Innholdsfortegnelse for October 12, 2019 i Steelers Digest

This is how they have to play. As a team, with each unit doing its part, and every player on each unit contributing something to the overall effort, even if that contribution is nothing more than not screwing up. The game against the Cincinnati Bengals came on the fourth weekend of their regular season, at the end of the first quarter to keep it in the parlance of the sport, and the Pittsburgh Steelers finally put together a complete game. Not a complete game in the sense that each unit was perfect, but a complete game in the sense that each unit supported and complemented the others. That it happened against a Bengals team that’s still an 0-fer in the post-Marvin-Lewis era might mitigate the outcome for some, but getting…

Associate Editor Early the previous week, Steelers quarterback Mason Rudolph talked about his excitement over the game plan. After earning the game ball following a 27-3 win over the Cincinnati Bengals, he explained. “One more week of Randy (Fichtner) molding the game plan to me and what I like,” Rudolph said. “It’s a big switch when you have a guy who’s been here 16 years and likes what he likes and he kind of coaches one way, then you have a younger guy come in. He’s been unbelievably open to suggestions on my end, so we’re going to continue to work and continue to jell with this younger group.” So, that excitement didn’t have anything to do with the unveiling of wildcat quarterback Jaylen Samuels? “No,” Rudolph said with a…

With Ben Roethlisberger out for the season, the starting job is in the hands of second-year quarterback Mason Rudolph. Roethlisberger left the Steelers loss to the Seattle Seahawks at Heinz Field at halftime due to an elbow injury, which Coach Mike Tomlin confirmed in a statement will require season-ending surgery. Rudolph came into the game in the second half, making his NFL debut, and completed 12 of 19 passes for 112 yards and two touchdowns. “It’s crazy, losing the leader of our team,” Rudolph said the day after the Seattle game. “It’s a crazy turn of events. I am excited to step up. That’s what backups do. That is what I have done my entire career, whether it be high school, college or now. Nothing different for me. I am…

From the notebook of a sportswriter who was able to differentiate a pop pass from a jump pass from a shovel pass in the Monday night win over the Bengals: • The young-ins in the press box brought up Tim Tebow’s name after Mason Rudolph faked a shovel pass and threw a bit of a jump pass to James Conner for the game’s first touchdown. • I — old man — brought up Joe Kapp. • Even 25 years ago, when I referenced Kapp, my editor cut it because he said no one would know who or what I’m talking about. • Readers still don’t know what I’m talking about, yet I plod onward. • Age does have its pluses, and one is that I lived through the 1980s. It…

Man, it feels really good to handle our business, and we did so tonight. Really just with outstanding effort in all three phases. It needs to be a springboard for us as we move forward. It was significant tonight on a lot of fronts, obviously. Particularly because it was AFC North football, but we don’t have a lot of time to pat ourselves on the back. We’ve got another AFC North group coming in here in a short period of time. They’ve got a half a day or day or so on us. So, we respect that. We’ll rest up and look at some of the injuries. Cameron Heyward hurt his quad. He was able to go back into the game. James Conner hurt his left ankle. He was able…

24 Margin of victory for the Steelers, their biggest against the Bengals since Dec. 4, 2011 when they won 35-7. 87.1 Steelers completion percentage, which set a franchise record. The previous mark was 85.7 set against the Miami Dolphins in 2007, also in a Monday night game. 175 Yards allowed by the Steelers, the fewest they’ve allowed to the Bengals since 1993 when they had 170. 8 Career games with at least two sacks for Cam Heyward, who had 2.5 against the Bengals. The Steelers are 8-0 in those games. 17 Consecutive home victories for the Steelers in Monday night games. 124.9 Passer rating for Mason Rudolph, the highest for a Steelers quarterback other than Ben Roethlisberger and with at least 15 pass attempts since the 2006 season opener when…

Here is a rundown of what took place. MONDAY, SEPT. 16 The Steelers placed quarterback Ben Roethlisberger on the reserve/injured list. Roethlisberger suffered an elbow injury against the Seattle Seahawks that required season-ending surgery for the 16-year veteran. Roethlisberger promised he would be back in a statement he issued not long after the team announced the news. “I’ve been informed that I need season-ending surgery on my elbow to continue playing football at the level I expect,” the statement ready. “This is shocking and heartbreaking for me, to miss this much of a season and feel like I am letting down so many people. I can only trust God’s plan, but I am completely determined to battle through this challenge and come back stronger than ever next season. The Steelers…

Assistant Editor Confidence. It’s something you must have in your quarterback and for years the Steelers have had that in Ben Roethlisberger. But the team will be without Roethlisberger for the rest of the season after he was placed on the reserve/injured list with an elbow injury that will require surgery. The starting job is now in the hands of Mason Rudolph, the second-year quarterback the team selected in the third round of the 2018 NFL draft. And when it comes to having confidence in him … the locker room has it. “He is a great leader,” said JuJu Smith-Schuster. “Someone we all trust. “We have my guy Mason. We all believe in him, that he is going to step up and do the job. You saw a glimpse of…

Sunday, Oct. 6 BALTIMORE AT PITTSBURGH Time: 1 p.m. (subject to flex scheduling) Site: Heinz Field Television: CBS Series record: Steelers lead 28-22 (including playoffs) Last meeting: 2018 at Baltimore; Steelers 23, Ravens 16 Series trend: The Steelers have rebounded from a four-game losing streak in the series by winning four of the past five meetings. Scouting report: Baltimore has looked impressive early in the 2019 season as it tries to repeat as AFC North champion, and a big reason has been the performance of quarterback Lamar Jackson. The Ravens lost some familiar faces on defense with the departures of Terrell Suggs and C.J. Mosley, but there’s still plenty of talent on defense and they did add veteran safety Earl Thomas in the offseason. Running back Mark Ingram was brought…