PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – What’s the plan for the Steelers offense with Aaron Rodgers? Can you have enough time with the other quarterbacks? Thoughts on Drew Allar and moving offensive lineman around. The first opportunity for new Steelers offensive coordinator Brian Angelichio to discuss OTAs.
Aaron Rodgers
With him in Green Bay for three years, Angelichio also coached against him with the Vikings, Washington and Carolina.
“It’s good to be on his team, because any time you go against him you are hanging on until that thing says zero,” Angelichio said with Pittsburgh reporters on Tuesday. “Every other spot I’ve been, that game is not over until it’s zeroes with him. He’s such a great competitor and can make any throw and can will his team from any circumstance.”
Receiver Michael Pittman said on Monday that he’s already noticed some impressive throws from Rodgers in his first year with him. Angelichio said Rodgers remains elite and has been his entire career noting how special his arm talent is.
“It’s remarkable the way he throws the football,” Angelichio said.
Same plan with Aaron?
Last year there were a lot of short passes in Arthur Smith’s offense. Is that the type of scheme we will see with Rodgers in 2026?
“I don’t really want to comment on last year,” Angelichio said. “This is this year and we are going to work through the OTAs, training camp to see what the offense is going to look like. I think ultimately we are all trying to hunt explosives.”
Is 4 a crowd?
Steelers usually have four quarterbacks at this time of year, but one is typically an obvious camp arm, usually an undrafted player or long-shot free agent. Not the case this year with Rodgers and Mason Rudolph along with draft picks from the last two seasons-Will Howard and Drew Allar.
“I think it’s great,” Angelichio said. “I think you can never have enough quarterbacks. The one thing Coach McCarthy talks about is the development and training of the quarterbacks. I think with the system that is in place here, I think it’s great that we have four quarterbacks. It’s something that we are really excited about.”
“We have a good plan of how we are going to get guys reps so they can all continue to develop.”
That is going to be challenging, but they also are confident time with Rodgers, even if it means fewer reps this season, will be beneficial in the long run.
“I think it’s unbelievable,” Angelichio said. “Aaron is such a great mentor, teammate, his feedback and the information that he provides, you can’t beat that. How he’s done it and what’s worked for him and what hasn’t worked. He does share them. He is very willing to help the players, all our players. I think that is a big plus for us.”
Never say never, but the odds of having four quarterbacks on an active football roster are astronomical. Even if two are scratched for game day you are harming the depth of other positions. With the love they’ve shown for Howard, with Allar being a third-round pick this year, where does that leave Mason Rudolph? The team has released him before.
“I think Mason is awesome in the room,” Angelichio said. “He’s played a lot of football. He’s a veteran. He brings a lot of experience. He brings a lot of wisdom, great conversations. His insight into concepts. We are going to continue to develop them all.”
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Allar was the one with the early headlines because of the work at rookie mini-camp. Thoughts after a very short time with the former Penn State QB.
“I really like his mindset and his approach, and how he's going about his daily business,” Angelichio said. “Certainly, in the NFL, the footwork is a little bit more under center. So, we'll continue to work on his footwork under center, but I think just the training, how we teach progressions, how we want the feet to look to tie him up with the routes and the rhythm in the passing game, like with all our guys. I mean, some of it's a little bit new for all of them.”
It’s all new for these players, except for Rodgers who has been with many on this coaching staff before. What we are learning early is much like Tomlin used to preach position flexibility, it’s the same for McCarthy. We saw tackle Troy Fautanu and guard Mason McCormick on opposite sides during day one of OTAs and we could see him, and it seems like mostly all of them, in different positions during preseason practices.
“If you can keep five guys, it’s great, but usually you have to mix and match offensive line combinations and move guys around,” Angelichio said. “That’s something we will take a look at with all of our guys, including the wideouts.”
“We'll move them to different positions. I think the position versatility is something we're really striving for. Then we'll have a sense when we get into training camp, as we start to set the lineup and the roster, what it's going to look like. I think things will play out more there.”
As mentioned, that versatility includes receiver.
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“We have guys that have done it, certainly with DK (Metcalf) and (Michael) Pittman at a high level, both have been number ones, you plug-and-play. I thought Roman Wilson's done a good job coming along, and we got Ben Skowronek, a veteran who’s done it really well in this League for a long time. So, we're excited about the group that we got, and with the addition of (second-round pick) Germie (Bernard), there are going to be some good battles that will happen.”
Angelichio said they’ve pushed the envelope early with the former Alabama receiver and so far, he’s done a good job. Bernard’s approached it well and they like how he’s studied outside of the building.
There is a long way to go before the season begins. How will some of these initial thoughts change as the season ramps up?
Brian Angelichio talks new offense including early thoughts on Drew Allar
Brian Angelichio talks new offense including early thoughts on Drew Allar
