Steelers head coach Mike Tomlin has officially named Mason Rudolph the starting quarterback for the Wild Card game against the Buffalo Bills, and is banking on him having a surprising postseason performance.
However, the depth chart released by the team prior to Week 18 still lists Kenny Pickett as the starter, followed by Mason Rudolph at No.
2 and Mitch Trubisky at No.
His answer at Tuesday’s conference was short and to the point.
“Will that make you feel better?
” Tomlin asked.
“We’re going to work on our jobs and have a plan to win this week.
We’re less concerned with division of labor over things like seats and depth charts, and more concerned with how to strategically use the tools at our disposal to ensure wins.
”Transparent.
[Rudolph] has hot hands.
He will continue to control the ball.
To be honest, I don’t see why it’s a problem,” Tomlin said matter-of-factly.
So.
There it is.
Mike Tomlin doesn’t base his role decisions on a carefully managed depth chart the week before a playoff game.
Why would he need to do that, anyway?
It’s not Tomlin’s responsibility to adjust the depth chart, especially considering how they quietly handled Pickett’s benching.
Are you making a formal transition to the depth chart?
That will probably create more spectacle than necessary.
Even Steelers fans who are living their best lives watching Rudolph run the offense with the rhythm and confidence we haven’t seen consistently from Pickett this season know that Rudolph isn’t really a Steelers guy.
You have to admit that – not in the long run anyway.
What Rudolph may have done is earn himself a decent contract and a chance to start elsewhere in the league.
He has proven he has the ability to step up when called upon rather than fumble the ball, which is exactly what many teams look for in a backup quarterback.
But he’s probably not the future of this team.
Pickett will be given every opportunity to prove he’s worth the first round pick they spent on him.
He will have a chance to work with a new offensive coordinator and will (hopefully) be given enough time to adjust to a completely new scheme and playbook.
For these reasons, it would seem simply disingenuous to put Rudolph ahead of Pickett on the depth chart.
Steelers Nation knows the Cinderella story will eventually come to an end (though it is expected to end with Lombardi in hand).
Rudolph will turn into a pumpkin again – even a pumpkin with full pockets – and Pickett will take his place at the mountain, no.
.
.Mount Washington.
However, this does not mean that Rudolph’s efforts were ignored.
That’s just the Steelers’ way.