PITTSBURGH – When the dust settles on any early season struggle, there’s always one question that emerges louder than the rest: Is the quarterback still the guy?
For the Pittsburgh Steelers, that question has surrounded Desmond Ridder. A few too many turnovers, a couple of costly reads, and a handful of games that slipped away despite strong performances on the stat sheet have led to whispers across the Premier Madden League community. The doubters are questioning whether Ridder is capable of leading this team to the heights Coach DK LaFleur envisioned when he brought him to Pittsburgh.
But inside the building, there’s no hesitation, no panic, and no doubt.
Because the truth is simple. Desmond Ridder absolutely is that guy.
The Numbers Don’t Lie
Let’s start with what can’t be denied. Through four games, Ridder has put up 1,410 passing yards, averaging just over 350 yards per game, a mark that ranks among the best in the league. He’s thrown 12 touchdowns to 6 interceptions, posting a 107.3 NFL Passer Rating while completing 70 percent of his passes.
Although, you’d like the interceptions to come down and they will, those are not the numbers of a struggling quarterback. Those are the numbers of a playmaker, a field general operating with precision, command, and growing confidence.
When Ridder’s been protected, he’s been surgical. When the game script has called for him to take over, he’s delivered. He’s made throws into tight windows, orchestrated long scoring drives, and shown poise under pressure.
The turnovers have been frustrating, yes, but context matters.
The Human Element
The truth, and what few outside the locker room see, is that many of Ridder’s mistakes have come from what LaFleur himself called “user error.” The kind of lapses that happen not because a quarterback is incapable, but because of the nature of high level gameplay and execution.
A mistimed route. A missed read. A risky throw while trying to make something happen downfield.
“I’ll take the blame for some of those picks,” LaFleur said candidly. “That’s on me for not putting him in the best situations. He’s trying to make plays, and sometimes that’s the double edged sword of trusting your arm and your eyes. But I’ll never fault a quarterback for believing he can make the throw.”
Ridder’s confidence, the same trait that helped him carve out a starting job and turn around this offense, is both his greatest asset and, at times, his biggest risk. But LaFleur wouldn’t have it any other way.
“I don’t want a guy who plays scared,” he said. “I want a guy who believes he can win every snap. And Ridder does.”
Beyond the Box Score
Watching Ridder’s tape reveals the full picture. He’s making elite level reads, manipulating safeties, and throwing receivers open. His deep ball accuracy has improved drastically from last season, connecting regularly with Amon Ra St. Brown, DK Metcalf, and Alec Pierce.
More importantly, he’s doing it efficiently. That 70 percent completion rate isn’t inflated by dump offs or screens. It’s the result of a quarterback who’s spreading the ball around and taking what defenses give him.
“He’s making the right reads,” said St. Brown, who leads the team in receptions and yards. “The connection’s there. We just have to keep executing as a group. The way he’s playing right now, that’s a franchise quarterback.”
Even opposing coaches have noticed. After Baltimore’s Week 4 win, a Ravens assistant was overheard telling a reporter, “You can tell LaFleur’s offense goes as Ridder goes. That guy can sling it. We just capitalized on a few miscues.”
In other words, the league knows what Pittsburgh has under center, a quarterback capable of taking over games. Now it’s just about consistency.
A Matter of Trust
For LaFleur, building that consistency comes down to trust, between quarterback and coach, between play caller and field general.
“I’ve got to help him out more,” LaFleur admitted after the loss in Baltimore. “There were a few drives where I put too much on his plate. That’s not on him. He’s doing everything we ask. I just need to make sure we’re setting him up to succeed instead of asking him to play hero ball every series.”
It’s rare to hear a coach take that kind of accountability, but that’s part of the culture LaFleur has built, one where everyone looks inward before pointing fingers.
Ridder has handled the scrutiny with the same calm confidence that’s defined his career. “I know what I can do,” he said this week. “The numbers are there, the film’s there. I just have to keep playing my game. I’m not trying to silence anyone, I’m trying to win.”
The Next Step
At this point, nobody’s questioning Ridder’s talent. The arm strength, pocket presence, and field awareness are all there. What separates good quarterbacks from great ones is their ability to elevate their team, to make others better, to execute when it matters most, and to respond to adversity with action, not excuses.
That’s the next step.
The Steelers’ offensive line has struggled in pass protection from time to time, and the run game has yet to find consistency. Yet Ridder has continued to produce at an elite level, keeping Pittsburgh competitive even when the game script hasn’t gone their way.
“When you’ve got a guy who keeps slinging it, no matter the situation, that’s leadership,” said tight end Jonnu Smith. “He’s not just our quarterback, he’s our tone setter. He believes in every one of us. That means something.”
The League Can Question, Pittsburgh Knows
Around the league, analysts and talking heads can question all they want. That’s what they do. However, inside the Steelers facility, there’s no debate. Ridder is the quarterback. He’s the guy.
The 107.3 passer rating, the 70 percent accuracy, the 12 touchdowns, they’re not projections. They’re proof. Proof that this team has its leader. Proof that the offense can soar when it’s clicking. Proof that Desmond Ridder has already shown everything you’d want in a franchise quarterback.
Now it’s just about finishing the story.
“This is a quarterback’s league,” LaFleur said. “And I’ve got one I believe in. That’s not changing anytime soon.”
So while the rest of the league speculates, Pittsburgh prepares for the next game, the next challenge, and the next statement. If Desmond Ridder’s numbers are any indication, the only thing left for him to do is what true franchise quarterbacks always do, go out and prove it.
– Forged In Steel Times
