Rudolph...

We live in an 'instant' culture, analyze each play or series and make judgments that overreach. Your analysis is pretty spot on. The sample size is just to small to really tell what MR can or will be long term, to many variables. Keenum was the all time NCAA leader in several categories, went undrafted, was on the practice squad, then after a couple of teams came in and lead the Vikings to an NFL champ. game, then has not done squat since. I could see MR having that kind of career (not necessarily this year) in the right circumstances, then fade away just as quickly. Could also see him having more measured success surrounded by a Quality D and impact players in O (Alex Smith, Neil O'Donnell). Get you wins and even to a SB, then fade to a sought after b/u just as quickly.

 

Both need to get up to the speed of the NFL.

 

Hey Steel_Elvis.

Yes, me too as far as Washington. I started out very optimistic when we drafted MR and JW together. A successful college tandem landing on the same pro team does not happen that frequently in any sport. Yes, they were a great duo at the collegiate level. I hope that they can find that chemistry again....and soon. STEELWINDS

 

I attribute his calmness as his thinking this is still Bens team and he is just a stand in. Maybe as he stacks up some wins and stats, he can start asserting himself as the leader of the offense and we'll see some fire in him. I don't know what he was like his last year at OSU regarding leadership abilities. He'll be fine.

 

I like the fire and excitement he shows when the Steelers score a TD. He looks like he is a good leader and I like his poise and the way he answers questions during interviews after games. I think Rudolph is fine and will only continue to get better.

 

I have been saying that MR throws from his back foot and that he needs to change that. Maybe I was wrong; he definitely throws from his back foot but I went back and watched his college highlights and that is just his style. He made it work in college so maybe it doesn't need to be changed?

 

When he has clean mechanics, he can fire the ball into a tight spot. He did not have clean mechanics on quite a few throws Monday night.

He definitely wasn't moving well in the pocket, often backing away from the rush rather than decisively stepping up or moving to the side, as he had done in previous games. I do think the big hit was in his head a little. Hopefully, he can get past that.

 

When I see a QB throw from his back foot it just tells a bad story IMHO but he has made it work so let's give him the reigns and see what he can do.

 

Oh, it is a problem. He just isn't consistent with his footwork.

 

It was probably a bit of both, but yes, he has to learn how to produce more consistently under pressure. He just isn't going to have a clean pocket all the time.

 

Nice article....

https://www.behindthesteelcurtain.c...ed-the-steelers-season-mason-rudolph-nfl-news

 

I have to be honest and say I am very impressed with his ability to put that mess behind him. In all my years, I have never seen a player look that bad after a hit.

And you're right he has to improve how he handles pressure......but he is young

 

Assume Steelers finish 10-6 or better with Mason (I know, big assumption but possible), do we trade Ben to Bruce Arian’s team for a second or higher draft pick. Sitting Mason would stunt his development and Ben is on decline.

 

I don't mean to pile on, and I should probably just let this go. But his passer rating is buffered by a couple games of dink and dunk. He's got credit for at least 10 completions that were shovel passes. What you're saying is correct, but his passer rating is a little misleading, in or out of the pocket.

Some of his worst throws Monday night were from in the pocket.

 

That's a good point. But I eluded to that when I said, "If he acted like that while delivering accurate passes, I'd say he looked like a seasoned vet."

I have no idea what Montana looked like 3 games into his professional career. Maybe he looked a lot like MR?

 

Mason looked really bad. There's no sugar coating it. Hopefully it was just one of these games.

I'm actually more concerned about the WR's. They have been killing our QB's all season. How many balls have bounced off WR hands to get picked or just incomplete? Moncrief on his own has cost us at least 1 win and maybe 3 turnovers? He has 4 catches on 15 targeted throws. Our WR's drive me nuts because a couple of them look great at times but have largely been terrible as a whole. We really need a Conner and McDonald to step up and be the go to receivers because the WR's are not getting it done.

 

We've been shooting ourselves in the foot all year in the first quarter. It's frustrating, to play catch up all year except for the Bengals game. If it's not one thing it's another in the first quarter.

 

I am not sure why you would be more concerned with the WRs? When the QB doesn't play well the WR's are going to struggle to be productive.

Mason had good moments and not so good moments. Overall I think he rebounded nicely to make enough plays to help the team win.

The WR's got open vs the Phins. Mason had issues at times accuracy and as a result the WR's were less productive.

Overall the QB and WRs are young. Give them some time to develop.

 

Loop loop

 

Loop loop You forgot to mention that he had the 49ers and Seahawks beat and the Ravens tied late in the 4th qt. and fumbles by Conners and Ju Ju cost us 2 of those games. The D couldn't hold the lead in the other one. Those were against 3 of the best teams in the nfl right now. Just saying.

 

Most young qbs take time. Same with receivers. He's once in awhile you have that one the breaks away from the norm but it is a process. We miss our wr coach too. Ray Sherman was not the best fit for this job with the youth we have at receiver. I said it then and still believe it now as the season rolls on. It was a panic hire of convenience.

 

Mason was widely reputed as the best QB of his class when facing pressure as well as pocket presence. As we both can see, of the 2018 QB Class, Mason seems to be doing much better. Now, this is not to excuse his okay performance on Monday Night but to give him his credit.


As you said, and, I agree with, game was an aberration. Nevermind Mason, any young QB coming back from lethal hits like the one Mason received is likely to be a bit shaken. Nevertheless, Mason bounced back as the game progressed.


To me, that alone, in it of itself, is worth being excited about.