Pittsburgh Steelers head coach Mike McCarthy raved about second-year quarterback Will Howard' s potential at the NFL Owners Meetings in Phoenix this past week. There's one area of Howard's game that he needs to improve on, however. McCarthy thinks Howard has the proper tools in every other area.
"The biggest thing with Will, and it's probably consistent with young quarterbacks, you got to win from the pocket," McCarthy said. "At the end of the day, nine or 10 games a year are going to come down to the two-minute drill. That's what the stats tell you. That's the way we train. So his ability to win from the pocket because I think he has everything else.
"You can talk about his throwing motion, some things throwing the ball. I think there's a lot of growth with his feet. Like a lot of these guys. The challenge I see in college football is so scheme heavy and they're running these quarterbacks and the schemes are diverse, there's not a lot of training in the footwork. So, throwing the ball, and you got the best guy that's probably ever done in it in Aaron Rodgers . I mean, you look at the way Aaron throws, just watch his feet. Watch the ground force explosion that comes up from his feet to his hips into his throwing motion. My point is, there's room for development there. I think there's a lot to work with Will."
Pittsburgh Steelers QB Will Howard warms up before his team's Week 18 game against the Baltimore Ravens this past season. Ed Thompson / Steelers Now
Howard, a sixth-round draft pick out of Ohio State in 2025, suited up for just one game in his rookie campaign. He played zero snaps. Howard sustained a fractured right (throwing) hand pinky finger early in training camp. The injury caused him to miss the entire preseason and started the season on injured reserve. He was activated on Nov. 12.
All signs point toward Aaron Rodgers eventually signing with the Steelers, but if not, Howard could be the Steelers' starter in 2026.
Former Steelers quarterback Charlie Batch put Howard on notice during a recent episode of The Snap Count podcast.
"Prove that this is your job. Go out there and take it," Batch said.
Alan Saunders provided reporting from Phoenix.
This article originally appeared on Steelers Now : Mike McCarthy Reveals Biggest Area That Will Howard Needs to Improve On: 'He Has Everything Else'
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