By Jacob Jensen
SteelerNation.com
Thursday, it was announced that QB Mason Rudolph would start the second preseason game for the Pittsburgh Steelers. This goes to show how much more prevalent the QB2 position battle is for the boys in black and gold.
Last preseason, Josh Dobbs beat out Landry Jones (who signed with the XFL today) for the backup quarterback spot in Pittsburgh. Now this preseason, Dobbs has someone coming for his job. Mason Rudolph made a great case for the job in the first preseason game when he went 5/8 with two touchdowns and 91 passing yards. Josh Dobbs also went 5/8 on pass completions, but with zero touchdown passes. He also had 85 yards passing and led the team in rushing with 44 yards on the ground.
PITTSBURGH, PA - AUGUST 20: Joshua Dobbs #5 of the Pittsburgh Steelers drops back to pass against the Atlanta Falcons during a preseason game at Heinz Field on August 20, 2017 in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania. (Photo by Justin K. Aller/Getty Images)
Both QBs have different skill sets and bring different things to the table. Mason Rudolph is much more of a pocket passer, while Josh Dobbs has shown he can get out of the pocket and make some plays with his feet. From what I’ve seen, Rudolph has a stronger, more accurate arm, but Dobbs showed he can chuck the pigskin too when he threw that 43-yard pass to James Washington.
As of right now, I think Josh Dobbs is just a little bit of a head in the race because he has more experience, but Mason Rudolph has three games to right the ship in his favor. The next three games will be fun to watch and see if one of these guys can pull ahead.
I also wanted to take a moment to express my condolences for the untimely passing of Coach Darryl Drake. I never knew him, but it’s not hard to tell he was an amazing guy based on the reactions of the players. At the end of the day, all we have in this world are the interactions and relationships we have with other people, and it’s clear to me that Coach Drake has definitely left his mark. Rest In Peace Coach Drake, you will be missed.
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