Job behind Steelers QB Roethlisberger wide open

PITTSBURGH (AP) — Josh Dobbs did all the right things last summer, or at least enough of them for the Pittsburgh Steelers to cut veteran backup quarterback Landry Jones at the end of the preseason and promote Dobbs to the spot behind Ben Roethlisberger.

Nine months later, none of it matters.

Whatever gap Dobbs created over then-rookie Mason Rudolph in 2018 is gone. It’s not an indictment of the ever-meticulous Dobbs so much as a return to the way the Steelers prefer to do business. When Dobbs and Rudolph report to training camp at Saint Vincent College next month with 88 of their teammates, they’ll once again be in a fight for the opportunity to be the first option off the bench.

“They understand it is competition and it’s open,” offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner said Wednesday. “But to me, that position is always going to be open no matter who is here. That battle is every single day trying to put us in the best position when if Ben is not in the game, that we have put the right guy in to give us a chance to win the game.”

https://www.foxsports.com/nfl/story/backup-plan-job-behind-steelers-qb-roethlisberger-wide-open-061219

I'm hoping Rudolph wins it. We invested a 3rd Rounder in him, they obviously took him with the hopes that he'd develop into a starter. That being said, if Dobbs beats him out and turns out to be the better player then so be it. Whoever gives us the best chance to win is all that matters.

Right now we have 2 backup QBs with a lot of upside. An enviable position to be in. Back when we had Batch backing up Ben a couple sports writers said we had the best QB tandem in the league. I can see that happening again. I like Dobbs a lot but Rudolph edges him out in my mind. My reason why is James Washington. Rudolph and Washington together looks to be a good pair and if Washington ends up as our #2 receiver that combination can be really good for a few years.

solardave wrote:

Right now we have 2 backup QBs with a lot of upside. An enviable position to be in. Back when we had Batch backing up Ben a couple sports writers said we had the best QB tandem in the league. I can see that happening again. I like Dobbs a lot but Rudolph edges him out in my mind. My reason why is James Washington. Rudolph and Washington together looks to be a good pair and if Washington ends up as our #2 receiver that combination can be really good for a few years.

I'm hoping that Washington pans out but early (albeit practice in shorts) reports on Diontae Johnson are promising.

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

solardave wrote:

Right now we have 2 backup QBs with a lot of upside. An enviable position to be in. Back when we had Batch backing up Ben a couple sports writers said we had the best QB tandem in the league. I can see that happening again. I like Dobbs a lot but Rudolph edges him out in my mind. My reason why is James Washington. Rudolph and Washington together looks to be a good pair and if Washington ends up as our #2 receiver that combination can be really good for a few years.

I'm hoping that Washington pans out but early (albeit practice in shorts) reports on Diontae Johnson are promising.

Honestly I think we upgraded our WR core. Addition by subtraction. Someone asked Ju Ju how they were going to make up for Brown and he said "more people get the ball and make the most of it." I believe him. I think we can be even better without Brown.

solardave wrote:

IowaSteeler927 wrote:

solardave wrote:

Right now we have 2 backup QBs with a lot of upside. An enviable position to be in. Back when we had Batch backing up Ben a couple sports writers said we had the best QB tandem in the league. I can see that happening again. I like Dobbs a lot but Rudolph edges him out in my mind. My reason why is James Washington. Rudolph and Washington together looks to be a good pair and if Washington ends up as our #2 receiver that combination can be really good for a few years.

I'm hoping that Washington pans out but early (albeit practice in shorts) reports on Diontae Johnson are promising.

Honestly I think we upgraded our WR core. Addition by subtraction. Someone asked Ju Ju how they were going to make up for Brown and he said "more people get the ball and make the most of it." I believe him. I think we can be even better without Brown.

I think we got a group of hungry young guys that put the team ahead of themselves. Bell/Brown showed me that they cared more about money, and their personal stats than they do about winning championships. I mistook Brown's tantrums as frustration in losing games, but looking back with the benefit of hindsight I'd say his tantrums were more about him not being the center of attention and getting the ball thrown his way every other play. Brown never threw tantrums when he was putting up monster statistical seasons. He didn't start acting that way until Ben started spreading the ball around to guys like Juju. I think he'll be just as cancerous to the Raiders locker room as he was to ours, it might not be this season, but he'll manifest his ugly side with them when things don't go his way.

I like the attitude our team has this season. We have playmakers on offense, and I think we definitely shored up the holes on our defense with the addition of guys like Devin Bush, and Steven Nelson.

Losing a talent like Brown does hurt, and he obviously had phenomenal chemistry with Ben over the years, but I think guys like Washington, and Diontae Johnson can fill the void left by Brown. Juju will take pressure off of them, and make their lives easier. Coach Fitchner is going to scheme these guys open and set them up for success. I'm extremely excited for this season.

solardave wrote:

Right now we have 2 backup QBs with a lot of upside. An enviable position to be in. Back when we had Batch backing up Ben a couple sports writers said we had the best QB tandem in the league. I can see that happening again. I like Dobbs a lot but Rudolph edges him out in my mind. My reason why is James Washington. Rudolph and Washington together looks to be a good pair and if Washington ends up as our #2 receiver that combination can be really good for a few years.

I'm a Dobbs fan. If people are looking for the next Tom Brady, look at the smartest guy in the room with tremendous work ethic. That's Dobbs.

I do like Rudolph too, but to me, Dobbs is the guy.

While Dobbs and Rudolph battle for the backup position, here's who one of them will be backing up in a few years.

Pretty good let's sign him to a futures contract.

solardave wrote:

Pretty good let's sign him to a futures contract.

Hodges has tons of potential. But they're going to give Dobbs and Rudolph every opportunity to prove themselves. Hodges won't get s chance to do much of anything.

Just a little background from an earlier article ...

Steelers sign FCS phenom QB Devlin Hodges to contract

Hodges was the best player in the FCS last season. He won the Walter Payton Award as the most outstanding player after throwing for 4,283 yards and 32 passing touchdowns. Hodges also chipped in 313 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground.

There’s no denying how productive Hodges was in college, even against top tier competition.

https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/13/steelers-sign-fcs-phenom-qb-devlin-hodges-to-contract/

Yeah as it will be time one day when Big Ben hangs up his cleats as backup is needed.

Wallace108 wrote:

solardave wrote:

Pretty good let's sign him to a futures contract.

Hodges has tons of potential. But they're going to give Dobbs and Rudolph every opportunity to prove themselves. Hodges won't get s chance to do much of anything.

Just a little background from an earlier article ...

Steelers sign FCS phenom QB Devlin Hodges to contract

Hodges was the best player in the FCS last season. He won the Walter Payton Award as the most outstanding player after throwing for 4,283 yards and 32 passing touchdowns. Hodges also chipped in 313 rushing yards and eight scores on the ground.

There’s no denying how productive Hodges was in college, even against top tier competition.

https://steelerswire.usatoday.com/2019/05/13/steelers-sign-fcs-phenom-qb-devlin-hodges-to-contract/

Honestly I remember seeing we signed a 4th QB but didn't pay any attention thinking he is just a camp body. I think you're right he probably won't get much time to show his skills and that's a shame.

Hoping Rudolph takes the spot with little to no questions as to why. Dobbs got a shot at showing how he could help against the Raiders last year and didn't show much at impressing anyone. Rudolph has the height, arm, and skill set to be very productive if he can disect defenses and pull the right triggers. That being said its a big if. One can only hope.

SteelerFreak58 wrote:

Hoping Rudolph takes the spot with little to no questions as to why. Dobbs got a shot at showing how he could help against the Raiders last year and didn't show much at impressing anyone. Rudolph has the height, arm, and skill set to be very productive if he can disect defenses and pull the right triggers. That being said its a big if. One can only hope.

Remember Dobbs took the #2 position from Landry Jones who didn't show enough as a backup.We need a #2 like Charlie Batch where if Ben goes out we can still have hope of winning the game. Jones didn't have that and I'm not sure Dobbs does either. It will be interesting to see how this plays out and whether Hodges even gets a shot at competing. The question is: who is going to rise to the occasion?