Steelers News: Whether it is Mason Rudolph or Devlin Hodges at QB, the Steelers need to let it fly

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 6 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Los Angeles Chargers we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the next game starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how regardless of who is at quarterback in Week 6, the Steelers need to let their quarterback fly and throw the ball downfield.

Let’s get to the news:

• It is fitting how right when Mason Rudolph was starting to get comfortable and driving the ball downfield, he gets knocked out of the game in Week 5. As the Steelers prepare for the Chargers, they need to let their QB sling it, regardless of who may be under center.

Tim Benz: If Devlin ‘Duck Dynasty’ Hodges starts for the Steelers, just let him fly

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

My expectations weren’t high. But I allowed myself to be pleasantly surprised.

Hey, I can do that. I witnessed the Pirates win three whole playoff games back in 2013, you know.

With my own eyes!

I had a micro-level response like that on Sunday. That’s when Devlin “Duck Dynasty” Hodges took over at quarterback for the Pittsburgh Steelers against the Baltimore Ravens.

When Mason Rudolph was knocked out with a concussion, my thought was, “Uh oh. Here comes the undersized, undrafted guy from Samford. He looked great winging the ball and running around against fourth-stringers in preseason games and training camp. What’s he going to look like in a real game against starters, though?”

The answer was, well, pretty darned good, actually.

No, Hodges couldn’t lead the team to victory Sunday. The Ravens won 26-23 in overtime. But he was 7-of-9 for 68 yards. He also scrambled for 20 yards and helped finish off the team’s lone touchdown drive of the second half.

Yes, he threw a pick that got called back via penalty. But the quarterback who wears No. 7 on that team has had that happen to him once or twice, too.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• The Steelers let a golden opportunity slip away on Sunday, but it was far from their first misstep within the AFC North division race.

Mark Madden: Steelers have wasted golden opportunity in AFC North

By: Mark Madden, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

It took a little over 24 hours to truly sink in.

But once Johnny Manziel Jr. stunk out the joint in Cleveland’s 31-3 loss at San Francisco Monday night, the Steelers found themselves staring straight down the barrel of wasted opportunity.

The AFC North really does reek. The Steelers could be leading it (with a bevy of rotten foes in their future) if JuJu Smith-Schuster hadn’t fumbled, or if offensive coordinator Randy Fichtner hadn’t outsmarted himself by using the wildcat at his own 12-yard-line, or if the Steelers hadn’t converted three takeaways into just nine points.

Or if Ben Roethlisberger wasn’t hurt. Third-stringer Devlin Hodges vs. future Hall-of-Famer Philip Rivers at Los Angeles Sunday isn’t the kind of quarterback matchup that has gamblers rushing to the betting window to wager on that “Duck” guy.

What’s done is done. Which is to say, the Steelers are, barring some fantastic series of events that includes the Steelers actually winning some games.

Those bad teams the Steelers can’t wait to play? They can’t wait to play the Steelers. Miami is afraid the Steelers will disrupt their tanking process. Good thing they own the Steelers’ first-round pick next year. Minkah Fitzpatrick finagled his way to exactly one more win.

Miami, Cincinnati, Arizona and the New York Jets are future Steelers opponents. They have one victory between them. If you expect the Steelers to sweep those games, consider: Toss the Steelers into that group, and the teams have two victories between then.

The uphill climb isn’t getting any easier.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Steelers safety Terrell Edmunds has been an iron man for the defense since his career started. But that iron man streak was snapped, in a unique way.

Terrell Edmunds saw streak of 542 consecutive snaps end

By: Charean Williams, ProFootballTalk

Steelers strong safety Terrell Edmunds left the field after the first two plays Sunday, replaced by Vince Williams. It ended a streak of 542 consecutive snaps for Edmunds.

“Say what?” Edmunds said Monday when told of the now-defunct streak, via Mark Kaboly of TheAthletic.com. “Wow! That’s crazy. I didn’t know anything about it. I was just out there playing, but that’s crazy now that you said it. That’s a big stat though, a crazy stat. I didn’t know that. Thank you for telling me.”

Edmunds played every snap the previous eight games.

In fact, Edmunds had a streak of 607 of 608 defensive snaps, leaving the game on the final drive of a Week 13 game against the Chargers as a rookie. Mike Hilton replaced Edmunds for the one play.

“Yeah, I did replace him; I do remember that, OK,” Hilton said. “Wow! That was a long time ago. The thing is, I don’t think it is too much for him. He is a second-year guy; he is very intelligent, and he is very coachable.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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