PITTSBURGH – “Mason Rudolph and Myles Garrett” made the headlines for the Pittsburgh Steelers v Cleveland Browns game. Most importantly, week 17 gives an insight into what can happen over the course of a year.
With Rudolph on the field as the Steelers’ starting quarterback in week 17, head coach Mike Tomlin and general manager Kevin Colbert have the only chance of the season to see what the future holds in the quarterback position.
The Steelers face a crucial off-season in 2021. For the first time, maybe ever, a real problem is having a starting quarterback ready when Ben Roethlisberger leaves. They will also try to replace James Conner, members of the offensive line and possibly a defender or two.
They saw what Benny Snell Jr. can do as a starter, what their young offensive linemen can do, and how Alex Highsmith replaces Bud Dupree. However, the biggest and most important question has yet to be answered.
Can Rudolph replace Roethlisberger?
“I think I see a trust. I don’t hear any trust. And I don’t know how to explain it,” said offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner about Rudolph’s development. “He doesn’t have to tell me he’s confident, you can just feel it. He understands the concepts you’re talking about. He shakes his head, yes, I feel it, I’m good. He goes out and represents that Field.”
Rudolph made progress, as did any developing player. Indeed, in the NFL, having a season like 2019 where nothing could go right and you landed back on the bench could be a good thing. He didn’t have much opportunity to emerge and show his growth, but now he does.
“He has got better every year when it comes to understanding and knowing, reading and throwing the offense,” said Roethlisberger about Rudolph. “He’s physically gifted, we know that. He’s smart. We know he can do all throws and do things.”
The Steelers are betting on this week 17 game. It doesn’t matter if they beat the Browns or not. All they should or should be worried about is watching Rudolph show whether or not he is ready to become an NFL quarterback.
“I see myself as (a future starter), and I think there are a lot of quarterbacks who have sat behind Hall of Fame quarterbacks and it has helped them on the road,” said Rudolph. “And I think what a positive feeling to watch a man like Ben at work who has had so many years of repetition and so much knowledge of the game and is ready to pass it on.”
That future will become a reality sooner rather than later. Roethlisberger is 38 years old and runs a high and low season. At times his arm strength seems to run out, and with a $ 41 million cap hit next year, there will be discussions about his future once the season ends.
This is also not last year’s test. This is the first time Rudolph has suffered a healthy crime, with more guns than he can count around him. JuJu Smith-Schuster and Diontae Johnson have progressed as stars in this league, followed by Chase Claypool and James Washington.
Maybe the running game is as bad as it was a year ago, but the defense is just as good, which gives Rudolph plenty of drives to showcase himself.
“It’s just fun to be out there,” said Rudolph. “It’s a whole different feeling. It’s fun. It’ll be real business on Sunday.”
Some have cited college quarterbacks like Florida’s Kyle Trask as potential first-round picks for the Steelers. But none of this matters until after week 17.
“I really don’t care who the opponent is,” said Rudolph. “It’s big for me, it doesn’t matter, because it’s an opportunity for me (and) many others to present (and prove) themselves to our teammates and coaches. That motivates me.”
Noah Strackbein is a publisher at AllSteelers. Follow Noah on Twitter @NoahStrack and AllSteelers @si_steelers.
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