Steelers News: Mason Rudolph outlines how he has improved from Year 1 to Year 2

The Pittsburgh Steelers returned to the gridiron this week when they reported back to training camp. With practices underway, the news surrounding the black-and-gold is just starting to heat up. As the team returns from their summer break, we continue to provide you with features, commentary and opinions to tide you over until the season starts!

Today in the black-and-gold links article we take a look at Mason Rudolph discussing how he has improved from his rookie season to his second year.

Let’s get to the news:

• Mason Rudolph is a very polarizing figure among Pittsburgh Steelers fans. Many view him as the next QB to take the reins when Ben Roethlisberger retires, while others view him as just another backup. Either way, he has a huge preseason ahead of him.

Steelers’ Mason Rudolph talks about improving his deep ball, teammates’ growth

By: Tim Benz, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

As Pittsburgh Steelers training camp continues, Wednesday’s guest in our “Letters from Camp” podcast at “Breakfast With Benz” is Mason Rudolph.

Perhaps no Steeler will be as scrutinized by the fans during Friday night’s preseason opener as he will be.

Essentially, Rudolph was a redshirt during his rookie season. But after being drafted in the third round out of Oklahoma State, it’s time to see if he can at least grab the backup quarterback job from Josh Dobbs.

Neither Rudolph nor Dobbs have lit up the practice field at Saint Vincent College. But as Rudolph explains, that’s not from a lack of mental growth in the pocket. He says the secondary has had a noticeable jump in competitiveness this year.

One area where Rudolph has focused is refining his footwork — that has been evident this summer.

He also talks about his approach to throwing the deep ball. Rudolph appears to have more zip on deep passes, throwing more on a line, and relying less on that accurate deep ball arc he came to master at Oklahoma State.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Devlin Hodges is making an impression with the Steelers, both on and off the field.

Steelers Inside the Ropes: Devlin ‘Duck Dynasty’ Hodges making plays

By: Chris Adamski, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

“Let’s go, ‘Duck Dynasty,’ ” coach Mike Tomlin yelled toward his offense on the sidelines before the final drill of Tuesday’s Pittsburgh Steelers practice.

So Devlin Hodges ran into the huddle and took over the hurry-up, late-game simulation between second-teamers.

Earlier in practice and for the second time in recent days, Hodges guided the No. 2s on offense in the seven shots 2-point conversion simulation that opened practice. The No. 4 quarterbacks over the years at Steelers camps don’t always get such opportunities, particularly during a practice in which Ben Roethlisberger and the two others at quarterback are healthy and participating.

That might best exhibit how Hodges is opening eyes. The NCAA’s reigning Division I passing yards per game leader from Samford has shown an accurate arm and a pizzazz in his playmaking ability.

The final play of Tuesday’s practice, for instance, was a sidearm fling to Diontae Spencer in the middle of the field, a deft improvisation for a 6-foot-1 passer who was under siege from a fleet of large pass-rushers.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Antonio Brown is still in the news, this time for freezing his feet to a disgusting point.

Raiders finally acknowledge that Antonio Brown froze his feet in a cryotherapy chamber

By: Mike Florio, ProFootballTalk

NFL Films, owned and operated by the NFL (including the Raiders), had nothing to say on Tuesday night’s debut of Hard Knocks regarding the reason for receiver Antonio Brown‘s inability to practice due to foot/feet problems. NFL Network, owned and operated by the NFL (including the Raiders), finally has confirmed that which first was revealed more than 24 hours earlier by Chris Simms on PFT Live.

Unnamed Raiders representative/players/whoever told Ian Rapoport of the NFL that, indeed, Brown injured his feet by entering a cryotherapy chamber without proper footwear.

Rapoport seems to hedge a bit with the report, explaining twice that the Raiders sources are “saying” that’s the reason for the foot/feet problem instead of just saying that, indeed, this is the issue. Maybe he just wanted to create the not-so-subtle impression that the reason for the foot/feet problem wasn’t already reported more than 24 hours earlier. Either way, there should be no skepticism about such a bizarre and specific reason for an injury — especially since the report had surfaced more than 24 hours earlier.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• JuJu puts in work after practice

The NFL Network was in attendance at Saint Vincent College recently, and Michael Irvin had a one-on-one with JuJu Smith-Schuster after practice. Check out how JuJu describes his growing role on the team as a player and a leader.

• James Conner talks motivation

James Conner, like JuJu, also spoke with NFL Network’s Michael Irvin, but his talk was more about motivation. As expected, Conner kept it humble.

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