Did the Duck earn a starting position next week?

[Steelafan77]

I think Hodges has proven himself capable of starting this week @ home in what could be a defining moment in his career at least in Pittsburgh. This game is a must Win for the Steelers to stay in the hunt for a wild card position.

Is it too soon to write off Rudolph and say his career is over? Yes, IMO.

[anpsteel]

I'm not sure if we've seen enough from Hodges to declare him the stater, but we've definitely seen enough of Rudolph to know he isn't.


Bring on Bubby 2.0!!

[Havoc]

Hodges has some swagger to him. There’s just no confidence to Rudolph. As far as physical talent goes, there isn’t much difference, neither is good enough.
That said, Tomlin and Fichtner need to do a better job at putting their QB in favorable situations.
I just can’t be too excited about a 6 point win over the awful Bungals. I hope I’m wrong, but I fear the Steelers won their last game of the 2019 season today.

Yeah, let’s keep doing hey diddle diddle on first and ten

I hated the series after we scored the TD taking the lead.

1 yd gain on a pass to McDonald. Only 1 wr on the field on 2nd down when we had just scored a TD going to our WRs.

It's pitiful in today's league.

[blu]

While I'm unsure that Hodges has earned starting status, it's pretty clear that MR has lost his. It's just too bad that Duck wasn't brought in the previous game & the Steelers could be in a much better wild card position.

[Kodiak]

Is it too soon to write off Rudolph and say his career is over? Yes, IMO.

We've seen him start about 8 games and he's never looked like an NFL QB. It's definitely not too soon to write him off as a future starter. IMO, he's not even an answer as a back-up.

The guy simply can't throw passes beyond the LOS. They got away with it for a month, but he's D.O.N.E. He is terrible, and we don't need to see any more of him to confirm that. He's easily the worst QB I've ever seen, and somehow people keep saying "just give him more time". More time to what?!? He's fucking terrible and, even after improving greatly he's STILL going to be fucking terrible.

Some people just inexplicably jumped on the Rudolph bandwagon and can't admit they were horribly wrong. He's not going to magically improve enough to keep as a back-up, much less future starter.

[Orangesteel]

But but but, Colbert had a “first round grade” on him.

[K_C_]

Are you seriously fucking stupid enough to believe Rudolph used a racial slur?

Yeah, I see no humor in posting such nonsense.

Thought we were moving forward.

Mason sucks but many fans were going to dislike him, regardless. Mason never had a chance with the Steelers fan base.

Hell, more than half of the Steelers fan base hate Ben, so Rudolph had no chance.

Get over it.

MR hasn't played well no matter what you or KC or any other Steelers fans say.

He NOW has played his way to the bench. Stop policing game day forums and deal with it.

Rudolph hasn't played well....of late. Earlier this season, he was fine. His debut (when he replaced Roethlisberger against the Seahawks) was more impressive than Duck's. End of story.

Folks can argue that point and they'd be wrong. Rudolph led two scoring drives and his only "mistake" was 100% on Donte Moncrief's stupidity.

So while I'm also excited about Duck's upcoming start, which he wholeheartedly deserves, I'd relax a bit on crowning this kid.

We desperately need him to help beat the Browns but who knows what will happen with Duck once the league has some real tape on him.

[Professor Half Wit]

But but but, Colbert had a “first round grade” on him.

So they kept saying. But I have my doubts. I forget the draft scenario, but I'm pretty sure he was a flyer pick. They took a chance on grabbing a potential successor. He ain't. Not bashing the FO for picking a QB in that spot if they think he has any chance to develop into something. Going forward after Ben's retirement, I hope they have the guts to keep picking QBs until they get one.

[Ice]

If I'm Tomlin, I let them duke it out one more week in practice and keep the cards to my chest as long as possible. If somehow, Rudolph has a good week, you put him out there, but on a short leash. Maybe one quarter.

If Rudolph doesn't win it I ride Duck the rest of the way. If he's even the second coming of Bubby Brister we can win games with this defense.

I'll take Bubby 2.0 for the rest of this season. Buy the kid's mom a black and gold Caddy and trot her out there at the games for the last few weeks, too.

[Donnie Brasco]

While I'm unsure that Hodges has earned starting status, it's pretty clear that MR has lost his. It's just too bad that Duck wasn't brought in the previous game & the Steelers could be in a much better wild card position.

This is where I'm at: Duck hasn't earned it moreso that MR "lost" the opportunity.

I think you treat this situation like hockey goalies: Win and you're in.

Lose (or look really bad in the course of the game) and you're subject to being yanked

[fritzthecat]

I think it's as simple as Duck doesn't look like he's shittin' his pants when he drops back to pass.

I didn't read this whole thread yet but Swiss you got this right. I don't know who we're gonna start but if it's Rudi and it ain't happening by the end of the 1st qtr. you gotta yank 'em, don't wait. As I said in another thread "NEVER PITY THE BROWNS"
They'll slap him so often his nose will stick out his ear hole. He looks good enough to be on your Moms afternoon soap show and really can throw the rock farther but I don't think he's a better QB where we are as a team right now.

[punum123]

Duck or bust!!!!
Rudolph ain’t the answer.

[Texas Black & Gold]

Duck or bust!!!!
Rudolph ain’t the answer.

In Duck we trust......
or until he needs backup

[El Kabong]

Regardless of anything and everything else, I just want to see an NFL game with 60,000 people blowing duck calls.....

OMG, this should be a promotion! They should hand out duck callers at the gate! Then when the Browns have the ball, everyone cuts loose with the duck calls. That would be the greatest thing ever!

I'm sorry I can't condone this. How can anyone in good-conscience call a man a duck? That's specist! That's ducked--up man, really ducked up.

I could swear that Hodges introduced himself as "Duck" for the Sunday Night game vs the Chargers.

[Texas Black & Gold]

OMG, this should be a promotion! They should hand out duck callers at the gate! Then when the Browns have the ball, everyone cuts loose with the duck calls. That would be the greatest thing ever!

I'm sorry I can't condone this. How can anyone in good-conscience call a man a duck? That's specist! That's ducked--up man, really ducked up.

I could swear that Hodges introduced himself as "Duck" for the Sunday Night game vs the Chargers.

Darn! Only two home games left to see/hear that happen......

[swissvale72]

kabong wrote:

I could swear that Hodges introduced himself as "Duck" for the Sunday Night game vs the Chargers.
[/quote]

swissvale72 wrote:

He definitely did. And I've repeated his doing so to whoever I know that missed it.

[Steelafan77]

Is it too soon to write off Rudolph and say his career is over? Yes, IMO.

We've seen him start about 8 games and he's never looked like an NFL QB. It's definitely not too soon to write him off as a future starter. IMO, he's not even an answer as a back-up.

The guy simply can't throw passes beyond the LOS. They got away with it for a month, but he's D.O.N.E. He is terrible, and we don't need to see any more of him to confirm that. He's easily the worst QB I've ever seen, and somehow people keep saying "just give him more time". More time to what?!? He's fucking terrible and, even after improving greatly he's STILL going to be fucking terrible.

Some people just inexplicably jumped on the Rudolph bandwagon and can't admit they were horribly wrong. He's not going to magically improve enough to keep as a back-up, much less future starter.

So I'm guessing your idea of trading him for a 1st RND'er scenario is out the window then....

[JJT07]

Shefter reporting Hodges is going to start. Should be interesting. I am sure the defense will be announced though at the game. But would be funny if they announced the offense.