Kenny vs Mason (Raw Statistical Comparison)

Although I posted this as a comment somewhere else, but feel like it might be worthy of a topic of discussion. Below, I compiled some stats accrued by both QBs so far during their time in Pittsburgh. The results aren't exactly flattering for our starter:

Kenny Pickett Age: 25
24 Games as a Starting QB
(+1 additional non-starting appearance)
- TDs: 13 (0.54 per start)
- Interceptions: 13
- Fumbles: 6 (Fumbles Lost: 1)

Passing Yards: 4,474
Average: 6.3
Pass Percentage: 62.6%
QB Rating: 78.8

Mason Rudolph Age: 28
10 Games as a Starting QB
(+7 additional non-starting appearances)
- TDs: 16 (1.6 per start)
- Interceptions: 11
- Fumbles: 5 (Fumbles Lost: 0)

Passing Yards: 2,366
Average: 6.2
Pass Percentage: 61.5%
Passer Rating: 80.9
_____

So, despite having 14 more starts than Mason (and 8 more total appearances), Kenny Pickett has 3 fewer TDs, 1 more Interception and has 1 more Lost Fumble than Mason Rudolph. Statistically speaking, they're almost identical, with Mason barely edging Kenny out on Passer Rating, a +0.1 difference in yards average favoring Kenny. Kenny's racked up more Yards, but he's also played several more games than Mason. Their Completion Percentage is also virtually identical, with Kenny beating out Mason by 0.9%

Of course, Mason was a 3rd Round Pick. Although hindsight is 20/20, it would seem to me as though spending our 2022 1st Round Pick on a QB who, for all intents and purposes, is statistically identical to our 3rd Rounder was draft capital that we could have put to better use elsewhere (perhaps on a good Center?), during which time we could have used Mason as a pedestrian bridge QB until we could grab a far better QB, from a far better drafting class. Now, the organization has to stick with "developing" the already almost 26 year old Kenny as QB - probably for at least the next couple seasons - because to do anything otherwise would be to admit that they made a mistake in drafting him.

Just to be clear, I'm not by any means a huge Mason Rudolph Fan - I'm drawing the comparison mainly bc I don't know how anyone could look at these numbers and think Kenny is the longterm answer on this team any more than Mason is (and he isn't). If anything, it only makes me think that Kenny's real value was as a 3rd Round or 4th Round Pick, with the trajectory of being perhaps a decent backup, at best. But, I guess we just took him because drafting a hometown QB seemed "storybook", and Dan Marino... or something.

I mean, when even Mitch Trubisky comes cold off the bench and has already thrown 1 more TD than Kenny has in a month, I think there are serious problems at the position. Thoughts?

 

I know some will argue, but I think Mason has better pocket awareness than Kenny. I'm wondering after Kenny's two concussions last season and injuries he has been sustaining are potentially making him skittish in the pocket. Let's face it last year's O-Line was getting him killed as it was Ben his last season. I just hope Kenny Pickett doesn't turn out to be another Tim Couch who got killed behind Cleveland's (Browns Part II) O-Line during their inaugural season.

I will add that Mason did well showing promise until his knock-out concussion against the Ravens that year. He was possibly rushed back too soon and I'm sure was skittish let alone still seeing double at times.

 

Good comparison, if you don't factor in Canada as OC and Mason having Decastro, Pouncey and Villanueva, protecting him. Basically your comparing Rudolph's 2019 season , 13tds- 9int

 

Just maybe thought I would add Trubisky here

Mitch Trubisky Age:29

10 Games
(5 Starts)
- TDs: 6 plus 2 Rushing (8 total)
- Interceptions: 7
- Fumbles: 1 (Fumbles Lost: 1)

Passing Yards: 1525
Average: 6.65
Pass Percentage: 63.7%
Passer Rating: 76.5

My apologies if my math is off, I spent 6 years taking math in NYS public schools

 

There's no way to statistically account for those things though. It's up to you to decide how much it factored in.
I'm not convinced Fitchner was better than Canada. They were both terrible.

The Oline has actually been pretty good this year. KP has chased himself out of the pocket far too often.

 

Thanks for adding even more context! It's interesting because I think, overall, if you count his entire career on other teams, Trubisky probably has better numbers than Kenny or Mason, but as a Steeler, he's the worst...which begs the question why we're paying him millions to be QB2 when our QB3 is just about as good as, or marginally better overall.

 

I'm sorry guys. I wanted to post my thoughts on our 3 QB choices but decided in the interest of my mental health, I can not. It's like in gym class when you are picking teams for dodgeball and the only three left are two fat kids and the guy who wears jeans during phys ed.

 

It's ugly. But the hope is that whoever gets the nod plays like a freshman at his first sorority party, with a sense of joy just being there and no conditioned fear from being browbeaten on comms. Just go out there and let 'er rip kid. Play with your balls out.

Of the two non-Kenny choices I think I'd go with Trubitsky. Not like it matters all that much but he's got a lot more quality in his arm and in his legs.

 

fichtner wasn’t much better and that o line was in decline. I don’t even remember who the running back was that year

 

Mason should at least be starting this Thursday.

Steelers need to look for a QB in the off-season as well. KP is made of glass

 

You are also not factoring in that He had a rookie DJ..., No Pickens, and there is no Canada now. I actually think some are afraid of being wrong more than winning games. We seen Scared KFP, and Turnover Trubisky. What are You afraid of....we may not score 14 points??. LoL.

 

Give mason a shot...

 

Not afraid of anything. You mention Pickens, well Rudolph had JuJu that season, who was a supremely better route runner at that point in his career than Pickens is currently. Some people are conveniently forgetting Rudolph lost the job to Duck that season because he couldn't move the ball consistently, sounds familiar??? And who's afraid more about being wrong, than losing games??? I was still positive on Kenny most of the season when we were winning games with him, while you had the haters still going on and on about him, EVEN though we were winning games.

 

Mason would start if tomlin had a man crush on him like he has for mitch , we only play who tomlin likes not who is the better choice . Sad but true we have gone from Men of Steel to the tinman.

 

James Conner

 

Tomlin looks pretty thirsty right here?

 

Most important position on the line needs major help. We need a damn Center!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

 

He's had his shot several times, several years. He sucks and the entire league knows it. But we couldn't find a better emergency backup.

 

As for me I want the Deer and I want him to play like a 200 lb. white tail buck (not the "buc" baseball team)

 

He has the same pocket awareness, but they do different things because of it. Pickett's pocket awareness makes him skittish, moving around, and often bailing on cleanish pockets or bailing into trouble. Mason's lack of pocket awareness has him stand completely still, not moving at all to give himself throwing angles or avoiding rushers. This leads to a lot of batted balls, and often times Mason's arm colliding with a rusher when throwing.

TBH pocket awareness has been the downfall of both of these guys. Mason threw more TD's because he played on a pretty good offense, but yeah they both kinda suck.

 

Funny, so many teams seem to have better back-ups then us. Must admit I got excited when they got Trub. Did not know much about the guy except he led the Bears to a good season and lost in Playoffs in Chicago. When we got him I looked him up. Hopes were high since he was such a high draft pick. Actually thought he'd turn his ass around in the Burgh. I may have been wrong

Here is my all time loser. Family still brings it up. I don't follow NCAA or the draft until Steelers pick and then I look the guy up. I saw he had been injured and missed a few big games at end of college career. I also noted his height and though to small and probably can't hit hard. He absolutely was great in college but I made a few terrible assumptions about him.

Aumua turned out OK

 

oh yeah thanks for reminding, wasn’t he out for like half the season?

 

Rudolph has some of the worst pocket presence I've ever seen. I've never seen a QB so consistently release the ball while getting hit as much as he does. He reads the field as slow as Pickett and it shows. All three suck. We kind of know at this point what Mitch and Kenny bring, might as well see if Rudolph has improved any after sitting around the past couple seasons. Can't really hurt.

 

If Rudolph is really that bad, and the Steelers seem to have no intention of ever playing him again, why do they even bother keeping him on the team year after year? I find that strange. I mean, the guy is pushing 30. Why not draft a QB in one of the middle rounds that they believe might develop into a solid back up, or even solid starter?