McCarthy quarterbacks
McCarthy quarterbacks
Thursday’s preseason opener against the Green Bay Packers will be the first major test for the Pittsburgh Steelers’ young quarterbacks. It’s unknown at this point exactly how much Will Howard and Drew Allar will play, but head coach Mike McCarthy gave a concise answer on what he’s looking for from them.
“Well, I just want to see these young guys play. I want to see how they play connected to each other,” McCarthy said of Howard and Allar via transcript provided by the team. “The pre-snap of the operation, having an understanding of what’s in front of them, but the finish. This is what these games are for, it’s how these guys are finishing plays, what goes on at the end of the play, and that leads to production. So, play style and production are the two blinking lights that I put the most emphasis on.”
McCarthy’s emphasis on the pre-snap operation is no surprise. Getting the offense lined up correctly, understanding what the defense is showing and making the proper adjustments are important traits for any young quarterback to display.
Clearly, McCarthy is most focused on the finish. Once the ball is snapped, they will need to make the correct read and deliver the ball accurately. Avoiding turnovers and negative plays will also be key to the evaluations.
Preseason games give coaches a chance to see whether everything they’ve drilled into their players in practice and meetings carries over when the lights come on. But for the young quarterbacks, it sounds like McCarthy isn’t looking for them to set the world on fire. He’s looking for the traits that will suggest they can be functional quarterbacks in his offense.
Thursday’s game will be just another data point in the evaluation of Howard and Allar, but the stakes are more than just this season. If either quarterback shows enough potential, the Steelers may already have their next quarterback of the future on the roster.
Ultimately, McCarthy’s two “blinking lights” are production and play style. This means that simply looking the part and making the right reads won’t be enough. Production will need to come in terms of yards and touchdowns.
Play style can encompass a lot, but decision-making and poise under pressure are two key areas for the quarterbacks to focus.
Even though Howard is in his second season, it will be his preseason debut and first chance to make an impression. The same obviously also applies to Allar. The presence of two young quarterbacks will make this entire preseason one to watch for Pittsburgh. Mike McCarthy gave us an idea of what he will be looking for from his young signal callers.