PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – A former Steeler has a simple message to the Steelers current offensive coordinator. Utilize Mason Rudolph's strengths.
Ryan Clark told The PM Team on Wednesday he doesn't hate Steelers offensive coordinator Matt Canada, even though he failed at Clark's alma mater, LSU. He suggested on 93.7 The Fan to just watch what Rudolph did in college and do that.
"When you saw Mason coming out of Oklahoma State," Clark said Wednesday. "He was graded high by a lot of people because he pushed the football down the field. When you have a guy like Mason Rudolph, you have to take shots."
"You can't ask him play-in and play-out to go through progressions. To find correct matchups, to find holes in the zone. You got to give him some easy throws. Those throws are the same throws that got him and James Washington drafted by the Pittsburgh Steelers."
Clark also pointed out to Andrew Fillipponi and Chris Mueller, Rudolph needs help. Pat Freiermuth, while Clark says he is a probable star in the NFL, can't fumble with seconds to play. Diontae Johnson needs to secure catches with Chase Claypool out.
Teammates need to step up with Ben Roethlisberger out and others hurt.
"The plan wasn't necessarily awful as to where the execution wasn't great," Clark said.
Take shots downfield. Go for chunk yardage plays that Mike Tomlin has said numerous times this team needs. Hit on just one or two of them, the side effect will be more room for Najee Harris to run.
"Much like when Ben Roethlisberger is playing, they need three or four big-time catches from their skill players," Clark told the PM Team. "We got that from our skill players two weeks ago. We didn't get it really last week. There have to be some 50-50 balls where dudes just go up and get. Where they outplay the man next to them."
"It can't be, hey, Mason Rudolph, a dude that didn't show up enough that we were able to get rid of Ben Roethlisberger this offseason, goes now and is something different that you are. You know what you can do, you can push the ball down the field, give a guy a chance at a 50-50 opportunity to catch it. Then they have to go get it."
Clark told 93.7 The Fan it's not an offense that can matriculate the ball down the field. Don't call the game that way. Take some chances, go linear.
Essentially the message to an offense that has been unbelievably conservative this year.
"Let's Go!"
