The Pittsburgh Steelers have been rebuilding rookie quarterback Drew Allar’s fundamentals, with a primary emphasis on footwork and more work from under center, the report says. Allar was the only quarterback at rookie minicamp and received concentrated instruction from quarterbacks coach Tom Arth and head coach Mike McCarthy.
Coaches paused and demonstrated during drills as Allar worked at half speed, resetting his base before each dropback and throw, per the report. Arth stopped a drill to show cadence and footwork while McCarthy added pointers, as the staff essentially “uninstalled his old hardware” to reestablish fundamentals, the report says.
McCarthy said his usual quarterback program gains momentum with multiple signal-callers because of the room’s tempo, and he noted the value of adding Mason Rudolph and Will Howard to the mix, per the report. The individual attention Allar received since Thursday has been significant, McCarthy added, even though the coach prefers running his system with three quarterbacks.
Allar brings the physical traits McCarthy seeks — standing 6-foot-5 with a wide arm span and nearly 10-inch hands — and a three-year starting résumé at Penn State that included 61 career touchdowns and 7,402 passing yards, the report says. Despite those measurables and production, the staff views his mechanics as a key area for improvement. The report cites Allar’s split performance against top competition and non-top competition as part of the evaluation for refining his consistency.
McCarthy emphasized that better footwork will help Allar play faster and transition through challenges, noting the rookie has not spent much time under center and played from deeper shotgun depths, per the report. Allar said he is focusing on a wider base, keeping his feet grounded and avoiding getting on his toes, and that accuracy in drill work is a priority as coaches continue to rebuild his foundation, the report says.
