Brian Hoyer gets the nod for opening week, which means the Steelers can gameplan for a quarterback they know a little more about. Having both game film of Hoyer playing in the NFL, and him being on the Steelers' roster in the past, Dick LeBeau and the Steelers defense will have to key in on Hoyer's limited experience in the NFL.
Hoyer's experience appears to be what has gotten him the job in Cleveland, according to Mike Pettine.
"He was the clear leader from the beginning," coach Mike Pettine said in a press release. "We've maintained all along that if it was close, I would prefer to go with the more experienced player. Brian has done a great job in the meeting rooms and with his teammates on the practice field and in the locker room."
Pettine also commented that he wanted to give Hoyer at least two weeks in the preseason to run the team as the starting quarterback so he can have the maximum starting time with the team's starters.
As a starter, Hoyer has gone 3-1, with all of his wins coming as the starting quarterback in Cleveland last season. His only loss came as a starter for the Arizona Cardinals in 2012. His time in Cleveland in 2013 earned him an 82.6 quarterback rating, with 5 touchdowns and 3 interceptions.