How Steelers’ Mason Rudolph completely turned around the offense, helped lead Pittsburgh to the playoffs

Akin to what’s transpired with their orange-and-brown-clad rivals to the west in Cleveland, the Steelers’ former third-string quarterback has given the offense a shocking boost of efficiency with the playoffs on the line. 

In his three regular-season starts, Mason Rudolph is 53 of 71 (74.6%) for 716 yards — that’s an enormous 10 yards per attempt — with three touchdowns and no interceptions in three wins… two of which featured the Steelers scoring 30-plus points. Those contests marked the first Steelers occasion with 30-plus points in consecutive games since October of 2020.

And much of what Rudolph’s done as a passer harkens back to his time as a prodigious producer at Oklahoma State before Pittsburgh selected him in the third round of the 2018 NFL Draft.

Sample sizes matter, but all we can do now is use a two-game sample for Rudolph, and in those three starts, in which the Steelers offense has done a 180, he’s attempted a pass 20-plus yards down the field on 12.2% of his throws. Before his injury, Kenny Pickett’s downfield throw rate was just 9.5%. 

Now, Trubisky’s was almost identical to Rudolph’s at 12.2%, but the former No. 2 overall pick was ghastly on those long balls, completing just 4 of 16 throws for 101 yards with one touchdown and three interceptions. Pickett was 11 of 31 for 389 yards with a score and two picks. 

Rudolph’s 4 of 9 for 181 yards and a touchdown.

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Source link : https://www.cbssports.com/nfl/news/how-steelers-mason-rudolph-completely-turned-around-the-offense-helped-lead-pittsburgh-to-the-playoffs/

Author : Chris Trapasso

Publish date : 2024-01-11 11:00:48

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