Kevin Gorman: Steelers' Mason Rudolph fights to back up 'Mr. Roethlisberger'

Mason Rudolph walked on eggshells with the Pittsburgh Steelers last year after Ben Roethlisberger second-guessed the team using a third-round draft pick on a quarterback.

It wasn’t so much Roethlisberger felt threatened by the arrival of an eventual heir as it was he believed the Steelers should have addressed needs at more pressing positions.

Nevertheless, it made for a tough transition for Rudolph, who dealt with NFL culture shock after going from Oklahoma State record-setting star to serving as the Steelers’ No. 3 quarterback.

Now that the Steelers have extended Roethlisberger’s contract through the 2021 season, which coincides with the remainder of Rudolph’s rookie deal, the focus for Rudolph is on beating out Josh Dobbs for the backup quarterback job.

“I don’t see myself being No. 1 this year, so that would be the next-best opportunity,” Rudolph said Tuesday, when he ran the second-team offense in the Steelers’ fourth organized team activity at UPMC Rooney Sports Complex on the South Side.

“That’s what football is: You know that you’re one play away sometimes, two plays away, so you’ve got to be ready to go. You’ve got to prepare like you’re the starter. That’s what I’ve always done from Day 1, when I stepped into a high school or college program, is respect the guys ahead of you: mostly a Hall of Fame quarterback in Mr. Roethlisberger.”

For even better context, @THEChrisMack, here's Steelers QB Mason Rudolph answering a @JColony13 question and talking about his approach to backing up "Mr. Roethlisberger." pic.twitter.com/BYiqmdyvBk

— Kevin Gorman (@KGorman_Trib) May 29, 2019

Rudolph said this with a sly smile, showing respect while poking fun at the 37-year-old starter. It was a sign the tension that surrounded the Steelers at the game’s most important position last offseason is long gone.

And that’s good news for Mr. Rudolph.

Where Roethlisberger skipped much of the voluntary OTAs last year to go on a family vacation, he has been a visible presence at every practice and even offers advice to his understudies as they split second- and third-team snaps.

“Ben’s been out here a lot, which has been great for the team, and is offering a nugget of wisdom here and there,” Rudolph said. “That’s been good to pick that up.”

If Rudolph appears more comfortable at OTAs, it’s not by accident. Last season, as third-string quarterback, he got a short shrift in practice reps except for when Roethlisberger took off Wednesdays. Instead, Rudolph used virtual reality goggles as a tool to experience plays from Roethlisberger’s point of view.

Where Dobbs played in five games, making a critical pass out of the end zone in a victory at the Baltimore Ravens and starting the second half in the loss to the Oakland Raiders, Rudolph was inactive for every regular-season game.

Rudolph credits an offseason spent with his nose in the Steelers playbook as “big” for his development. It’s a night-and-day difference, as he understands the Steelers offensive schemes and is now answering questions instead of asking them.

“Unfortunately, we did not make the playoffs, but that allowed about four months of deep dives and conversations with the coaching staff, hitting them up as well as studying,” Rudolph said. “I enjoy that stuff. I can get into a little bit of a nerd mentality at times in the offseason. But it was fun studying and back here ready to go and try to put it on display.”

That’s especially true for Rudolph in seven shots, the goal-line drill at the start of practice meant to simulate a touchdown or 2-point conversion. It was new to him last year, both in intensity and importance, but he now is more prepared.

“I’m 100 times more comfortable,” Rudolph said. “That’s what comes with a second year.”

So Rudolph will fight for the backup job by preparing like he’s the starter, working and waiting until he’s one play away from replacing Mr. Roethlisberger.