The Pittsburgh Steelers took a brutal 17-0 shutout loss against the New York Jets in Week 2 of the preseason, a truly disastrous performance all around. Rookie third-round quarterback Drew Allar, who torched the field for three total touchdowns in the Steelers’ first preseason game, couldn’t replicate that magic, finishing the night a tough 11/23 passing for just 110 yards while playing the entire second half.
Allar’s Brutal Take: “Needed to Do a Better Job”
Allar wasn’t shying away from how rough it was. He faced the media after the game and seemed to know exactly where he fell short. “For me, I think it kind of started early,” Allar said, owning the performance. “I just needed to do a better job, especially, you know, early in drives, taking what’s given. I felt like I passed a couple opportunities early in drives that either set us back with an incompletion or a sack. But if I just take what’s there, even if it’s catch tackle, we’re not in a backed-up situation.” Yeah, he seemed to hold onto the ball a bit longer than he should have at times, looking for those big plays.
Receivers Let Him Down, But That Dime!
But hold up, before we dump all the blame on the young QB. Seven of Allar’s 12 incompletions on the night were drops by his receivers. Seven! Those drops cost the Steelers about 70 yards, meaning if his guys had hauled those in, Allar’s stat line would have been a much more respectable 17-of-23 for 180 yards. That’s a huge difference. And let’s not forget the throw of the night: Allar rolled out to his left and dropped an absolute dime along the sideline to undrafted rookie tight end Lake McRee for a 38-yard gain. That shows you the arm talent is absolutely there.
It was a sloppy performance, no doubt, and Allar admits he could’ve taken some easier yardage. But the growth we’ve seen from him over the last few months is legit. He’s still a work in progress, that’s clear, but his self-awareness of what he needs to fix is exactly what you want to see. As the developmental quarterback, he’ll have a full season to learn and grow. Even after a tough night like that, there are plenty of reasons to be excited for the future of this young gunslinger!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Behind the Steel Curtain.
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