I don't know what to make of Rudolph

All during the game I kept saying to myself that it's impossible that our receivers can't get open beyond 5 yards. And if MR is nothing but a check-down charlie, how has he fooled our entire coaching staff all this time?

I started to believe that it had to be game plan. And so I started watching his eyes and hoping for TV coverage that would show the down-field receivers and BAMMMM, I saw two plays and we had guys WIDE open; Rudolph never saw them! His eyes aren't down-field!

And then later in the game it was as if he was told "okay, you can look down-field now" and everything changed.

I don't know what to think.

 

More than 3 days of prep. Watched NO beat Dallas with a short passing game. A good blocking TE helped too last night. A bigger deal then most thought.

 

I swear to god some of you would complain about having sex. Mason played a great game. He didn’t make any mistakes and did exactly what he was asked to do. It’s pretty clear the Steelers are letting him settle into the role as opposed to playing gunslinger.

 

Steelers were smart with Mason. That was an outstanding game plan. Loved when we would snap to our RB. All that being said the Bengals suck. Let us see how we do against the Ravens.

 

I wasn't complaining about Rudolph. That game plan won't work long term and there was no question that his eyes were not downfield until late in the game and that concerns me. Maybe it's what he was told to do......I don't know.

It's one of the things that made Ben elite......his eyes are ALWAYS downfield.

 

Whatever works. If all mason does is run next week and we win then I’m
Cool with it lol

 

Bs! They did the same shot with Ben when he took over for an injured starter

 

probably because Ben doesn't practice on wed. when the team puts in the short game plan.

 

He is playing just fine for a young guy in his second start. Give him some time to acclimate. He will improve his vision and his game. Good game though if you ask me. Time will tell if he is the answer. People are just spoiled because we have ben. I did like Masons quickness compared to Ben.. He can move in and out of the pocket quickly if he has to... Good feet.

 

It's okay.....I'm not down on MR, I just don't know what to make of his two games. I'm leaning toward game planning, but I just don't know

 

24 out of 28 ain’t bad. I think that’s how the meatloaf song goes

 

As for the thought of Masons eyes not being down the

Yeah he had a better game then a veteran QB. Sure its only Dalton but hey it counts

 

I did notice one play where he missed an open JJSS between the LB and the S, but he checked down and took the shorter route for the completion and first down. Had he hit JJSS it would’ve been a 15+ yard gain instead of 8.

That being said, there isn’t a QB in the league who doesn’t miss an open WR every once in a while.

He’s young, he’s learning, he’s gaining confidence, and he should continue to improve.

No need for concern at this point.

 

It was a very good game plan and MR executed as asked.

Having said that it gets no closer to answering if he's a real championship quality franchise QB. His pass chart is below. Only 3 attempts over 10 yds. He completed two, but one was a completely busted coverage and the other was a badly underthrown ball that Vannett made a good adjustment on. If you go the NFL Next Gen site and check other QB pass charts you'll see that the best ones are throwing down the field at a much higher frequency. MR has thrown over half of his completions behind the line of scrimmage. Teams are going to make him throw down the field and to the sidelines. That's not the pass chart of a franchise QB, that's a pass chart of a game manager.

I'm not saying he isn't capable of more or won't once the shackles are taken off, just that this game doesn't help determine whether he's closer to Russell Wilson or Chad Pennington.

 

Rudolph is the real deal and the Steelers should be patient. I don't like to say this... but Tomlin and Finctner deserve a lot of credit for a much improved game plan last night. Steelers have the potential to be a playoff team, but I don't expect championship caliber until at least next year.

 

Who are you and what did you do with HeinzMustard!

 

I like how Rudolph throws the ball away instead of risking an INT. Roethlisberger would drive me crazy trying to force throws into coverage resulting in INTs.

 

And drives people nuts when he rather throw deep into tripple coverage instead of throwing it to the wide open guys who are only 10 yards away.

Marsha Brady makes his living throwing the short garbage. Its the game plan for now , build his confidence up and keep it simple then throw the odd bomb.

 

I like the kid too. I like his arm, his agility, and his ball control. Someone else pointed out that last night did not do anything to tell us if he is our next franchise QB but he hasn't done anything in either of his starts to lose the game or put it at risk.

 

We're not going to know what to think of him for a while still. Way too early.

 

Ill give Rudolph time. I went back and looked at Bens numbers from 2004 When he stepped in for Maddox. Ben played in 16 games that year including two playoff games. Ben only threw for more than 200 yards five times and never had more than two touchdown passes in one game, not exactly wow numbers. Now I realize he wasn't asked to do too much, and those Steeler teams had a better run game and better defenses, but still. Ben went from game manager to a Hall of Fame superbowl champion QB who could win games for you. Ill give Mason that chance as well

 

24-28, 2 touchdowns. No INT's. No sacks given up. No fumbles.

You take those numbers every time.

 

Rudolph has been pretty good so far through 10 quarters played which equals about 2 in a half games. He has 6 TD’s and 2 INT’s and the one INT was not his fault and was the ball that hit off Moncrief’s hands in the Seattle game. So can he improve and be better in certain areas definitely. But so far I like what I see out of Rudolph and think the Steelers can win games this season with him as QB and compete in this mediocre division and maybe even have a chance to win it if things go a certain way.

 

Keep in mind folks for all those suggesting that Ben had the down field vision. He threw alot of Ints because of his vision and he actually looked like he was throwing to nowhere on numerous occasions the last two years. I remembe thinking I wonder if he needs glasses lol..

 

Ben won a truck load of games for us with his gunslinging bombs away attitude. However it was refreshing to see a QB that when it was 3rd and 3 simply dump it off for a 4 yard gain instead of heaving the ball 55 yards downfield.