Based on the responses of Pittsburgh Steelers fans, there are many who feel for Joshua Dobbs. The young quarterback has a ton of physical tools to help the black-and-gold, but is considered rough around the edges by many who follow the game closely.
In the preseason last year, Dobbs’ only time on the field, he showed glimmers of brilliance, followed by plays which made you scratch your head. I think its safe to say when the Steelers drafted Dobbs in the fourth round of the 2017 NFL Draft, no one viewed him as the future of the quarterback position. Rather, most viewed him like a Dennis Dixon, a quarterback with a good skill set, but destined to be more of a career backup rather than a starter.
With Ben Roethlisberger ready to return in 2018, and Landry Jones entering the final year of his contract, it seemed as if the Steelers’ quarterback depth chart was set.
Then they drafted Mason Rudolph in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.
A nice three-man depth chart now turned into a four-quarterback log jam, and many believe the writing is on the wall for Dobbs as the odd man out in this position battle. Either way, Dobbs isn’t going to let the pressure bother him, but is embracing the competition which awaits this offseason.
“I just embracing the competition,” Dobbs told ABC 6 in Knoxville while promoting his youth football camp in Tennessee. “My goal is to help the team achieve our goals and our goal is to win a Super Bowl so however I can help, that’s my goal. It is constant competition in the NFL, it was constant competition here in Knoxville so no stranger to that. I’m excited to get to camp, continue to grow, compete and get ready for the upcoming season.”
Dobbs is ready to embrace the competition, but is there any chance he holds onto a job with Pittsburgh? It seems unlikely. While a plethora of fans would love to see Landry Jones’ time with the Steelers go by the wayside, it is almost equally unlikely the team decides to keep four quarterbacks on the roster. Dobbs could end up on the practice squad, but would have to be released and clear waivers before such a move could happen.
When you stop and think about it, you have to wonder just who Dobbs’ competition really is heading into training camp. The team isn’t likely to part ways with a third round pick they traded up to acquire, nor are they likely to sever ties with Jones as the primary backup to Ben Roethlisberger.
Makes you wonder, barring the team keeping all four quarterbacks, if Dobbs isn’t a proverbial dead man walking as the team wraps up their Organized Team Activities (OTAs), mandatory minicamp and eventually heads into training camp at Saint Vincent College in Latrobe, PA.