Rudolph...

Two things MR needs to work on.

1. Moving his feet in the pocket with some side stepping to get into a better passing lane to throw when he is getting pressure. This will also help him put more zip on the ball and help his accuracy.

2. Going thru his reads faster and not hold on to the ball so long. This may come with time.

 

I think that's a fair assessment, except for perhaps the YAC part. A high YAC can be a measure of accuracy as it may mean that you are hitting receivers in dead stride at chest level as opposed to slightly behind them or low or high where they can't run after catching it. Now I don't think that's the case here with MR. He's been the beneficiary of some ridiculously wide open receivers due to busted coverages, but just saying the measure itself has limitations. Not all YAC are created equal.

 

Brady won 6 Super Bowls off of YAC... so arguments against YAC are moot.

 

Maybe I expected too much from him. But he had the easiest path to success in the NFL. He had like a year and a half to get adjusted to life in the NFL and playbook. He's got an above average o-line and decent WR and RB core. Most 1st round QBs are on legit all around horrible teams. Then I watched an udfa, that played for a FCS, 5th week in NFL regular season, against rival, and just watched starting QB get knocked out of the game. Stepped in poised and was audibling. I haven't seen Rudolph audible once!? To me that shows he doesn't know what he's seeing from the defense. Which explains why he's holding onto the ball so long. Then his accuracy on deep balls. If he was a 1st year QB being thrown in the fire I'd be more inclined to give him a pass. But I feel like year and a half in he should be able to read defenses by now and throw a deep ball. I'm not sure how this magically changes, that's why I'm worried.

 

2 of his deep balls went through the fingers of the receivers & one for a TD got called back by the BS pass interference call... he missed over the middle behind the receivers but was most likely just shaking off the concussion rust... In game experience is WAY more important in learning defenses and earning the confidence of the coaches to audible... Rudolph is just getting started & you're talking like he should be a veteran... Not sure which game you're watching...

 

I was thrilled when we picked him. He was at the top of my list for qb's in that draft class because I had watched what he did to my Mountaineers for 4 years. I thought he was more prepared and ready for the transition to playing on Sundays, however. I have not been very impressed with him to this point, even before the concussion. If there is credit to be given, I'll definitely give him credit for mental toughness. He could have easily wilted under the pressure Monday night. I can't even imagine how difficult it was for him when the boo's came reigning down. He handled that like a champ.

 

Fair enough on his slow progress. I would concur the same. That said, while he has had some serious growing pains to overcome, some of that is also a reflection on the OC's inability to set up his young QB towards winnable situations.

 

I was much more comfortable with Duck under center. Sorry that will ruffle some feathers, but I feel what I feel.

Duck was more accurate. And Duck was more risk/reward. Ben was more risk/reward as well. Mason seems more cautious...less risk, less reward. Now that might not be a bad thing, but it's definitely not what we're used to.

 

Hodges was not more accurate, especially as a starter. He threw two passes over 10 yards against the Chargers. The first was on the opening series when Smith-Schuster was behind his man and Hodges badly underthrew it. The other one was the interception.

 

I'd be giving Mason an incomplete if I had to grade him. Some good and some bad but he's barely played. Seems like in the last game he was responding to the criticisms that all he does is dump it off as they took a ton of deep shots. I'm not sure that's the best approach for a QB who was just coming off a vicious concussion and three weeks off. I am good with him dumping it off to the open guy if it is available. Anyway, I have reached no conclusions about Mason at all other than I am pretty sure if he fails it won't be due to mental weakness.

 

I'm going to get dislikes for this but its okay. I think all he can ever be is a game manager. Which is totally fine IMO. The defense keeps improving that can actually be okay. But I dont see like raw talent from him. Yes I know his completion % but he was also 30th averaging like 5 yards a pass going into the game. His deep ball isnt very good. I dont think hes going to go out there and change games. He's a rookie and do I think he'll improve? Yes I do. I think hes got a really good mental toughness which is huge.