The 2019 season featured a Steelers offense that was stale and unproductive–doing their defense no favors. Among the long list of issues, the quarterback play featured many low moments with a few decent ones.
You know the story. Steelers week 2 against Seattle, Ben grabs at his elbow in pain. That pain turned out to be an injury that would require season-ending surgery. The next man up? Mason Rudolph.
Mason Rudolph stepped in and had a decent performance in the loss to the Seahawks. From that point on, he had a few moments that were solid performances and a few that were painful to watch.
Much of Steelers Nation has written off Rudolph as nothing more than a bust. He’s not seen by the fan base as the quarterback of the future–which is fair to a degree. To a degree, you ask?
Well, let’s be real. There are many, many factors at play for the 2019 Mason Rudolph. To blame him solely for the 2019 Steelers offense’s shortcomings is certainly unfair, but it’s also not an unreasonable reaction; I get it.
While there are many things that Rudolph did leave much to be desired, today I will present the case to give him both the benefit of the doubt and a shot at redemption. I’m not saying a chance to supplant Ben when he returns in 2020–but at least for consideration to be the future starter or at least the #2 QB.
Go ahead and prepare to either agree or disagree, here is why Mason Rudolph should have another shot in Pittsburgh…
Ben Roethlisberger vs Mason Rudolph’s first season starting
Before you question my competence or say I am disrespecting the legend, hear me out.
Big Ben’s rookie season had a lot of factors at play vs Mason’s (in essence) “rookie” year.
Ben’s rookie year was magical. But before the magic began, consider the fact Bill Cowher had him as the projected 3rd QB behind incumbent starter Tommy Maddox and back up Charlie Batch. Then the dominos fell…
Batch gets hurt in the preseason and misses some time, Maddox gets hurt in week 2 in Baltimore, and the Hall of Fame career began for Big Ben. He leads a team that was previously 6-10 to an incredible 15-1 record–not losing a single start.
I will not ever discredit his role during his rookie or even sophomore season at the helm–he made big plays Maddox nor Batch could make. There’s a reason he became a future Hall of Famer and won two Super Bowls. But I will admit he had help along the way.
One thing Ben and Mason both had were stout defenses. The big difference between these two? Mason didn’t have the healthy offense and run game Ben had–a big factor to consider.
Any time the Steelers eclipsed 100 yards rushing in 2019, they won. The consistent ground game will help any young quarterback–even Big Ben had that consistency. Not to mention, Ben had a very competent offensive coordinator (but we’ll get to that later.)
Having a consistent ground game would’ve helped develop Mason a little bit better–I firmly believe that. The big thing I do want to stress as well is very simple: Ben is a once in a generation type player.
Mason Rudolph is not Ben Roethlisberger–that’s obvious. This does not mean that Mason can’t be a serviceable QB in the future. Even Ben had rough outings in his first few years under center.
Be patient and let’s understand these guys are on different levels–very, very few are even on Ben’s playmaking level. Mason needs an opportunity to develop, which leads us to our next point…
Terrible offensive coordinator/coaching production
If you follow me on Twitter, you know how much I dislike Mr. Fichtner. Make no mistake, Mason wasn’t perfect–but when you have the incompetency that Fichtner displayed throughout the season some of those shortcomings could be explained.
Want to know how I know this? A few quick examples (and I have many.)
-Running the same. Exact. Play three times in a row (toss to the left out of shotgun) against the Patriots. Let’s also not forget him admitting he got away from his game plan (hence the return of the counter toss.)
–Holton only the receiver on the field–all but twice did I see only runs called. I get it, it’s your heavy set package… but come on! Put someone out there that will keep the defense honest.
-I, an average spectator, can watch the film and frequently predict his calls every down in real-time.
You can sit here and say “loss of talent,” “loss of starting QB,” etc. A good offensive coordinator does do what I have mentioned. He only opened things up when they were in big-time trouble (see at Cleveland and Cincinnati.)
Here is the thing, since the Steelers are not going to be letting Fichtner go, they will have to bring on another coach who can both help Mason’s development and ultimately help with Fichtner’s plate.
I’m willing to give Fichtner the benefit of the doubt–I am almost certain he and Ben developed game plans. At that point, he sends the personnel in and gave Ben 3 calls; giving Ben the freedom to check-in and out of plays (something different from Haley’s regime.) He was in over his head when Ben went down.
Coaching can be a huge difference in developing a young QB. Ben and Peyton Manning had Bruce Arians, Jared Goff found his footing with Sean McVay, and Brett Favre had Mike Holgrem once he went to Green Bay.
Those are big names, I get that, but they all had a strong quarterback coach or offensive-minded head coach with the strong offensive coaching staff. 2019’s lackluster offensive coaching did not do Rudolph any favors–at all. Hopefully, Tomlin will see this and add much-needed help.
Considerable drastic incidents
This is probably where I might lose you, but I am just calling it how I see it. Coaching blunders aside, Mason was the recipient of two experiences that can be very difficult to simply “bounce back” from–and might’ve been rushed to soon back into action.
First, the knockout hit courtesy of Earl Thomas in week 5 against Baltimore. Mason was handling his own and progressing after 2 starts.
He got thrown to the wolves against a tough 49ers defense and almost got them got out there with a win. He turned around a showed progression against the Bengals–taking what the defense was giving him and eventually stretching the ball downfield.
Then against the Ravens, he continued to progress against another tough team. Then it happened. He gets outside of the pocket, completes the pass, and as he let it go Earl Thomas puts his helmet to Rudolph’s chin–good night Rudy.
I don’t recall how many players I’ve seen get knocked out cold and come back as quickly as Mason did. Nonetheless, he was not the same since that hit. It was the little things.
His pocket mobility wasn’t overly impressive, to begin with, but he at least was stepping up and moving around. After the hit? Not so much. He was even more hesitant with the ball and taking shots downfield as well.
In Cleveland, the brawl and aftermath didn’t knock him out–but the effects of the aftermath were on display in Cincinnati. His focus was off and he was visibly shaken. It’s one thing to question one’s talent, but to be (falsely) accused of something that questions one’s integrity? That can be nerve-wracking regardless of who you are.
Mind you both of these things happened in his first season starting. These aren’t things you just “shake off.” They can linger, but now that the offseason is here, it’s up to Mason to handle it.
I’m not going to say this is the excuse for his moments of poor play, but it is a strong factor to consider.
He’s not the only quarterback to struggle in year one
On my final note, I will continue the comparison game–because that’s just what we do in sports. We compare the offense with Ben under center to Mason, Patrick Mahomes to Mitch Trubisky, and even Michael Jordan to Lebron James.
I could discuss the injuries to the skill position players throughout the season, but it is what it is. Everyone works through those.
Instead, consider this: sometimes it just takes some time for a QB to get the rhythm. I am not saying you’re not justified in being unsatisfied after the 2019 season–we live in a NOW society; got to have it (success) now!
Two examples off the bat: Alex Smith and Terry Bradshaw.
Let’s say that is the floor and ceiling for Mason Rudolph: a serviceable QB at worse or a stud QB at best. It’s too early to tell–that’s just reality.
Both of these QBs had grueling starts to their careers. Both were number 1 overall selections in their respective drafts. If they had simply been cut or dismissed after a few seasons, one would not grow into a serviceable QB that has led two franchises back into the postseason and the other would not have led his teams to 4 Super Bowls in 6 years.
Mason Rudolph had a very tough start in 2019. Let’s all slow down and have just a little perspective. Who is to say the experiences don’t create growth going into 2020? Who is to say that the factors we mentioned earlier were bigger than we thought?
I could make excuse after excuse for him. But like you, I am on the outside looking in. It’s to the Steelers and Mason to do what is necessary for him to have a better chance in the future for success.
I want to be clear, the 2019 Mason Rudolph season was far from perfect. However, one season does not have to be the judge, jury, and executioner of a career. If he can overcome the rough start and the Steelers can surround him with those who can help him develop–we could see a very serviceable QB in the future.
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