Mueller: Mason Rudolph's rapid rise a truly stunning development
I can’t say I’m often dumbfounded by what the sports world delivers. It’s the best reality television there is because of its inherent unpredictability, but when you’ve watched avidly for 30 years, and opined about what you see for 15 of those, it’s tough to be surprised.
Well, consider me fully and completely gob smacked by the Mason Rudolph Experience, a two-game ride that has a real chance to extend to three and beyond.
It is here that I will eat crow, as I, as recently as December 23rd, opined on the airwaves that I wasn’t the least intrigued by Rudolph’s impending start against the Bengals because, as I put it, “He stinks.”
Cited as supporting evidence to that claim was the fact that 31 other teams had a chance to sign him as a free agent this offseason, and none did. He and the Steelers seemed like a couple of old flames at the bar who locked eyes at last call, shrugged, and said, “Sure, why not?”
There was also his history with the team, which I felt was wildly overrated by his small-but-devoted group of supporters. He had a winning record, but he was often statistically underwhelming, and even got credit for one of those wins in a game where he was benched for Devlin Hodges.
How good could anyone be, I reasoned, if they were rightfully beaten out by the Duck himself?
Judging by these last two games? Pretty damn good.
Rudolph has, in 120 minutes of football, gone from a clear draft bust, a guy whose career was defined by the starting quarterback who ripped his selection and the defensive end who tried to rip and/or club his head off, to someone whose play has been so eye-opening that even his most ardent detractors are intrigued, and want to see more.
Of course, I count myself among that group, and Mike Tomlin is giving everyone what they want, as he announced Monday afternoon that Rudolph would start Saturday’s must-win matchup with the Baltimore Ravens, who, having clinched the AFC’s top seed, have nothing to play for and will likely rest their starters.
“We are gonna leave the ball in Mason’s hands,” Tomlin said. “He’s done a good job, and we’ve done a good job in the most recent two weeks.”
That would be an understatement of massive proportions, particularly considering how atrocious the Steelers have been on offense for several years now. Rudolph’s two starts have produced 865 yards of offense and 64 points. The Steelers have put up back-to-back 30-point games for the first time since Weeks 5 and 6 of the 2020 season.
Everything looks better. The running game and offensive line were dominant against Seattle; George Pickens has 11 catches for 326 yards and 2 touchdowns in Rudolph’s two starts. In Pickens’ previous eight games, he had 314 yards and 1 touchdown on 25 catches. He and Diontae Johnson look much more engaged; really, the whole offense does. That’s what happens when plays are getting made and points are being scored. The buy-in increases by leaps and bounds.
The most stunning thing about Rudolph’s run is how composed he’s looked throughout. Other than the major jump in production, the most noticeable difference between Rudolph and Kenny Pickett/Mitch Trubisky is the former’s pocket presence. Rudolph, who looked skittish, to be kind, in his 2019 run as the starter, has stood in the pocket, worked through his progressions, and found the open man with accurate passes.
If you’re saying to yourself, “Hey, that sounds like the basic ask of an NFL quarterback,” you’d be right. But Pickett and Trubisky weren’t doing it at all. Pickett has routinely bailed on clean pockets all season, often running himself into pressure and sacks, and Trubisky has largely done the same, while adding extra spice in the form of horrible interceptions. Rudolph has stood in and delivered, over and over again.
No play embodied this newfound pocket presence more than a 34-yard, third-and-seven strike to Pickens while the Steelers were trying to add to a 24-20 lead in the fourth quarter. As the pocket started to collapse, Rudolph double-clutched initially, then reloaded and threw flat-footed where only Pickens could go and get it. The catch was much better than the throw, but with either of the other two quarterbacks, the throw wouldn’t even have happened.
Rudolph’s teammates believe in him because of plays like that. He’s giving them a real chance to do their thing. His coaches believe in him, too. That’s why he threw on first down to Pickens when the Steelers were trying to run out the clock. It was a risky decision but Rudolph threw a strike, and Pickens turned it into a 24-yard gain that sealed the game.
Rudolph’s strong play might be a flash in the pan – certainly, we’ve seen enough two- and three-game spurts from backups and third-stringers this year – but even if it is, it still makes him the Steelers’ best option. He’s currently the best quarterback on the roster and it isn’t close.
What does that mean for Pickett? Who knows. Rudolph’s done enough in two games to warrant consideration for the starting job next year – if he even wants to come back, of course.
That’s a conversation for another day, ultimately. The Steelers still have one game left, and they can punch a playoff ticket with a win and a loss by either the Bills or Jaguars. Had you told a Steelers fan that this would be their Week 18 situation after they were blown out by the Colts, they’d have said you were crazy. Had you told that same fan that the team’s shift from done to dangerous would be due to Rudolph, they’d have had you committed. But here we are.
Nine months ago, the Steelers didn’t want him, and neither did any other NFL team. Now? Mason Rudolph has the offense humming and a previously fractured locker room believing.
Stranger things have happened, but not many.
This article originally appeared on Beaver County Times: Mueller: Mason Rudolph's rapid rise a truly stunning development
