Watching Driskel run the Lions. Says something that I'm wishing he played for the Steelers. Sad part is that Driskel isn't any good.
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Merry Christmas
Ben has an awful, four-interception game in 2017 (two were pick-sixes)... and that was with Bell and AB.
Everyone remembers the 2008 Eagles fiasco. The pocket collapsed around Ben... and he played like complete dog crap (4 INTs).
I am NOT comparing Rudolph to Ben. Don’t tangent that way. My point is that “4 INT” games happen to even the best QBs.
Could be worse - imagine being a Bears fan and knowing your team traded up to grab Trubisky with Mahomes and Watson available
Of course here was the hot take on the Chiefs drafting Mahomes
Grade: C-
Analysis: Calling Mahomes a project is a major understatement. He’s nowhere near ready to play in the NFL. And, honestly, he may never be. Between his inconsistent accuracy due to poor mechanics, his tendency to bail from clean pockets and his lack of field vision, he’s going to leave as many big plays on the field as he creates. This was a risky pick.
https://ftw.usatoday.com/2017/04/2017-nfl-draft-grades-picks-analysis-result
Drafting a QB is rolling dice - Steelers took a gamble by burning a third round pick and looks like they lost
2008 vs the Eagles he got sacked 8 times.
Only thrown 4 or more picks 3 times in a game in his career
2006 @ Oakland
2008 vs Giants (also the game where Harrison played long snapper lol)
2016 vs Jaguars (career high 5)
But agreed even the best QBs can look like A$$ on any given Sunday...
The Rudolph experiment is over, he's a back up at best, and without an excess of turnovers, or a defensive score struggles to win games.
It might be time to start Duck.
Agreed. I'm not really going to try and retroactively grade the pick. It was a good idea at the time and may still bear fruit.
He just looks so over-matched and lost on the football field. Hard to imagine a scenario where he turns this around and develops into the next great draft story. But stranger things and all that.
Also, Hodges is a cool story and all, but yeah....no. I would rather see Paxton Lynch get booted up than Hodges.
I think you can grade it.
But for me the biggest issue overall (which I've said multiple times) is how the Steelers have said or tons of sources have said they had that 1st rd grade on Rudolph.
Again, I agree it's still a crap shoot with QBs, I mean look at guys coming up on renewals, Mariota & Winston...guys that have been traded like Tannehill, Rosen after being picked high.
Then not super recent but recent enough you find those diamonds in the rough but they perform right away and earn that spot like Wilson and Dak.
Sure the comparison is bad BUT no one knew what we had with Ben when he was drafted.
I've read the initial plan was for him to sit for 2 years behind BOTH Tommy and Chuck. He became the #2 because Chuck got injured in preseason.
He came in and showed some great flashes in that first game in Baltimore. Did 'okay' in Miami during the hurricane, did okay again the next 2 games against the Bengals & Browns and then did amazing against Dallas & Pats and that was when it was 'how do you ever go back to Maddox'.
Currently with Mason and this is pure observation, I've seen zero hope. Which I agree with your 2nd comment in that aspect.
To me you either have 'IT' or you don't. Doesn't matter if you're a rocket scientist like Dobbs, can you execute and show no fear on the field, so far he can't.
So for me that's what separates guys its beyond the smarts (although you do have to have it cause you can't be a dumb as a post like Vince Young lol)
Is there still time for Mason to look like a something sure.
As it stands here today in my opinion he's backup and a marginal one at that...
Ben looked great but he also had teammates who could make the plays for him. Mason doesn't have that. If you compare their WRs, Mason has Juju and 2 first round starters, and some bums who should be on the practice squad. None of them have been really helping him out, Juju included. Pair that with the fact their #1 rusher is always injured.
Meanwhile Ben had: Bettis (Hall of famer), Staley, Burress, Ward, Randle El. A HoF running back and a stable of proven veteran playmakers at WR. Not to mention backed up by the #1 defense. Mason has NOTHING close to that. Ben was given the keys to a Ferrari, Mason inherited a 1971 Pinto
Staley wasn't exactly 'amazing' he was supposed to be the big acquisition that year but got hurt in 2004 and 5.
Sure Ben had those guys but none were amazing except for ward...plax stretched the field like wallace did when he came and RE was like JuJu is now the perfect slot guy
But the summation between all the receivers Ben has had with the exception of Plax is he got them all paid
RE went to the skins and got paid handsomly although I think that's because he was that dual threat with the kicking game too but still
Wallace to miami got grossly overpaid and has been through half the league since
Brown got paid 3 years early because he showed what he could do because of Ben and then got paid twice more because of Ben
JuJu will have the same fate if Ben comes back and they tear it up
As for having a solid RB1 yeah that helps. But it's not a requirement it just how you use them and a lot has to do with screens or moving them around now a days.
And calling a run at the right moment.
Right now the Steelers seem to be run, run, pass on 3rd and a country mile and hope for the best.
Does a lot have to do with the OC yeah probably, but in saying that it might also be because Rudolph is limited and they didn't expect that.
Like I've said previously certain guys have that 'IT' factor Ben has 'IT'
Mason might but 'IT' might not show up for another few years who knows....
Those receivers weren't 'great' with the exception of Ward and Plax was the guy who blew the top off. Which is hell of a lot more than we have now. It does help that every single one of his receivers are veterans who knew where to be and how to help their QB. Mason has no guys like this, NONE. Not even the guy who was expected to have his breakout year (Juju) has amounted to anything, and also fumbled and dropped balls in crucial situations. Ben had a legitimate WR1 WR2 and WR3. Mason has a couple of WR2's, a WR3 and a bunch of practice squad rookies who under normal circumstances would be bagging groceries instead.
We've all seen how much Ben struggled without Antonio Brown this year.
Even before the injuries, Our receiving core, envy of the league for many years, is now bottom of the barrel. The veteran guy who was supposed to step in (Moncrief), was so awful hes no longer on the team.
I'm string to wonder if Rudolph has a likable personality. Without turnovers to set the offense up with a short field or a pick six, or offense can't seem to score touchdown's with Rudolph. The season is not over yet. If Rudloph struggles again, give me Hodges.
If your a starting nfl qb, you should be able to find and hit an open receiver an overwhelming majority of the time. Regardless if we have AB out there or James Washington or Holton,
if mason can’t get the offense moving, we should put someone in there who can, don’t want to see the efforts of the defense wasted.