SCB Steelers Quick Hitters: The “Winning With Rudy” Edition

December 31, 2020

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Good New Years Eve to you Steelers fans.

What we know: Mason Rudolph will start at quarterback Sunday for the Steelers. What we don’t know: What will he have around him? This is a fair question in any year but it’s even more prudent in this season where Practice Squad rules are so flexible. Whether Mike Tomlin chooses to exercise the powers he has with the roster we won’t know until the weekend so therefore, how does this team win with Rudy? I’d really like to say the Steelers will run the ball, set up play-action and shorten the game. But how can I say that when they have proven unable to run the ball effectively in weeks? The truth is that Rudolph is going to have to take some shots. He has to take advantage of Chase Claypool’s size and athleticism and at the very least draw a defensive pass interference penalty or two. Above all else, Rudy has to take care of the football. Look, the Steelers will try to run the ball but the truth is that Rudolph will have to make plays. He’s proven he can win games for the Steelers so let’s see what he can do in week 17.

UPDATE: See Tweet of the Day for the latest on the roster.

The Podcast

We were joined by the birthday girl Ellie Finnerty at the start of the show and she gave us her thoughts on the comeback vs the Colts and what to expect Sunday. She had a few gins but sounded much more coherent than the three of us! This is an hour long edition of the Steel City Blitz Steelers Podcast presented by DEK Roofing Inc.

Tweet of the Day… BREAKING NEWS from Gerry.

In addition to Ben Roethlisberger, Steelers will not play C Maurkice Pouncey, OLB T.J. Watt and DE Cam Heyward against the Browns on Sunday.

— Gerry Dulac (@gerrydulac) December 31, 2020

From the Training Room

STEELERS

QB Ben Roethlisberger (NIR) – DNP
K Chris Boswell (Groin) – Full
LB Marcus Allen (Stinger) – Full
S Terrell Edmunds (Shoulder) – DNP
C Maurkice Pouncey (NIR) – DNP
G David DeCastro (NIR) – DNP
LB T.J. Watt (NIR) – DNP
DE Stephon Tuitt (Back) – DNP
LB Ola Adeniyi (Shoulder) – Full
DT Tyson Alualu (Ankle) – DNP
DE Cameron Heyward (NIR) – DNP

BROWNS

T Jack Conklin (Knee) – Limited
LB Todd Davis (Ankle) – Limited
OL Nick Harris (Knee) – DNP
S Ronnie Harrison (Shoulder) – Limited
T Kendall Lamm (Illness) – DNP
DT Sheldon Richardson (Neck) – Limited
LB Malcolm Smith (Hamstring) – Limited
LB Sione Takitaki(Ankle) – Limited
G Wyatt Teller (Ankle) – Limited
C JC Tretter (Knee) – Limited
T Jedrick Wills (Illness) – Full

Injury Thoughts… My guess is that Ben Roethlisberger won’t practice at all this week… Keep an eye on the Browns and the word “illness.” I’ll explain more on that below.

Breakout Browns?

Last week the Browns were without almost their entire receiving corps due to Covid (specifically close contact). They’ve already had to close their facility once this week and they had players miss practice yesterday due to “illness.” If this is the start of a potential breakout then it’s really going to bear watching through Sunday.