Mason Rudolph Passing Numbers On Par With Bradshaw & Roethlisberger

Credit Steelers offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner for scaling back the playbook to allow Mason Rudolph to get his first win as a starting quarterback in the National Football League. Pittsburgh was able to put together a strong effort on both sides of the football to beat Cincinnati 27-3 for their first win of the season.

“Can’t say enough about Mason [Rudolph],” said Mike Tomlin post-game. “We gave him a game ball in there for his first start and win. So, I thought that was appropriate.”

Rudolph invitation to the starting job could not have come under more pressure entering in the second half against the Seattle Seahawks in Week 2. Then a trip out west to play one of the best front-sevens in the entire league that resides with the San Francisco 49ers defense.

The 49ers exposed Rudolph for his youthful flaws and kept him from settling in to distribute the football. He was erratic in the pocket with little accuracy with the football with his unsettled footwork damaging his downfield efforts in the passing game.

Fichtner scaled it back. Instead of over doing it which we see so many teams do, they simplified the offensive game plan allowing Rudolph to feel more comfortable. It was unorthodox with wildcat formation and pitch sweeps in vogue for the Steelers Monday night.

“I wasn’t excited about that because I wasn’t a part of it (laughs),” Rudolph said after the game. “No, I am just kidding. Not that I wasn’t excited about it, it was a great package that helped us out. I was just excited about overall, like I said, just one more week of Randy (Fichtner) molding the game plan to me and what I like. It is a big switch when you have a guy who has been here for 16 years and likes what he likes and kind of coaches one way and then has the younger guy come in. He has been unbelievably open to suggestions on my end and so we are going to continue to work and continue to gel with this younger group.”

We play in a different era of football where these young quarterbacks are forced pass, pass, pass. They aren’t handing the football off in today’s NFL, they are slinging it downfield at a rapid pace.

Comparing Rudolph’s first two starts to Terry Bradshaw and Ben Roethlisberger shows the amount of passing that goes into winning a game in the NFL.

First Two Starts
Terry Bradshaw
Record 0-2
Game 1 – 4-for-16 passing for 70 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception
Game 2 – 13-for-26 passing for 211 yards with zero touchdowns and one interception

First Two Starts
Ben Roethlisberger
Record 1-1
Game 1 – 12-for-20 passing for 176 yards with two touchdowns and two interceptions
Game 2 – 12-for-22 passing for 163 yards with one touchdown and one interception

First Two Starts
Mason Rudolph
Record 1-1
Game 1 – 14-for-27 passing for 174 yards with two touchdowns and one interception
Game 2 – 24-for-28 passing for 229 yards with two touchdowns and zero interceptions

If the Steelers can maintain a level of calmness and control the game as Rudolph develops his skills at the professional level, they may have a chance to stack some wins in the coming weeks. The surprise of their offensive game plan will be exploited the longer they use it once defensive coordinators figure out formations and personnel groupings.

“I kind of had more of a philosophy of taking what the defense gives you and we had our chances to take our shots,” Rudolph said.  Backs were in the spots all week. Jaylen Samuels and James Conner did a great job of running after the catch and making the guys miss in space. That helps a lot. That helps the run game.  We had a run game going to start with, so that really helps you be more balanced.”

Pittsburgh’s offense exemplified the importance of using every asset available to win. It was an extremely balanced game plan using every resource and formation possible. Seven different players caught passes against the Bengals with newly acquired tight end Nick Vannett being targeted twice and make those catches for 28-yards.

“What an unbelievable job Nick did to come in this week,” Rudolph said. “I can’t even imagine the whirlwind it was. You are on a team one week and the next week you are on a new team and came in and he absorbed our offense, he absorbed our plan. Did a great job with him, Randy and Coach JD [James Daniel], with him and helping him. He did a great job for us tonight with Vance [McDonald] being out.”

Pittsburgh traded a fifth-round pick in next years NFL Draft to get the former Ohio State and Senior Bowl invite on the roster. Fichtner used him immediately which again I applaud the idea of wasting nothing and implanting a plan with such a vast array options for Rudolph and the team to succeed.

While it is a positive outlook after a win, let’s not get caught up in the idea that Rudolph and the offense is not going to suffer the growing pains that goes along with having a young quarterback under-center. It will take time and there will be passes thrown that make fans cringe and Rudolph look foolish.

The consistency in which he develops will be the key to his long-term success in the league. Thus far, he has shown himself to be a good decision maker with the football when and I stress when he is comfortable in the pocket. That wording goes along with any quarterback but especially when dealing with a player with only 74 career passing attempts.

The Baltimore Ravens are the Steelers next opponent and they have allowed more points each week of the season so far, giving up 10, 17, 33 and 40 points, in their first four games. So, there will be places to exploit in the Ravens defense.

Can Rudolph win two in a row?

We will find out.

Photo Credit To College2Pro.com Frank Haytt