Riddick: ‘Little Extra Optimistic’ About Steelers Based mostly On Aaron Rodgers Coaching Camp Experiences

Just a few NFL quarterbacks over the age of 40 have had nice success in a season. That will be Tom Brady, Drew Brees, and Brett Favre, to call a couple of.

Pittsburgh Steelers quarterback Aaron Rodgers, at 41 years previous, is aiming to hitch that blend. There appears to be loads of doubt — and understandably so — about Rodgers with the ability to play at a excessive degree and serving to lead the Steelers to success in 2025. However based mostly on how he’s appeared not too long ago in coaching camp, coupled along with his tape to finish the 2024 season, persons are beginning to change into optimistic about Rodgers’ possibilities this season.

Former Steelers security and present ESPN analyst Ryan Clark tweeted Tuesday he was getting Tremendous Bowl XLV flashbacks from Rodgers throughout coaching camp apply. Now ESPN’s Louis Riddick is seeing a double-digit win group that would actually take it to a different degree if Rodgers actually is trying pretty much as good as many are saying in coaching camp.

Showing on ESPN’s Get Up Wednesday morning, Riddick made the case for Rodgers and the Steelers.

“I feel they’ll be a double-digit win group. I feel they’ll play play0ff-caliber protection,” Riddick stated of the Steelers, in keeping with video by way of Get Up on ESPN. “No query about it. The secret’s, like it’s with all these older quarterbacks, offensive line play, the tackles particularly, in Pittsburgh. They gotta come by. Have they got one other weapon on the surface apart from DK Metcalf? We all know they obtained the tight ends. You want a number of the issues that supposedly folks have been saying about Aaron coming outta coaching camp and his tape final yr on the finish of the season wasn’t that dangerous.

“So I do know you’re going towards 100 years of information, or I’m going up towards it, however I’m just a little extra optimistic about this group.”

The arm expertise isn’t a query with Rodgers. He nonetheless has a lightning-quick launch and might actually spin the soccer. On Tuesday throughout apply, Rodgers was ripping throws left and proper, turning heads and having considered one of his stronger days of coaching camp so far.

That led to Clark’s tweet, and it’s generated some severe consideration, contemplating Clark was a security who was victimized by Rodgers’ arm in Tremendous Bowl XLV. After all, that was practically 15 years in the past, and Rodgers isn’t the identical man. But when he is usually a semblance of that, the Steelers might be troublesome to cope with offensively, even with some questions at WR2 and issues a few younger offensive line with the ability to shield him.

The offensive items are in place in Pittsburgh, they only all need to jell. It rides on Rodgers nonetheless being serviceable although.

“I’m telling you this. If he’s [Rodgers] having flashbacks of that, then look, that will change the entire calculus right here,” Riddick added. “Particularly if he seems to be that good and he can maintain that for 17 video games.”

A wholesome, turn-back-the-clock Rodgers can be huge for the Steelers. He does appear rejuvenated and wholesome, and he’s in a system that may assist alleviate a number of the stress on him.

Will all of it work? That is still to be seen. However banking on Rodgers being the beginning quarterback and being a official contender doesn’t seem to be the massive gamble it as soon as was for the Steelers, simply based mostly on how he’s appeared in coaching camp not too long ago.