Don’t look now, but the 2023 Pittsburgh Steelers still have something to play for heading into the final week of the season. If you would have even suggested that possibility a couple of weeks ago, I would have perceived you to be the biggest homer around. But then something strangely peculiar happened during an already odd season.

For this article, we will simply call it the Mason Rudolph effect.

Rudolph has started the past two games. Both have ended in victories for the Steelers. Both have been must win contest, if the Steelers wanted to keep their postseason dreams alive. That alone would make Rudolph’s accomplishments the feel good story of the season for the Steelers, but that’s not the whole story in my opinion.

The most interesting aspect of Rudolph’s late season success is how his functional efficiency has allowed the Steelers to become the type of offense that many of us were expecting to see all season. I personally wasn’t expecting the Steelers to be particularly explosive operating within the confines of Matt Canada’s gameplanning, but I was expecting the Steelers to be an efficient time-of-possession offense, focusing on execution and ball security.

I believed my expectations were only logical, especially with the additions of guys like Isaac Seumalo, Broderick Jones, and Darnell Washington to the big boys leading the way. Sadly, their prescence was severely minimized by the continued struggles of Dan Moore Jr and Mason Cole. The line has struggled with pass protection all season, and has only started to find their rhythm in run blocking during the second half of the season. Sound familiar.

The offensive line’s struggles, combined with Canada’s disjointed gameplans, resulted in a Steelers offense with no identity. Boring, predictable, and pathetic.

Unbelievably, even though it statically seemed impossible, the Steelers repeatedly won football games they realistically had no business winning. Talk about smoke and mirrors. The Steelers cashed in a year’s worth of good fortune to eventually sit at 7-4 on the season, but then the wheels fell off the tricycle. The worst three game losing streak in franchise history immediately followed. In my opinion, the Steelers were done for the season. Finished, kaput.

Thankfully, Mason Rudolph had other ideas. Like an anxious wrestler finally getting tagged into the action, Rudolph exploded on the scene. Rudolph openly admitted contemplating about getting on with his life’s work just recently. So with nothing to lose, Rudolph has been performing like a sixth year veteran playing with house money. He looks more composed and confident than at any prior point in his career, and for good reason. Rudolph’s skill set perfectly fits what the Steelers offensive scheme has been missing all season.

Rudolph stands tall in the pocket, patiently processing through his progressions. Truthfully, his performance against the Seahawks was light-years more impressive than his performance against the Bengals the week prior, but that is a discussion for another day. He has effectively targeted the whole field, and has utilized play action efficiently. However, the mere threat of his deep ball prowess has reduced the frequency of stacked boxes against the Steelers, which has opened up the rushing attack for the Steelers.

Regardless of what happens in Baltimore this Saturday, I just want to thank Mason Rudolph for showing us what is possible with even an adequate gameplan, and a competent QB. That should give us all hope for a brighter future.

Now it’s time for some more of my random thoughts and observations on the Steelers:

• Cameron Heyward admitted something this week in an interview that the majority of us already knew; this season has been a struggle for the big fella. Heyward’s groin injury was severe, extending far enough upwards to be considered a core injury. The corresponding surgery and rehab basically cost him the season, as he has been a shell of his former self even after his return to the field. The timing of the injury, all the way back in Week 1, couldn’t have happened at a worse time for both Heyward and the Steelers. Cameron is scheduled to be compensated far more than his production deems logical next season, setting up what could be some nasty contract renegotiating during the offseason. Heyward has also admitted contemplating retirement recently, suggesting that the price may no longer be worth the reward for the big guy, especially at the necessary reduced payday. I don’t like the aesthetics of the situation, but hopefully an agreement can be reached that benefits all parties involved.
• This is shaping up to be an offseason of change for the Steelers. Every passionate Steelers fanatic has their own opinions on how the Steelers should approach this rebuilding opportunity. Many are already urging the Steelers to acquire another first round QB selection from a perceived deep class. While others are suggesting the Steelers find their next franchise guy via trade or free agency. I would advise a more constructively conservative approach. Rebuild the overall roster, especially the foundations, and then focus on finding the next face of the franchise. The Steelers have a plethora of needs this offseason, and only so many resources available to fill them. Hopefully the Steelers good fortune extends into the offseason.
• The 2023 Steelers rookie class looks like a Top 5 class in franchise history at first glance. It’s not a big sample size by any means, but the early returns have been impressive to say the least. First round draft pick Broderick Jones is already the most athletically gifted offensive tackle in franchise history. Jones is an undoubtedly raw prospect, who is also playing out of position at RT, but he has already given the Steelers offensive line something they have lacked since Maurkice Pouncey manned the middle for the Black and Gold; an alpha male setting the tone and leading the way. Second round CB Joey Porter Jr is the shutdown press corner the Steelers have needed for decades. Fellow second rounder DL Keannu Benton looks like the Steelers best defensive line selection since Stephon Tuitt, maybe even Cameron Heyward’s eventually replacement. Third round selection TE Darnell “Mount” Washington is full of potential, but needs a quality OC to reach it. Fourth round OLB Nick Herbig is an elite talent who has only scratched the surface of what he is capable of. Even seventh rounders CB Cory Trice and OL Spencer Anderson appear capable of contributing as early as next season. The Steelers batted a thousand with this draft class. Now they just need to do it again. If the Steelers are serious about accelerating this rebuilding process.
• First things first, the Steelers have to defeat the Ravens in Baltimore on Saturday, and then let the chips fall where they may.