PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – He's the wild card in the Steelers succession plans for Ben Roethlisberger. What do they have in 2019 first round pick Dwayne Haskins?
Stripped of his captaincy in December in Washington after being filmed partying with strippers and breaking COVID-19 protocols. Even if he wanted to go back, he couldn't. His reputation tarnished beyond repair in DC. It led to rumors about him being a bad guy and a bad teammate.
That led to his college coach and teammates coming out and defending him. So far his new teammates seem to like him.
"He's a people person," said receiver James Washington. "Even if he doesn't know you, he will come to you and introduce himself. Try to start a conversation and get to know people."
"I think he's a great person. He just needs guys who can stick around him and help him out."
That may be true, but his play on the field in 2020 didn't help him out. Throwing for 1,439 yards in 6 starts with 5 touchdowns and 7 interceptions and a 61.4 completion percentage.
Maybe more troubling than those numbers is he couldn't separate himself from miracle comeback back-up Alex Smith, Kyle Allen or Taylor Heinicke. He was to be the franchise quarterback for a team in desperate need of one. Does he just not have it?
Among his newest fans is the Steelers all-time leading passer.
"I was just telling (QB) Coach (Mike) Sullivan the other day his release and throwing motion mechanics are some of the prettiest I've ever seen," Roethlisberger said. "I told him I wish I had that. Just everything he does."
He appeared to have all of that in his only year as the full-time starter at Ohio State. In 14 games, the 6'3" Haskins completed 70% of his passes for 4,831 yards with 50 touchdowns to 8 interceptions. Leading the nation in passing yards and touchdowns and the Big 10 in basically every category.
"I joked that he could throw it through a car wash and it wouldn't get wet," Roethlisberger quipped about his power.
"He throws it pretty hard," Washington said. "I will say that. He's got an arm on him."
"He's learning it," Roethlisberger said. "It's obviously a new system for him. He's young in the league, but it's fun to have that young energy around. When he throws the football, it's pretty."
The second chance is real. If Haskins can turn those pretty passes into pretty results, he could find a home here. But he'll get precious few opportunities to show it.
