Steelers News: Although he took the blame, the Steelers loss was not on Mason Rudolph

The Pittsburgh Steelers are moving into Week 4 of the NFL regular season, and as the team prepares for the Cincinnati Bengals, 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 how although Mason Rudolph took the blame for the Steelers’ loss in Week 3, it was hardly his fault alone.

Let’s get to the news:

• Quarterbacks are taught to take the blame when a team loses. And when the team wins you deflect the praise to others who helped. This is exactly what Mason Rudolph did after the Week 3 loss to the 49ers, but this loss wasn’t on him.

Kevin Gorman: Mason Rudolph takes more blame than he deserves for Steelers’ loss

By: Kevin Gorman, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

Mason Rudolph took this loss on his shoulders, despite throwing two second-half touchdowns and giving the Pittsburgh Steelers a fourth-quarter lead.

The Steelers’ 24-20 loss to the San Francisco 49ers on Sunday afternoon at Levi’s Stadium was as much about their struggles at the start as it was their failures at the finish.

“We just came out slow,” Rudolph said. “I’m more to blame than anyone.”

No one was expecting Rudolph to be a replica of Ben Roethlisberger, who is lost for the season with an elbow injury that will require surgery. Not in Rudolph’s first career NFL start. Not on the road. Not against the undefeated 49ers.

This loss, which dropped the Steelers to 0-3, wasn’t strictly on the second-year quarterback. It was on the Pro Bowl wide receiver who was invisible for the first half, the Pro Bowl offensive linemen who couldn’t establish a rushing attack and the Pro Bowl running back who fumbled in the fourth quarter.

It was on a defense filled with former first-round draft picks that forced five turnovers, including two inside their own 10, but ultimately couldn’t stop San Francisco on third downs, as the 49ers converted 6 of 11 (55%).

“We lost today,” Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said, “all of us.”

To read the full article click HERE (Free)

• In the same breathe, it is fair to say while the loss wasn’t solely on Rudolph, he didn’t play well enough for the team to be successful.

John Steigerwald: Mason Rudolph not up to job for Steelers

By: John Steigerwald, Pittsburgh Tribune-Review

It could have been worse. Actually, it should have been worse.

The Steelers almost got out of San Francisco with a win because the 49ers were determined to give them one. How often does a team commit four turnovers in the first half and win?

The 49ers finished with five turnovers, but at least four of them were gifts that had little to do with the Steelers defense. Fumbled snaps, a pass that bounces off a receiver’s hands for an interception, a receiver going in motion behind the line of scrimmage is hit in the head with a snap.

Come on.

The 49ers were lucky to be facing a quarterback making his first start. They did more than the Steelers could have asked to make it an easy win.

Mason Rudolph wasn’t up to the job. He didn’t throw a good pass in the first half not counting the ones that were thrown less than 15 feet. He didn’t play well enough to make anybody think the Steelers can salvage the season. Maybe he will do that next week against the Bengals, who are also 0-3, but he’s going to have to play a lot better than he did Sunday.

Is it unfair to expect anything better from a guy making his first start?

Not really.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

• Where has James Conner and the dominant offensive line gone? Anyone?

James Conner, Steelers’ running game struggling to help ailing offense

By: Brooke Pryor, ESPN

The key to a successful offensive game plan for a first-time starting quarterback is generally simple enough.

Run the ball.

With quarterback Mason Rudolph starting for the first time, the Pittsburgh Steelers entered Sunday’s game against the San Francisco 49ers with the intention of leaning on third-year running back James Conner.

The 49ers loaded the box early and often with eight defenders, trying to force Rudolph to throw. Pittsburgh, however, couldn’t get anything going in the passing game, settling for short throws barely past the line of scrimmage. And with the 49ers’ stacked front, the Steelers couldn’t run the ball effectively, either, creating a lackluster offense in Rudolph’s starting debut.

To read the full article, click HERE (Free)

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