Pittsburgh, PA (93.7 The Fan) - Randy Fichtner's association with Ben Roethlisberger goes back 13 years as the Steelers receivers coach, then quarterbacks coach and since 2018 the offensive coordinator. Now, with Roethlisberger sidelined for the rest of the season because of an elbow injury that requires surgery, Fichtner is charged with overseeing an offense quarterbacked by untested second-year pro Mason Rudolph.
Fichtner believes Rudolph's makeup will lead to success.
"He's a worker, an absolute worker," Fichtner said after Thursday's practice. "Sometimes I have to work hard to have a joke with him because he's that serious. But that's a good thing. He cares. There's a lot of in-helmet perspective that he didn't get in the year and half he's been here, but I know he got a lot of it because he listens and works at his job. And he listens to Ben."
That's something Rudolph did during Thursday's practice as Roethlisberger joined him on the field.
"It was refreshing when I saw Ben walk on the field and saw those two communicate," said Fichtner. "I was really encouraged by the practice days (Rudolph's) had."
Fichtner feels badly for Roethlisberger, but knows the season goes on. And he has a job to do.
"There's no time to blink," Fichtner said. "When you get an injury that's going to put you down for a season it's a sad moment for anybody. I told him and I told the group, I had time to be sad that night, but then the next day it's back to work. That's the only approach I can have because I owe it to the rest of the group to lead. If they're looking for any bit of (leadership) and don't find it in anybody else they have to find it in me."
