Grading Every Pittsburgh Steelers Position Group Performance So Far this Season
By Chris Ross
Quarterbacks
The Steelers were put in a tough position at the quarterback spot when Ben Roethlisberger was lost for the season. With Mason Rudolph forced into action for the first time, some regression was expected. The second-year quarterback was put in a tight spot, unexpectedly being handed the starting job for the rest of the season, and though there have been struggles along the way, he hasn’t been a total disaster.
With seven touchdowns and just two interceptions on the season, Rudolph has been careful with the football. Given Roethlisberger’s propensity for throwing interceptions, Rudolph’s style has been a nice change. Unfortunately, that carefulness with the ball has also lead to an offense that doesn’t take risks, and as a result, is one of the more boring and ineffective passing units in the league.
Rudolph isn’t the only quarterback to take snaps for the Steelers this season, however, and that factors into this grade a bit. In six quarters of play, Roethlisberger looked every bit the 37-year-old quarterback he is, lacking velocity and struggling to make plays. Devlin Hodges also started a game, of course, and played well for an undrafted rookie, leading the team to a convincing win. He wasn’t good enough to supplant Rudolph as the starter, but Hodges was good enough to solidify himself as a capable backup.
Rudolph might be the future of the quarterback position in Pittsburgh, and his performance so far has been fine, but improvement is needed. Too often, the passing game has forgone shots down the field in favor of a short, dink-and-dunk offense that lacks pop. Quarterbacking hasn’t been the reason the Steelers have struggled, but it certainly hasn’t been the reason for the wins so far either.