Steelers News: When it came to “not killing” the Steelers, the backup QBs failed

The Pittsburgh Steelers 2019 season is officially over. After finishing the year 8-8, the Steelers, and their vast fan base, has another long offseason awaiting them. Just because the games are done doesn’t mean we stop providing you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over throughout the offseason!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at how when Mike Tomlin said all the backup quarterbacks had to do was “not kill us”, they did just that.

Let’s get to the news:

• The Pittsburgh Steelers lose Ben Roethlisberger in Week 2, and have to turn to backups the rest of the way. Mike Tomlin said all they have to do is “not kill us”, and that is exactly what happened.

Mark Madden: Horrific ‘Duck’ Hodges killed Steelers’ season

By: Mark Madden, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

The “Duck” era has concluded. Or should that be “Duck” error?

Once it got to that point, the Steelers had no choice (or chance).

The team’s season was dead the minute Ben Roethlisberger got hurt — and not just because they lost a two-time Super Bowl champion, a nailed-on Hall-of-Famer and a quarterback who threw for 5,129 yards in 2018.

The Steelers’ season was also dead because they had woefully inadequate cover for Roethlisberger.

Neither Hodges nor Mason Rudolph had thrown an NFL pass before this campaign. If the Steelers fancied themselves a playoff team, leaving their depth chart in that state at football’s most important position was absurd.

At least Rudolph has a legitimate NFL arm and decent pedigree as a third-round pick. He was playing OK until disaster struck on several levels Nov. 14 at Cleveland. Rudolph was rattled. The Steelers were rattled.

To read the full article click HERE (Free)

• How much will it cost for the Steelers to retain Bud Dupree?

Will the price be right for Bud Dupree to return to Steelers in 2020?

By: Joe Rutter, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Teammates want Bud Dupree to return at outside linebacker for the Pittsburgh Steelers in 2020.

The front office surely wants to keep employing a player who set career highs in nearly every category this season.

And Dupree wants to come back — at the right price.

Therein lies the rub regarding the organization’s most high-profile contract negotiation of the offseason.

No matter how much all parties want Dupree to continue playing for the Steelers, finances will dictate whether the 26-year-old linebacker is back for a sixth season or enticed by free-agent riches to play elsewhere.

“I’m just waiting, talking to my agents,” Dupree said Sunday after the Steelers’ season concluded with a 28-10 loss to the Baltimore Ravens. “I don’t know. This is my first time (in free agency). You always want to finish where you start.”

One day later, as Steelers players convened at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex to clean out their lockers and begin exit interviews, Dupree’s approach hadn’t changed.

“We just lost a game, so we’re still feeling those emotions,” Dupree said. “Just know free agency is a possibility is exciting.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Artie Burns collected his things, said goodbye to teammates and is preparing to hit free agency.

Artie Burns bids farewell to Steelers, as former first-round pick plans to leave in free agency

By: Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Artie Burns packed his belongings into a garbage bag at his locker stall on Monday afternoon, knowing full well that it was his last day inside the Pittsburgh Steelers locker room.

The 24-year-old cornerback, the No. 25 overall pick by the Steelers in the 2016 NFL Draft, wasn’t shy about saying that he is ready to find a new home in free agency after four seasons.

“Yes,” Burns said. “It’s what I want to do.”

Asked if he was walking out for the final time, Burns was blunt about being labeled a first-round bust for the Steelers.

“It doesn’t really matter,” Burns said. “All that matters is the future, what I’m going to do for the next team that takes me.”

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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