Shortly after Steelers coach Mike Tomlin said that no decisions had been made for the ‘division of labor’ for Thursday’s preseason finale at Carolina, Pittsburgh third-string quarterback Mason Rudolph spilled the beans.
“Josh (Dobbs) is going to start,” Rudolph said. “They told us that this morning. On the short week, we got to find that out quick. We’ll split up the first half as evenly as we can and (Devlin Hodges) will play the second half.”
Rudolph and Dobbs have been locked in a battle for the backup quarterback spot, held by Dobbs last season, since the beginning of workouts in the spring. Thursday’s game will be the culmination of the offseason and preseason, so it is the final chance to prove themselves.
“It’s obviously a big opportunity for me,” Dobbs said. “It’s a big opportunity because it’s the next opportunity to go out and play football, to show how you can lead an offense, lead a team, you’re playmaking ability in the pocket and running the show.”
Dobbs started the preseason opener. Rudolph started the second game and was the first quarterback into the game after Ben Roethlisberger in Sunday night’s win at Tennessee. Now Dobbs will get his second start, still listed as the backup on the team’s depth chart.
“Everybody’s battling,” said Rudolph, who will be playing Thursday in his hometown of Charlotte. “There’s a battle at every position, (even) if there’s a set-in-stone starter. Everyone’s competing. We encourage an environment filled with competition.”
“I’ve been playing football since I was five,” Dobbs added. “That’s all I know is competition. When you step on the field, you go out there and compete.”
Dobbs has passed 15 of 28 for 259 yards with two interceptions and no touchdowns this preseason. He has, however, rushed eight times for 59 yards. Both interceptions have ended drives in the red zone.
“You know, Dobbs has to take care of the ball, particularly in situations,” Tomlin said after Sunday’s game. “We’ve got the ball in the red zone, that’s points on the board. Got to be a little more prudent there.”
Rudolph, meanwhile, has the better passing numbers of the two. He is 21 of 32 through the air for 243 yards, three touchdowns and one interceptions.
Dobbs had a quarterback rating of 55.4, Rudolph's is at 106.6.
Because of those numbers, Dobbs, who made the team due, in part, to a strong fourth preseason game last season, will need to right the ship under center. Especially with Rudolph breathing down his neck.
“It’s the last preseason game,” he said. We know what happened last year. For me, it’s a big opportunity because it’s the next game.”
“Every game is an audition to go out there and perform,” Rudolph added. “Every chance you go on the field, in front of anybody, you want to put your best foot forward. I think I’ve done that and I’ll continue to do that.”