL.
Run, Run pass.
The surprise pass on first..........that falls incomplete.........almost always turns into run on second ( which everyone on earth knows )
Since we certainly need to get 2nd and 10 ........to a manageable 3rd and 7 or 8.
First and second downs are designed to get to 3rd and 4 or less.
Its a brutal philosophy.
Its not just Canada.
The head coach endorses it.
Kenny is set up to fail.
How would Purdy do in this situation.........without ever seeing what he did in that ideal position he is in.
He is in Bens spot 20 years later.
Great OL, great weapons around him ( better than the Ben rookie Steelers team )
Killer defense that may be better than that Ben rookie team.
I do not think anyone on this forum could have said that Brock Purdy, last pick of the draft,
comes in to the 2022 season on the Pittsburgh Steelers and does what he is doing in SF.
Nope,
NO strong run game.
NO mean and confident OL...with a nasty to it.
NO CMC in the backfield. No quick straight hammer of a RB in Mason, that spells CMC.
Their #3 RB, Elijah Mitchell may be our #1 RB.
NO do it all Debo Samuels,
NO top 3 TE in Kittle.
Little known Aiyuk may be their best WR.
The element of surprise is "always" alive with that offense.
And most importantly a Composer putting it all together in Shanahan.
Switch QBs......
and I guarantee Kenny is looking pretty good.
Drop Purdy into the middle of the cluster fuck offense and scheme we have....and Lil Brock is probably on the IR by now.
Anyway.
I do not think this team, led by Tomlin, will ever develop and offense like SF, Miami, Buffalo, Detroit, KC, Philly, etc.
I do not see Tomlin ever handing over the reigns to an offensive mind of the 2020's NFL.
With the PS mentality under Tomlin, is the hope to add another OL early in the draft, probably a center.
Add some offensive weapons. A WR , a RB that can take it to the house......
But most importantly, an OC that does not have the Tomlin mentality drilled into him.
I do believe Kenny has a positives.
He seems like he is a student of the game, studies, game tapes.
Takes practice seriously. Works with his targets.
Will add some weight and strength each year.
Likable, not arrogant.
Has support of his teammates.
Knows he has soo much to learn and grow.
Has shown the ability to lead come from behind wins, has excelled in the 4th quarter in most of his wins.
He is just in such a bad place on this current team with this current staff.
Go Steelers.