Steelers flying with Duck
Lynch unlikely to play Sunday
It appears the Steelers are going to sink or swim with Duck Hodges at quarterback Sunday in Baltimore. And if that sounds like a corny play on words, it really isn’t.
The Steelers are down to two quarterbacks heading into the regular-season finale against the AFC North Division-winning Ravens — Hodges, who has thrown six interceptions in the past two games; and Paxton Lynch, the third quarterback taken in the first round of the 2016 draft behind Jared Goff and Carson Wentz.
And, yet, if Hodges starts slowly and struggles as he did against the New York Jets, when he threw interceptions on two of the opening three possessions and was yanked for Mason Rudolph, the possibility of Lynch entering the game is about as likely as Cam Heyward lining up at wide receiver.
Lynch, 25, has been with the Steelers since mid-September, when he was added to the practice squad when Ben Roethlisberger had season-ending elbow surgery. He was promoted to the 53-man roster Oct. 11 after Rudolph sustained a concussion on a hit by Ravens safety Earl Thomas in an overtime loss to the Ravens at Heinz Field.
But in that time, he has never taken a snap with the Steelers, even though they struggled with two quarterbacks who had never appeared in an NFL game before this season.
And it doesn’t sound as though it will be any different against the Ravens. Not if you listen to coach Mike Tomlin.
“We had two very young quarterbacks in front of him. We’ve been very thoughtful about making sure that they’ve got a significant amount of reps in terms of overall readiness,” Tomlin said at his weekly news conference. “Obviously, we’re going to work Paxton some this week, but what he’s done to this point does not provide a great deal of comfort for him or for us because of the variables of which I just mentioned.”
That makes the “He didn’t kill us” comment about Hodges seem like unabashed praise.
Lynch was unaware of what Tomlin said until he was told about it Thursday after practice. He handled it, ironically, in a comfortable manner.
“I think I’m getting there,” Lynch said. “The more reps I get, the more comfortable I feel. The longer I’ll be here, the more comfortable I’ll get. But I feel like if my number is called I can go out there and execute.”
At 6-foot-7, Lynch is another of those highly touted tall quarterbacks who have failed to make a significant dent in the NFL.
Like Lynch, 6-foot-8 Dan McGwire was a first-round draft pick who played four seasons for the Seattle Seahawks. But he appeared in only 13 career games and was a third-team backup to Stan Gelbaugh and Kelly Stouffer. Brock Osweiler, who was also 6-8, was a second-round pick of the Denver Broncos who played seven seasons with three different teams. He started 30 career games, including five with the Miami Dolphins last season, but is currently out of football.
Lynch started four of the five games in which he appeared for the Broncos, throwing four touchdowns and four interceptions. But when you watch him in practice, it’s easy to see why NFL teams were enamored of his physical skills coming out of Memphis. His ability to stand tall in the pocket and strong throwing arm are enough to make any scout take notice.
Yet he’s not a comfortable option for the Steelers.
“If Paxton was to go in and play, the expectation is that he would understand what he’s asked to do,” offensive
coordinator Randy Fichtner said. “I know he’s been here long enough, he’s sharp enough, he’s asked good questions. He’s been very sharp in the meeting room.
“What rust might come in-game, who’s to know? That’s been the thing with any of the quarterbacks that have played. You just hope the big mistake wouldn’t occur.”
After throwing six interceptions in the past two games, Hodges will be under such restrictions to avoid those same mistakes against the Ravens that he likely will be limited to two pass options against the Ravens — short, check-down throws or deep passes over the top against single coverage. Throws over the middle or medium-length sideline tosses will be discarded from the game plan like an ugly Christmas sweater.
In other words, this could make the past eight games in which the Steelers scored nine offensive touchdowns seem exhilarating.
“I would expect we would eliminate any mistakes that he’s made and whatever mistake gets made in this game will be a new one,” Fichtner said.
Then he added, “You can’t not play aggressive. You got to try to score. If you’re not trying to score, you probably won’t. We’ll have to be in situations where we either catch a short ball and make a guy miss and run the distance to score or we’re going to have to throw it over someone’s head.”
And Lynch, the 27th overall pick just three years ago, will have to watch, apparently no matter what happens.
“I don’t sit here and wish about opportunities I didn’t get,” Lynch said. “I’m just staying ready for the opportunity I do get, and, if I do get the opportunity to go in there, I’m going to go in there and help the team win the game.”
At least someone is comfortable.
His toughest critic
JuJu Smith-Schuster was being unduly harsh on himself after he failed to catch a high throw over his head on the final play in the loss to the Jets, apologizing for letting down his team and Steelers fans.
The reality is, the throw from Hodges on fourth-and-7 from the Jets 44 was high and never even touched Smith-Schuster’s hands.
It was not like last season when he fumbled on the final drive in New Orleans, ending the Steelers’ chance to grab control of a playoff spot.
“That’s just how I am on myself,” Smith-Schuster said the other day after practice. “A play like that, toward the end of game, a receiver like me, people make those plays. I would say yes, it was overthrown, but I also feel I could have adjusted to the ball better and maybe pushed back off and try to do a miracle catch.
“I’m very, very hard on myself, I’ve always been in everything I do. That’s just the nature I put myself in.”
Unwanted streak
The Steelers have gone 19 games without scoring at least 30 points in a game, the second-longest streak in the league. Only the Jacksonville Jaguars, who have gone 27 games without hitting the 30-point mark, have had a longer drought. They are the only teams to not score at least 30 points in a game this season. Barring an unexpected surge in Baltimore, it will be the first time since the 1971 season the Steelers failed to score at least 30 points in any game. Now that does not provide a great deal of comfort.