Will Howard ‘exceeding expectations’ early at OTAs

PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – With the Steelers heading into the one week of mandatory offseason work starting Monday, quarterbacks coach Tom Arth said Will Howard has exceeded expectations.

Going into his second season and getting number two quarterback reps during OTAs, it seems to be going really well for the 24-year-old.

“He’s doing everything and more that we can ask of him,” Arth said Wednesday. “He is exceeding expectations. We couldn’t be happier with where he is at.”

What jumps out to the Steelers third-year quarterbacks coach about Howard is his intellect, and he combines that with hard work. He’s also had good detail in his preparation and training heading into this team on-field period. Arth said Howard is also processing and utilizing information quickly.

Now, that comes with a caveat.

“He’s performed well here in OTAs up to this point, but once we get to training camp and into preseason I think that’s where the true evaluation will start to take place,” Arth said.

That brings the last point about Howard, he’s really competitive. And the Steelers coaches are trying to use that to their advantage to allow the former Ohio State quarterback and the rookie former Penn State quarterback, Drew Allar, to challenge each other.

Quickly Arth clarified to say they get along and both are smart, but then elevated the competitive talk to say Howard and Allar are ‘ultra-competitors’.

“I’m very excited to see how that continues to play out as we get into training camp,” Arth said. “As we get into the preseason. How the two of them bring the best out in each other because I think ultimately that’s what our goal is, is to bring the best out in each other.”

“When you are looking at it from a competitive standpoint, you always respect the person you are competing with because they always bring out the best in you.”

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All are currently going through the famed Mike McCarthy quarterback school that Rodgers and Arth both competed in previously. It’s also produced Brett Favre and Dak Prescott, Arth also noted several others with NFL careers. While they don’t have the same hours they once had for drills because of the newer NFL Collective Bargaining Agreement, Arth said they have ample time to improve all.

There is work to do, competition to outperform and tougher tests to pass, but so far Howard has stepped up in this new system.