The Pittsburgh Steelers have found lightning in a bottle with Mason Rudolph. The offense has exploited two bad defenses and scored 64 points in the last two games. Rudolph has stood tall in the pocket and found George Pickens and Diontae Johnson for huge plays in the passing game. Those big plays have forced the defense to compensate. It makes the offensive line more effective run blockers and Najee Harris and Jaylen Warren have exploited the extra room.
Fox Sports
Steelers Mason Rudolph smiles after leading another 30 point explosion on offense.
On Friday, Trai Essex and Rich 'Rody' Rodawalt released the latest episode of Pod Me Up from Steeler Nation Multimedia. The duo welcomed Herm Edwards, the Miracle in The Meadowlands beneficiary and former coach of the New York Jets, Kansas City Chiefs, and Arizona State Sun Devils. Edwards has also spent over a decade as an analyst for ESPN's NFL Live program.
Essex, who played for the Steelers from 2005 to 2012, asked the legendarily Edwards about the Pittsburgh offense. Edwards' famous "you play to win the game" has become part of the American sports lexicon. The ESPN analyst poured ice-cold water on the idea that Rudolph's presence in the lineup was the catalyst for the Steeler's offensive success.
“As much as we like Rudolph, that’s fine I get it, they are like Cleveland in a sense,” Edwards said. “The quarterback is just kind of driving the car. He’s not doing anything special. He’s not turning the ball over, which is good.”
With all due respect to Edwards, Rudolph has done more than not turn the ball over. He has awakened the Steelers' best offensive weapon. Rudolph has looked to Pickens early and often, and the duo has been spectacular. The combination has accounted for nearly 60 percent of the Steelers passing yards over the last two weeks. That combination has forced opponents to adjust, and the rushing attack has taken advantage.
“Their running backs are playing well,” Edwards expounded. “You got a couple of receivers you can throw the ball down the field and make some plays and a defense that’s taking the ball away and knocking the quarterback down. That’s how they’re playing, and that’s ok.”
Pittsburgh's defense is being held together with chewing gum, chicken wire and a ferocious edge rush. The Steelers have been devastated by injuries at inside linebacker and safety. Myles Jack wore the green dot against the Seattle Seahawks despite spending most of the 2023 season in retirement.
USA Today
Alec Highsmith and TJ Watt celebrate a turnover against the Baltimore Ravens
Edwards and many others in the national media do not recognize the reality that the current unit is highly dependent on TJ Watt and Alex Highsmith to get home before the opposing quarterback can take advantage of the middle of the field.
“When this thing ends, however, it ends for Pittsburgh. Hopefully, they get in,” Edward concluded. “The question is, is [Kenny] Pickett your guy? I don’t know that. I watch him play and I go okay, nothing special. This is to me, similar to, I don’t want to downplay him because he’s playing great, is [Brock] Purdy. Can Pickett play like Purdy? If he can, he’s your quarterback for a long time because the parts around him are playing great, and he’s orchestrating all this. That’s what you want out of Pickett, can he do that? I don’t know.”
Kenny Pickett's sophomore NFL campaign has not gone well. The offense was stagnant for most of 2023. Steeler Nation blamed Matt Canada, and the organization mercifully moved on from him after an embarrassing loss to the Cleveland Browns. Pickett responded with one of his best games as a professional against the Cincinnati Bengals. He was effective early in the Arizona Cardinals game, but left the game with an ankle injury that has cost him his job as the starting quarterback.
Steelers Fans Should Stop Comparing Brock Purdy And Pickett
Pickett is plagued by relentless comparisons to his 2022 NFL Draft classmate, Brock Purdy. Purdy plays in an innovative offense that Kyle Shanahan designs, while Pickett might have had more luck asking the hot dog vendor what play to call during his tenure as an NFL starting quarterback. Pickett is not blameless. He actively avoided the middle of the field for most of the season. Canada's offense was a trainwreck, but Rudolph is running the same plays and finding open receivers.
NBC Sports / Bay Area
Steelers Kenny Pickett was outplayed in the 2023 season opener by Brock Purdy
Edwards, to his credit, is lumping Purdy and Pickett together. The point is that Purdy takes advantage of his opportunities with a remarkably talented group of playmakers. He distributes the ball efficiently and lets his teammates make plays. Pickett, with the notable exception of the fourth quarter, has failed at this task during 2023.
The good news for fans is that Pickett has a special skill to win low-scoring, one-score games. He has proven that if he has a chance to beat you late, more often than not, he will find a way. The bad news is that Rudolph has put up back-to-back 30-plus-point performances with the same offense and demonstrated they don't have to play offense that way.
What do you think, Steeler Nation? Do you agree with Edwards that Rudolph has not done anything special? Please comment below or on my Twitter/X: @thebubbasq.
#SteelerNation
