As I am typing this, I have more confidence than most of the population in Mason Rudolph. That might even include Mason Rudolph. And that’s not to say he doesn’t have self-confidence. I just really believe in the guy. While everyone was planning Ben Roethlisberger’s funeral this week, I was excited for a new era. Was I very sad to hear of Roethlisberger’s injury? Of course I was. But I wasn’t about to throw away my Pittsburgh Steelers gear and call it quits on the season. Now is the opportune time to embrace the Mason Rudolph era.
It’s Time to Embrace the Mason Rudolph Era
Let’s start with the facts. Ben Roethlisberger is a Hall of Fame quarterback. He brought greatness back to my city twice during my childhood. He’s been the only quarterback that I can remember taking the field for Pittsburgh on a consistent basis. His name is stitched on the back of my Terrible Towel from 2004. Trust me, I get it, it hurts. But the guy wasn’t going to play forever. As much as we wish he could, he’s wasn’t going to. Also, while he did bring us two Super Bowls, the last one was in 2009. In the words of the late Mac Miller, this ain’t 2009 no more.
The fact is that the Pittsburgh Steelers have had the talent to compete for a title for most of recent memory. They’ve walked away with squat. This isn’t a dynasty losing a quarterback in his prime. This is a team trying to figure out it’s future in a way that still respects the winning culture of the city. I respect that. But sometimes that involves letting go of the past. If we didn’t win a Super Bowl with Roethlisberger in the past few years, who was expecting to win one with him now?
The reality is that it wasn’t going to happen. In the five plus quarters Roethlisberger led this season, he was responsible for exactly 0 points. In this NFL, the one of 2019, that doesn’t cut it. Especially with a defense that doesn’t seem to remember how to cover a flat or a seam. The offense looked slow under Roethlisberger. It came alive under Rudolph.
Now let’s look at the facts for Rudolph’s case. This guy was a first-round talent in an era of young quarterbacks performing like never before. Literally, a first-round quarterback is more likely to succeed faster now than at any other point in NFL history. I mean, Gardner Minshew is lighting the world on fire right now as a sixth-round rookie. Even I thought he was going to take a few years to develop. The time is now for young NFL quarterbacks. Mason Rudolph proved last week that he is ready.
Does that mean he won’t make mistakes? Of course, it doesn’t. He will certainly make mistakes, just like Roethlisberger did. He will also have incredible highs, just as Roethlisberger did. With the addition of Minkah Fitzpatrick to the defense, Pittsburgh is making a push to win now. I still think the defensive scheme is weak and easy to pick apart. That won’t change and will hold the team down. But if this team doesn’t win, it will most likely, as it has in the past, be on the coaching staff. It will not be on Ben Roethlisberger’s absence.
As someone who watched Rudolph in college and pushed for Pittsburgh to take him, I am thrilled. Regardless of Sunday’s outcome, I am so excited to see him lead Pittsburgh this year. If your still a skeptic, sit back, relax and enjoy the Mason Rudolph show. Ben Roethlisberger will always be there as a part of this team’s storied history. But it’s a new day, yes it is. I hope you enjoy the Mason Rudolph era as much as I will.
