Dwayne Haskins or Mason Rudolph? Steelers’ backup QB debate far from being settled – Pittsburgh Steelers Blog

There’s an interesting debate going on at the Steelers’ facility as the team prepares for the first two playoff games of the season.

Time is running out for the Steelers to find their new starting quarterback, and with each passing day, it looks like this particular competition might not be settled for a while. After a sluggish preseason and the Teddy Bridgewater injury, the first question the Steelers need to answer is who will be their backup quarterback. While James Conner and Landry Jones lead the race for the backup job, he could change his mind at any time, with the pressure to perform at the highest level.

The 2017 NFL draft is over and the Pittsburgh Steelers have a new backup quarterback. If you take a look at the last few years, you know that the Steelers haven’t been able to find competent options at the position. The team has to rely on Landry Jones and Michael Vick at times.. Read more about troy polamalu and let us know what you think.

CANTON, Ohio (AP) — Coach Mike Tomlin of the Pittsburgh Steelers uses quizzes and exams to evaluate his players.

Games, the ultimate football exam, take precedence over practice and his quizzes.

Dwayne Haskins excelled in his tests with successful two-minute drills and accuracy that he lacked in the summer sessions, but Mason Rudolph seemed to left the door open for Haskins with mental mistakes and missed passes to his receivers in 11 practices at Heinz Field.

However, both quarterbacks scored nearly the same on their first test at the Hall of Fame game in Canton, Ohio, leaving the fight for Ben Roethlisberger’s backup quarterback — and possible successor — far from over.

When asked how he did on Thursday’s exam, Rudolph replied, “That’s not for me to determine.” “That is a coaching choice, and it is far above my pay grade. There were some positive aspects and a handful of errors, as is typical. I need to tidy up and move on to bigger and greater things. Listen, if you’re excellent in this league, you’ll find a place at the table regardless of whatever club you’re on.”

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On Saturday (6:30 p.m. ET, ESPN), see the 2020 Centennial Class ceremony in Canton, Ohio, followed by the 2021 HOF class induction on Sunday (7 p.m. ET, ESPN):

• Inside Calvin Johnson’s 329-yard game • Troy Polamalu’s relationship with Bill Cowher • Edgerrin James’ legacy linked to HBCUs • J. Johnson: ‘How ’bout those Cowboys?’ • Winston Hill and Joe Namath’s relationship • Charles Woodson’s remarkable NFL career Get to know the HOF classes for this year. • Videos: Check out these Hall of Fame moments.

Haskins went 8-of-13 for 54 yards and Rudolph completed 6 of 9 passes for 84 yards.

“I thought they did a great job, especially in terms of the play clock,” Tomlin said. “It’s all about new phrasing and stuff like that. This is the first time I’ve seen a genuine play clock at a stadium. Simulating in practical situations is tough for us. I felt they did a good job handling some of those issues, but overall, I was pleased with their performance.”

Rudolph started and played for a quarter and a half on Thursday. He completed his first three passes, but his opening drive was cut short when he botched a handoff to Chase Claypool.

Rudolph said, “It was intended to be a handoff.” “All I have to do now is get it into his sweet spot, his bread basket, and move the ball around.”

Rudolph’s best pass of the day came in the second quarter, when he hit Claypool on the sideline for 45 yards. Claypool dived for the ball and took a long time to get off the field. After the game, Tomlin said that the second-year receiver was OK. Rudolph’s 45-yard completion was the longest by any quarterback on either side, but it was the only time the Cowboys’ defensive strategy allowed receivers open deep.

The drive came to a halt when Rudolph passed behind James Washington on third down, his last play of the evening, and Sam Sloman missed a 49-yard field goal.

Rudolph remarked, “It was wonderful to be back.” “In general, preseason games. Overall, I need to improve, and I need to complete drives. I know we need to put more points on the board, but I felt the overall quality of the effort was where we wanted to be when we were out there.”

Haskins took over at the end of the second quarter and continued into the third, leading two scoring drives but lacking some of the wow factor that made him stand out early in training camp.

In his first preseason action with the Steelers on Thursday, Dwayne Haskins completed 8 of 13 passes for 54 yards. Getty Images/Emilee Chinn

He led a touchdown drive, which was completed by Kalen Ballage’s 4-yard run up the gut, and another drive that resulted in a field goal. On third down, he completed three of four throws for 13 yards, but none of them were converted. He also had a 4.2 yard per attempt average, far behind Rudolph’s 9.3 and lived true to Tomlin’s moniker for him during camp.

Haskins described the competitive atmosphere of the Steelers’ camp on Tuesday, saying, “Coach Tomlin calls me Checkdown because he wants to see whether I can throw the ball down the field.”

Tomlin, on the other hand, loved what he saw from Haskins in his debut game with the Steelers.

He remarked, “I loved his attitude.” “I felt he was a fantastic communicator,” I said. I felt he was alert and thoughtful, which is how you want the quarterback position to be.”

While the backup quarterback competition seems to be a two-man battle, Josh Dobbs made a splash Thursday by throwing the game’s lone touchdown pass to Tyler Simmons for a 5-yard gain in the fourth quarter. In the fourth quarter, he completed 4-of-6 passes for 37 yards.

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The regular season of the National Football League is rapidly approaching. For each of the 32 clubs, these are the most pressing questions and roster predictions. Continue reading » • Complete schedule for 2021 | Depth charts » • NFL Transactions | NFL Injuries | NFL News »

Tomlin stated, “He’s been with us previously and done similarly when given the chance.” “This man isn’t going to give up without a fight. You keep asking me about Rudolph and Haskins, and I tell you what, he’s not going anywhere.”

Most veterans with definite roster places will use the preseason as a dress rehearsal, but that isn’t the case for the quarterbacks behind Roethlisberger. Rudolph was the lone quarterback under contract for 2022 entering the 2021 season, and he looked to be the strong favorite to keep his position as the main backup.

Haskins, on the other hand, does not agree.

Haskins made his intentions plain when asked whether there was an open battle for the No. 2 position two days before the Hall of Fame game.

“Hopefully,” he replied, “I’m trying to make it one.”

With the 2016 NFL Draft around the corner, the Steelers are in a tough spot. Will Pittsburgh select a quarterback with the No. 14 overall pick? Or will they pick up a prospect in the later rounds? It seems like the Steelers are being forced to choose between a 2016 second-round pick and 2017 first-round pick.. Read more about dwayne haskins and let us know what you think.